Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED

The 14-24 2.8 Zoom lens is (IMO) about as optically perfect as a lens can get. What is this lens exactly? And why do I recommend it? First off, this lens can be used by pros and amateur alike. The price is steep and this is considered a pro lens, but if you enjoy super wide angle zooms, do not hesitate. There are 2 "pro" lenses that reach the 14mm mark. This lens and the 14mm 2.8 "prime" lens (fixed focal length - ie..not a zoom). This lens is considered by many professionals and critics alike as not only the better of the two, but one of the best lens Nikon has ever made. Some of the advantages this lens has - - fast 2.8 f-stop - sharpness through out the entire range - great build quality - little of the distortion found in cheap wide angle lenses. There are some drawbacks to this lens. None are really enough to warrant either a drop in review stars or hesitation in buying it. - It is heavy - This lens CANNOT take a screw-in filter. It has a mounted hood that cannot be removed and a big bulb of curved glass - It is expensive (get what you pay for) - using this (or any ultra wide angle lens or zoom lens) takes practice. People in other forums write that they bought this lens but never use it. It just sits in their camera bag. That is actually sad to hear as this lens is perfection. If you are asking yourself if you want to buy this lens, think about all the possibilities for it. They really are endless, and to hear this gem of a lens sits in a bag is to hear about a photographer that really needs to look at the world in a new and exciting way. I used the 10-24 mm DX lens prior to my buying this lens. I used that lens all the time for both professional and hobby photography. I know I will use this lens just as much. My first few photoshoots have produced amazing results (combined with a new D3s btw)

I have been using Nikon products for well over 40 years and, although I would call myself only an accomplished amateur photographer, I know what makes a good lens. Of course I grew up in the days of film cameras and Nikon Photomic FTN I think it was, using prime lenses and thought, in those days, they were the only way to go and they were. But now the optics and lenses have improved to the point that the prime lens is really unnecessary for any but perhaps the most discerning professional. I have always wanted myself to be the rate limiting step in what I do and enjoy and this lens makes better photographs than I can make, so when the photos are not what I want, I have no one to blame but myself. This lens is a workhorse, built to stand up to the most demanding situations and yet is easy to carry and a snap to use. I have had mine for several years now and would not go anywhere without it. For landscapes it is a jewel. With an incredible depth of field one can have the most delicate wild flower sharply in focus with the majesty of lake and mountain, all in magnificent detail. The world is one's canvas and this lens is the brush. It is almost impossible not to make a beautiful photograph with stunning clarity and detail. I have found no focal length that does not function above the level of my expectation. I have always also enjoyed using wide angle photography to make the subject, when photographing people, a part of their environment and this lens does that exceptionally well. I find when I travel I can take this lens and my Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5 and cover everything I need. Of course I have other lenses that I love, but when space and weight are critical, these two lenses cover all the needs. The built in lens Of course I cannot personally compare it to other manufacturers, particularly Canon, since I have never used their products. But I have used many many of Nikon's products over the years and many Nikkor lenses. For good reliable performance in a rock solid line of precision built equipment, one cannot go wrong with this lens. Happily mine is made in Japan and I believe they still are. I would never skimp on the lens when buying photographic equipment since this is what is really between the subject and the CCD. This is what makes all the difference, so is it worth the money? Yes, every last cent. I highly recommend this lens, it is everything it should be and more.

The good. It covers an incredible angle of view on a full frame camera. Has near perfect distortion control even at wide apertures. The fit and finish are what you expect from Nikon. Auto focus on my D700 is fast and accurate even in low light. Flare is well controlled and colors are crisp even in candle lit night shots with the light source in the picture. The not so good. This thing is HEAVY. Yes I know it's a pro lens built to take a lot of use so what do I expect but it's still huge. The zoom range is pretty limited. It's a great wide angle and covers the entire range that I think of as 'wide' but don't try to use it for a 'normal' lens unless your vision is notably wider than mine. You can't use filters of any kind on it. The 'lens hood' is permanently attached and even if you could figure a way to thread something on the front of this thing the front element would stick out too far to put it on. There is no vibration control. Compared to my other nikor lenses the zoom and focus controls are reversed. It's expensive. my conclusion If you have to have the widest, fastest, best optical quality zoom for a full frame nikon mount camera this is it. If you have an aps ( 'C' size more or less) sensor camera you might want to look at other options since there are clear compromises made to get the near perfect full frame performance this lens has.

