Oscar Rico
Senior Member
Absolutely 14-24, end of the story.The best. Regards: Oscar
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got my d4s, and im torn b/w Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8 or Nikkor 16-35mm f4
mais51
Senior Member
If you can afford to buy a D4S you can afford to buy both lenses and save your brain. Just go out and shot something
mais51
Senior Member
Just carry your camera and a lens on your neck the rest in a bag. They don't weight your camera if it is with you. We always wear all our winter jackets with us to save weight and space in the luggage.
I have both 14-24 and 16-35 VR and for me it's a really easy choice, 14-24 For me wins by a mile, I consider them two difference class lens, in fact, my 16-35 VR is on Craigslist for few days by now.
I shoot landscape mainly. The 14-24 is clear winner for me, faster by one stop, not that big of deal for the typical stop down shooting, but pretty big deal if you are dealing with Astrophotography, Milky-Way and starry sky, that means you can either get one stop faster in shutter speed or down the ISO by a stop, when you are running out of light, one full stop is really more significant than it sounds like, it's also wider, more often than not, I wish it's wider than 14mm, so 16-35 is another disadvantage for me.
The most important part is the 14-24 is much sharper especially at the edge, the lens is SHARP even wide open, it's really a zoom lens with prime lens quality.
some people have concern on filters, I use the Hitech Lucroit system, so no issue, plenty of filter choices out there, when the lens first came out, yes, it was a problem because no one makes filter for it, so as a landscape lens it absolutely sucks without filter available, but in 2015 there is plenty of solution to this, and I went with the Lucroit system as it also supports a lot of other lenses that doesn't take "regular " filter, such as Canon TSE17, Zeiss 15, Tokina 16-28, Sigma 12-24......I own quite a few of those, so for me it this brand fixed all filter issue for my super wide, more filter choices than I will ever need, ND, GND, reversed GND, CPL.......And you can get the Lee system if you want to pay that price of the Lucroit. And there is few more option you can easily find in eBay if you don't want the Lee SW150.
Weight and size should be even less of an issue, as you are already shooting with D4 series.
By the way, there is also a Tamron 15-30 F2.8, saw great review from lots of review site, Hitech Lucroit also makes filter adapter for it, so again filter will never be an issue, for those bitching abut filter "issues" probably need to look a little harder, there is at least 3 systems that I already out there will support this lens, like said the Lucroit system is really a "full system" not just one or two filter available, who knows how many more out there now that I am not aware of, i stop looking after I got mine years ago.
I shoot landscape mainly. The 14-24 is clear winner for me, faster by one stop, not that big of deal for the typical stop down shooting, but pretty big deal if you are dealing with Astrophotography, Milky-Way and starry sky, that means you can either get one stop faster in shutter speed or down the ISO by a stop, when you are running out of light, one full stop is really more significant than it sounds like, it's also wider, more often than not, I wish it's wider than 14mm, so 16-35 is another disadvantage for me.
The most important part is the 14-24 is much sharper especially at the edge, the lens is SHARP even wide open, it's really a zoom lens with prime lens quality.
some people have concern on filters, I use the Hitech Lucroit system, so no issue, plenty of filter choices out there, when the lens first came out, yes, it was a problem because no one makes filter for it, so as a landscape lens it absolutely sucks without filter available, but in 2015 there is plenty of solution to this, and I went with the Lucroit system as it also supports a lot of other lenses that doesn't take "regular " filter, such as Canon TSE17, Zeiss 15, Tokina 16-28, Sigma 12-24......I own quite a few of those, so for me it this brand fixed all filter issue for my super wide, more filter choices than I will ever need, ND, GND, reversed GND, CPL.......And you can get the Lee system if you want to pay that price of the Lucroit. And there is few more option you can easily find in eBay if you don't want the Lee SW150.
Weight and size should be even less of an issue, as you are already shooting with D4 series.
By the way, there is also a Tamron 15-30 F2.8, saw great review from lots of review site, Hitech Lucroit also makes filter adapter for it, so again filter will never be an issue, for those bitching abut filter "issues" probably need to look a little harder, there is at least 3 systems that I already out there will support this lens, like said the Lucroit system is really a "full system" not just one or two filter available, who knows how many more out there now that I am not aware of, i stop looking after I got mine years ago.
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I guess as great as the 20mm , it won't help the OP if he is lookng for a 14-16mm. myself a 20 1.8G owner but it's no replacement for my 14-24 for sure.
We are no longer in 2007, there is more than one filter system out there that support the 14-24, and it works GREAT, for example, the Hitech Lucroit system, and few more available out there too, I just happened to like this particular one more than the other I had before.
Which one did you have before, and why do you like this better?
I had the Lee SW150 and Fotdiox Wonder Pana before.
I hate the way the Lee SW150 was attached to the lens, you have to remove the lens to install it, one retaining ring coming from the back and then mate up with the filter holder in the front, very secure and great fit though, if you only staying in one spot and shoot then it's great, but if you are on the go and keep on changing location that's pretty annoying, I hake a lot and I don't want to leave the big holder on the lens while hiking without the original hard lens cap on, , so every time after I took the shot I will need to remove the lens, remove the retaining ring and filter holder away install the lens back then go, and repeat it again whenever I need to take a shot again, oh, I never put my camera back to the camera bag while hiking for this same reason,-- easy access to it, also at the time I own this system, Lee doesn't offer all filter that I need, don't offer adapter for the Canon TSE17, which is my other main landscape lens, now they don offer that adapter for TSE (on teir regular 4X4 and 4X6 system, still not the SW150), and I did buy one and works fine, I don't know after 3 or 4 years if they have all the filter available in this 150 size or not, I have not looked recently, I regularly use 6 stop small stopper, 10 stop big stopper, 0.9 Reversed GND, both 0.6.and 0.9 Hard and soft edge GND, also CPL, those are the regular filter I have in my bag, back then most of them are not available in the SW 150 system, not sure about today.
