A lot of you will have expressed curiosity in transferring to the Nikon Z6 or Nikon Z7. However a lot of you will have additionally expressed reservations about doing so due to the restricted native Z-mount glass at present accessible. Certain, you’ll be able to slap the FTZ mount adapter on a Z6 or Z7 that lets you use your F-mount glass, however who desires to take care of that? Heck, on the time of this writing, the Nikon Holy Trinity set of glass is not even fully accessible. Nicely at the least you will have two-thirds accessible with the 14-30mm f/4 after which you will have 24-70mm f/4 and one other f/2.8 model accessible of the 24-70mm. I will admit that I used to be a little bit anxious concerning the f/4 aperture on my new 14-30mm f/4 S lens, and I assume a lot of you share the identical concern. Nicely, this weekend I traveled as much as the most popular place on this planet to check this lens out – Loss of life Valley. For me, I used to be unsure about this lens, at the least at first. Let me clarify why…
Since Nikon launched the 14-24mm f/2.8 again in 2007, it has been the spine of most Nikon panorama photographers’ digicam baggage. It is large, heavy, and will be noticed from a mile away with that massive glass ingredient bulging out of the lens. In its early days, there weren’t any filter choices for it, which sucked. Then, quite a few large filter kits from firms like NiSi, Formatt-Hitech, and Lee got here onto the market. I began taking pictures with this lens once I obtained my Nikon D700, then continued to make use of it with my D800, D810, and my late D850. It was critically certainly one of my favourite lenses to make use of. It was quick, sharp and was a pleasure to make use of. And people days I missed the gymnasium? Not a priority! I’d get a strong work out simply from slinging that factor round. However that was OK as a result of the picture high quality was outstanding.
So, what about my issues with the brand new 14-30mm f/4 S? Truthfully, as I discussed earlier, my main reservation was the f/4 aperture. Except for that, this lens has tons of nice options. Listed below are its full specs:
- Lens Mount: Nikon Z
- Focal Size: 14-30mm
- Aperture Vary: f/4-f/22
- Minimal Focusing Distance: 11.02″
- Filter Dimension: 82mm
- Teams/Components: 12/14
- Size: 3.35″
- Most Diameter: 3.50″
- Lens Format: Full Body
- Angle of View: 114 levels to 72 levels
- Weight: 1.07 lbs
For starters, it prices considerably lower than the 14-24mm f/2.8 – the 14-24mm f/2.8 runs $1,896.95 whereas the 14-30mm f/4 is $1,296.95. It is also a fraction of the load at simply 1.07 kilos, as famous above. Plus, the 14-30mm f/4 takes an 82mm filter thread and is lacking that massive glass bulb on the entrance of it. That is an enormous benefit for panorama photographers who want to make use of an array of filters to excellent the shot.
Let me let you know, that is a type of don’t-judge-a-book-by-its-cover moments… In my view, the 14-30mm provides the 14-24mm lens a critical run for its cash. The acute weight discount was a dream come true. The very last thing I needed was to lug round an enormous, heavy lens within the oppressive warmth of Loss of life Valley. As you would possibly count on, the interior focusing system was ultra-quiet with autofocusing that labored like a champ, whilst nightfall rolled round and there wasn’t a ton of sunshine.
I noticed little-to-no humorous enterprise that some wide-angle lenses are inclined to have. That is because of the development of the lens, which incorporates 4 extra-low dispersion glass components and 4 aspherical components. Mixed with Nikon’s Nano Crystal coating, flare, ghosting, and aberrations are minimized. Like its S-series compatriots, this lens has rounded aperture blades that render attractive bokeh, and the lens is sealed in opposition to mud (which was a superb factor for Loss of life Valley) and moisture (which, funnily sufficient, I did not want in Loss of life Valley!).
Except for the technical facets of this lens being spectacular, I additionally loved how the lens felt. There is a good, large rubber zoom ring that you just really feel like you’ll be able to actually get a deal with on, even when your palms are sweaty from taking pictures within the hottest place conceivable. The dimensions and weight of the lens are perfect for landscapes, too. It feels nicely constructed, however with out the majority I famous earlier with the 14-24mm f/2.8. In fact, that wide-angle view this lens gives provides you the chance to get tons of foreground curiosity in your pictures. As you’ll be able to see in my pattern photographs all through this text, you will get photographs with tons of dimension because of all that foreground element. So, between the value, the scale and weight, the focal size, and optical efficiency, that is actually vital panorama lens for those who ask me. DxOMark agrees, for what that is value.
Now let’s speak about the place I picked this lens up. There are digicam shops after which there may be Samys. I’ve identified Samy for the higher a part of a decade. Matter of reality, I picked up my Nikon D800 from him when that digicam first got here out. Then when my son was born and the Nikon D810 could be an excessive amount of to hold in a diaper bag, I picked up the Sony a6300 from them. What brings me again to Samy’s is that the man is the actual deal – a bonified household man who loves the images business simply as a lot. And his employees is similar method. Digital camera gear like this lens is offered in every single place, so you’ll be able to very simply choose this up on Amazon for a similar worth. Nevertheless, if you’re uninterested in being handled like a quantity on an accounting spreadsheet and wish to assist an organization who will deal with you want an previous buddy, then give Samy’s a shot. And for those who get the possibility to fulfill Samy himself, you will see what I am speaking about!
