There are wide-angle lenses, after which there are ultra-wide lenses; kitted with an enormous discipline of view, ultra-wide lenses slot in as a lot of the scene into the body as you will get earlier than hitting the fisheye threshold.The Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 ED is an ultra-wide, and zooms from 14mm to 24mm, forming a part of Nikon’s “holy trinity” of lenses, sat amongst the 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8.
Essential information:
Type: Wide-zoom FX
Compatibility: Nikon, Full-frame
Focal vary: 14-24mm
Aperture vary: f/2.8 fixed
Thread measurement: No thread
Weight: 2.2 lbs
Originally regarded as panorama and astrophoto lenses, ultra-wides are literally excellent portrait and documentary lenses supplied that composition is suitably approached. The solely draw back to those lenses is that as a result of the sphere of view is so huge, it’s vital to nail the framing, particularly with foreground components. That means a whole lot of transferring ahead and again to get the fitting composition. Helpfully although, the Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 ED has a beneficiant focal size zoom vary to take away this subject.
An insanely quick f/2.8 aperture makes this lens completely excellent for any form of taking pictures, particularly one involving low mild ranges, and meaning astrophotography is the place it actually shines. Sharper than many prime ultra-wides, it’s onerous to consider a scenario the place this lens wouldn’t do properly, however it’s a little on the heavy aspect, solely matches F-mount Nikon our bodies, and is tough to seek out filters for, which we’ll clarify down beneath.
Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 ED evaluate: Design
- Rubberized zoom grip
- Built-in lens hood
- Bulbous entrance factor
The lens design is easy however efficient. Only one change to maneuver between guide and automated focusing modes makes the lens barrel free from litter. A rubberized grip on each the focal size and focus rings makes it straightforward to function in moist, chilly situations, even whereas carrying gloves.
The Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 ED is solidly sturdy, able to taking an actual pounding from professionals due to its metallic mount. It confidently repels dust, filth, moisture, and different grime due to its rubber seals which maintain tight when locked into place on the digital camera physique.
A convex entrance factor on the lens does depart it weak to wreck because it protrudes out the entrance of the casing, however Nikon has thought that via. Encircling the entrance factor is a built-in lens hood that has two foremost jobs: decreasing flare from extraneous mild and offering bodily safety if the lens is bumped or dropped.
The inside the glass is organized into 14 components in 11 teams (with 2 ED glass components, 3 aspherical lenses, and one Nano Crystal Coat for flare discount). The rear lens cap is a normal F-mount however the entrance, as a result of convex entrance lens factor, is capped by a rugged and snugly-fitted plastic lens cap that pushes over the lens, hood and all.
Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 ED evaluate: Performance
Although just a little on the heavy aspect coming in at over 2 kilos, the optical efficiency of the Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 ED is excellent. Razor-sharp edge-to-edge, this beast rivals prime lenses with regards to readability. In truth, it’s so sharp at any focal size or any aperture that it could be the sharpest and most constant ultra-wide DSLR lens in existence (however Nikon’s newer 16-35mm). A Nano Crystal Coat helps to disperse mild flare to seize even cleaner, clearer images.
Take a take a look at the take a look at photographs beneath and also you’ll see there’s minimal chromatic aberration (shade fringing), solely actually showing proper on the edges of the body. There are additionally no sharpness points, and solely gentle vignetting – three large points lenses generally have as a result of enormous discipline of view that must be fed down into the compact inch or so footprint of the picture sensor. Astonishingly, there’s little or no pincushion or barrel distortion both, and something that’s leftover might be simply wiped away with a tick of the lens corrections field in post-production picture enhancing software program.
Autofocus is quick and dependable due to Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor know-how and options Internal Focusing which suggests the lens is quieter and doesn’t spin round whereas focusing up. That makes the Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 ED higher for taking pictures with filters as a result of the filters keep within the right orientation. However, as a result of convex entrance factor, you’ll possible want a specialist lens mount adapter to suit any lenses onto it which is expensive and irritating to suit.
Should you purchase the Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 ED?
The Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 ED is a legend of a lens as a result of it got here out at a time when no different lens might contact it when it comes to focal size flexibility, huge fixed aperture, and eye-widening sharpness. To this day it’s nonetheless a go-to for a lot of professionals and amateurs alike as a result of it supplies sharp, clear, straight traces for architectural or inside pictures but in addition works properly in low mild. It’s competitively priced and including filters is irritating, but when you will get previous that you just received’t be disenchanted.
If this product isn’t for you
If you’re on the lookout for a good sharper, sleeker ultra-wide zoom by Nikon it is best to positively seize the Nikon 16-35mm f/4 VR. It has a slimmer physique, is almost half the load of the 14-24mm f/2.8 and regardless of having an aperture a cease narrower at f/4 compared with the old-timer, it additionally has 2.5stops of Vibration Reduction built-in for taking pictures sharp pictures handheld in low mild.
While the Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 ED is a good lens, should you pair it with a DX crop-sensor physique you’re critically overspending because the sensor will actually crop proper into the center of the lens – negating all these wonderful millimeters on the edges. Instead, it might be price getting the Tokina ATX-i 11-16mm f/2.8 CF. It’s sharp, quick, mild, and considerably cheaper