I have been a Nikon user without high exit barrier and was weighing between Nikon 700 vs Canon 5DII two years ago. Believe it or not Nikon 14-24 was the reason I stayed with Nikon. The moment I put my hand on this heavy piece of glass, it was like how my wife held a piece of diamond in her hand. I bought it before I finally decided to buy Nikon 700 (I wrote a review last year), then other Nikon professional grade lenses, now I am stuck with Nikon with high exit barrier. I still remember when I was in St Peters Cathedral and looking up at that phenomenal dome, and could only take one piece at a frame. With the 700 and 14-24 my next trip to Germany (esp. inside the Berlin Dome) and to Russia were far more enjoyable. My friend who bought 5DIII uses an adapter to use this ultra wide angle lens after he held mine for 10 min. I have not seen anyone who reasonably understands this lens (its strengths and limitations) does not fall in love with it. Re. that huge light bulb that sticks out, what I can say is I did not treat it as diamond, I bought it to have fun and from time to time I was quite rough, I have used toilet papers to clean it when I had nothing else and, two years later, the big cap has picked up some sighs of abuse but there is no scratch on the lens. Come on friends, this is high quality optics, very hard stuff, not plastics. For those of you still considering this and want to see some amature samples from this lens, type "cowboy6688" in FLICKR for night shots, I do not use tripod so all those were hand held. The clarity is absolutely amazing, eps. under low light.

I tried for the first time and i noticed a lot of black dots on my photos. The lens is so heavy and the quality of the photo is not much different than my Nikon 10-24mm DX format . It is very disappointed.

The Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor wide angle zoom lens is the new standard for all wide angle lenses to be graded by for years to come. Fast auto-focus, very sharp images throughout the frame even when wide open, less distortion that any other wide angle on the market and the continuous aperture of 2.8 throughout the zoom range makes this and excellent lens for low light photography. It is perfect for wide landscape shots and close up shots as well as you can get fairly close to your subject and still focus. Take note there will be very noticeable distortion the closer you are to the subject, which can also be used for a desired effect. If you are considering this lens take note that it was designed for full frame cameras like the D3x, D3s, D3 and the D700. You can still use it on a DX model camera but with the crop factor ratio it won't be as wide. Nothing in life is perfect and this lens follows suit. The bulging lens maybe an issue for some users who aren't as careful with their equipment. The problem being that it protrudes outwards and exposes the lens which cannot use a UV filter to protect it. So you have to be extra careful, as you should be with any expensive piece of camera equipment. Take note this also means all other forms of screw on filters cannot be used on this lens. The lens cap seems like an after thought, or as though very little consideration went into it. Some users say it falls off easily but that has not been my experience. Though after constant use it is possible that it may become loose over time. At 2.2 pounds this is no light weight. For those photographers that are use to heavy and expensive lenses, or people who work out often it shouldn't be an issue. For those who like to travel light, staying away from this lens may be a good option. Though with the quality images you can create using it you may want to lug it along with your other gear as it is worth it's weight. The final issue is the price. Unfortunately it currently just under US $2000 to purchase one and the price will only go up for a premium lens like this. So if you are on the fence about getting it and can see great potential use for it, now is the time as it will be soon above the US $2000 mark. If however you don't have the cash and it won't make it out of your camera bag very often you may want to look the other way. This lens lives up to all it's hype and expectations, so when you purchase and put it to use be prepared to be amazed. Like any great tool it is only as good as it's user, so be sure to master your photography skills and put this gem to use.

Gorgeous super sharp WA lens. Sharp corner to corner, at wide open aperture, at entire zoom range. The color is just pop. It is better than my AFS 17-35 (sharp only in the center, at wide open, need to stop down for sharper entire frame). At 1st, I kind of reluctant to try it since I have 17-35 already. But after I tried it, holly smokes, I MUST to have it. It is has kind of quality that I cannot get from 17-35. The color and bokeh is just way more pleasing to my eyes. It makes D300 shows its capability in WA department. NO filter ring is the only my draw back. I guess I have to make my own custom Lee filter holder myself. The IQ of this lens is very hard to resist. It is worth the price. Flare is a problem, but it can be controlled easily with your technique. Most WA lenses have flare problem. I think this lens has the least. I am not a WA guy, but after owning this lens I start to take panoramic photos. For weddings, this lens is an absolutely must use lens. If you need real High Quality WA lens, this IS THE LENS. BTW, that bulbous almost protruding lens shape looks sexy, attracts quite a lot of interest at several parties. It is not fish eye lens, as many thought.

Update: upgraded my camera to the Nikon D810. Coupled with this makes a fantastic setup! Try closeups with dramatic wide background. Update: For those looking for a filter system search for Lee SW150. Currently I am using this with a D300s. I wanted a good wide angle lens and figured I'd also invest in the future when I upgrade to a newer full frame body. Anyone who invests in this end of the spectrum knows photography is more user then equipment. The lens does what it is supposed to do: take in a wide angle view with crystal clear glass that will last a lifetime. While features like autofocus and filter rings are useful a good photographer not only does not rely on them but rarely uses them. Many things can affect the AF mechanism. A good photographer relies on his own eyes. Having said that, AF does actually work really well most of the time if you want to use it. A few notes on focus or capturing detail. While this boats a fast f/2.8 that is not what you generally use for landscape or if you want everything in focus. Wide open is for shallow depth of field or the closeup that fills the frame entirely (some prefer to use the term Bokeh). Think of those flower shots where the only thing you "see" is the flower. Landscape shots where all or most of the detail is in focus and clear requires a narrow f stop of at least f 22 which of course slows down the shutter speed and in correct lighting requires a tripod. This lens works correctly. This is an excellent lens and does what it was intended to do.