Same thing for the Fotodiox, the same kind of method to attach the system to the lens, however, the basic kit or Core kit they called gives you a huge 145mm lens cap so leaving the filter holder on the lens all time and hiking with it is no longer a concern, but that's a 145mm circular filter, CPL issue is fixed, but forget about GND and reversed GND, now you will need to add the upgrade bracket kit to it in order to use the 145mm square GND/Reversed GNDs, and at the time I had this system the upgrade bracket was not yet available, so I was out of lucky because I need square filters.
With that being said, I finally settle down on the Hitech Lucroit system, itas simple and fast, slip on from the from of the lens, I can have the holder and lens adapter ring attached to each others permanently and it will take few seconds to attached to or remove from the lens and I am up and running again, it has all the filter type I need, as well as different varies filter factor from 0.3 all the way to 3.0 to choose from, it's regular GND, and reversed GND as well, most importantly, it's not a dedicated system just for one lens, they make all kind of adapter for most of those lenses that doesn't accept regular filter, such as Canon TSE17, Zeiss 15, Sigma 12-24, Tamron 15-30, Tokina 16-28, Samyang 14, Panasonic 7-14 (for M4/3)...... list go on and on, as well as the regular common thread size from 58mm all the way to 105mm, and I own a lot of those "specialty" lenses, so for me this is a universal system that works with all the lenses I have, something that i won't be able to do if I go with any other system that I am aware of in the market today. I do have few full set of Lee regular 4X6 system with bunch of 4X5 and 4X6 filter from many different manufactures too but they are not useable on some of the lens I have, but they are much smaller and easier to carry around so I still use them side by side with the Lucroit system as I shoot with multiple cameras most of the time, but at the end of the day if I have to pick one system, the Hitech Lucroit 165X200mm system is the one for me.
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Sorry for the late response, but thanks for this hands on experience comment!
Still debating heavily with myself whether I need one of these kits, and which, this definitely helps besides comparing just specs and 'known issues', like the light bleeding on the current Lee kit.
All those rules are not clear cut, often it depends who you are dealing with. If you look at the carry-on rules of different airlines website, they often say, only one piece or a small camera bag, but you never know if you may be unlucky and happen to encounter someone who is overzealous or who had a bad day.
I do wear a vest just in case I had to put a lens in one pocket, but then travelling is quite stressful on long flights when you are flying economy, you would not want to clog your body up too much.
philosomatographer
Leading Member
It really is an exceptionally poor lens for the size / cost. I guess Lenstip.com sums it up best, with statements like:
Since landscapes are usually made on a tripod, and you stop down for maximum DOF, one of my favourites is the manual-focus 28mm f/2.8 AIS. Extremely good at smaller apertures, tiny, hyper-flare-resistant, and built to last a lifetime. No need for a big plastic AF lens for landscape, IMHO.
When I tried one the other day, I honestly thought that it's some sort of joke With that performance, the lens should have been less than half it's size. The 14-24, on the other hand, is greeted with universal praise - despite its cost and size. For reference, from the same site (before anybody accuses them of Nikon-bashing):
One thing to keep in mind: I think it's a common mistake to equate wide-angle with "landscape". Most wide-angle photos that simply attempt to "get it all in" are exceptionally uninteresting. If you wanted one lens to do landscape with, I'd venture that a 24-70 will serve you much better.
Since landscapes are usually made on a tripod, and you stop down for maximum DOF, one of my favourites is the manual-focus 28mm f/2.8 AIS. Extremely good at smaller apertures, tiny, hyper-flare-resistant, and built to last a lifetime. No need for a big plastic AF lens for landscape, IMHO.
Nikonsyncro
Well-known member
Buy the 14-24 and never look back.
Tack sharp wide open in wedding and other indoor related jobs.
Awesome with landscapes. Filters are available.
Tack sharp wide open in wedding and other indoor related jobs.
Awesome with landscapes. Filters are available.
mais51
Senior Member
Get an AFS -18-35- half the size half the cost and twice as good !
AM4L
Senior Member
the new Tamron SP 15-30 F/2.8 IF VC USD. It rocks!
slidingmike
Active member
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I want to love my 18-35 AFS -- it's great, lightweight single lens solution to carry in the mountains. BUT... it's slow (hard to capture those pre-dawn shots high on a snowfield), and, worst of all, mine has the worst flare characteristics I've ever seen (so shooting towards the sun during the daytime is out, too). I'm surprised the flare issue is never mentioned.
mais51
Senior Member
All lens has flare shooting straight into the sun, as a photographer we must learn how to avoid or minimise it - sometimes I find just move a little, change the angle a little make a lots of different. I was shooting the Athabasca Glacier directly into the sun and massively reflect sunlight and I could see the flare but by angling the lens I was able to minimise it.
Athabasca Glacier D800 24-120 F4
slidingmike
Active member
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Sorry, but calling bulls**t. Put the sun in your shot and let me know how it works. Compared to the 14-24.
mais51
Senior Member
The series of photos taken at the Athabasca Glacier all have the sun in them, I just edited it out in Lightroom, as you can see there is sun flare at the top of the photo - I just have to go back to my Canadian Rockies catalog to re-export these photos. Technically may be interesting to someone but artistically not much chop !
Just saying with careful planing one can avoid sun flare
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