So does the 14-30 not match the 24-120 for sharpness?

[Superscroll]

the 14-30 isn't internal focus?

 

[Colonel Angus]

the 14-30 isn't internal focus?

sorry, I meant internal zoom.

 

[sirhawkeye64]

I had this on my list but have watched/read several reviews of late that this lens just doesn't live up to the rest of the S line and falls well short of the twice as expensive 14-28. Do you guys agree with these assessments? If $2k for the 14-28 is a bit steep would you opt instead for a 16 or so prime? Maybe Viltrox? Not sure the Nikon 20 1.8 is wide enough to give the expansive feel.

I'm on a self imposed purchase ban for a while but it's still fun to plan ahead!

Well, not really, at the wide end at least, although both lenses are weakest at their widest focal lengths and both are f/4 throughout the zoom range, that's about where the similarities end. But really, by comparing these two, you're really comparing apples to a tomato.

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* PLEASE NOTE: I generally unsubscribe from forums/comments after a period of time has passed, so if I do not respond, that is likely the reason. *

 

[Nevermess]

For me the biggest issue with 14-30mm is the performance variation berween different copies of this lens. I have tried to buy it twice and both times I did not like the particular copies. I have seen very good copies of that lens as well.
24-120mm seems much more consisten. Also 14-30mm f4 seems a bit overpriced for whAt it is. I have bought Tamron 15-30 f2.8 f mount for the same price.

 

[TheSoaringSprite]

I had this on my list but have watched/read several reviews of late that this lens just doesn't live up to the rest of the S line and falls well short of the twice as expensive 14-28. Do you guys agree with these assessments? If $2k for the 14-28 is a bit steep would you opt instead for a 16 or so prime? Maybe Viltrox? Not sure the Nikon 20 1.8 is wide enough to give the expansive feel.

I'm on a self imposed purchase ban for a while but it's still fun to plan ahead!

If you're going to pixel-peep the corners, that's the weakest point for the 14-30mm f/4. It's plenty sharp everywhere else.

Of course the Z 14-24mm is a little bit sharper throughout the frame (mostly the very corners) and has a faster aperture, so it is more expensive. If you don't like to compromise on any part of the image, the Z 14-24mm is going to be the right choice.

You can go to DPreview's sample photo gallery with both lenses, download the RAW files and peak at them yourself! Here's the link . These sample shot RAW files is what convinced me I'd be happy with it.

Here's my 14-30mm photo gallery. It's also nice to be able to use circular filters that easily mount to the front of the lens.



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http://www.dreamsourcestudio.com
@TheSoaringSprite

 

[Nebido]

As mentioned briefly earlier, there is now an alternative for the Z mount in the form of the Tamron 16-30mm f2.8 Di III G2 Z-mount version.

It is likely to be in a similar league to the Z 14-30/4 S in terms of optics, but is cheaper and faster at f/2.8.

Tamron 16-30mm f2.8 Di III G2 review | Cameralabs

www.cameralabs.com

If 14mm isn't a must-have, I would at least take a look at it.

Unlike the Z 14-30/4 S, the Tamron does not change its overall length when zooming, has no lock mechanism, but does have a configurable FN button.

 

[whoosh1]

For others it may turn them off, but I don't see it as a big negative for my use. I have both 14-24 f2.8 and 14-30 f4. I use either based on whether I want to use conventional filters or I want f/2.8.

I was always quite happy with the image quality of the 14-30 and don’t notice it being any worse than the 24-120 that I often use as a travel lens on the Z6III.

I sold the 14-30 and bought the 14-24 f2.8 because I didn’t like the ‘twist to turn on’ function of the 14-30 (and the 24-70 f4), although this doesn’t bother some users.

Exactly.. that feature is terrible on the 14-30 F4, 24-70 F4 Z etc...(collapsible lens garbage) It's great until you Twist to turn it on and than it suddenly becomes 1 inch plus bigger in length too. The 14-30 once you twist to turn it, is nearly almost as long in length as the F2.8 14-24.

14-30mm F4 is 4.50 inches length once you unlock it (only way to use it).

14-24mm F2.8 is 4.9 inches length.

 

[monte12345]

With a 14mm lens the details in an image will be half the size of those same details using a 28mm lens. So if you magnify the 14mm image detail to match the size of the same detail from a 28mm lens the 28mm lens will appear much sharper. Because you are magnifying the detail to half that for the 14mm image.

Keep this firmly in mind when comparing lenses of differing focal lengths. It may well be that the 14-30mm lens appears softer due to more magnification and not due to a flaw in the lens.

Note, I have a 27 inch 4K monitor for my desktop system. On my system a 100% peep works out to a 37.5 X magnification. So what I see in that peep is close to being equivalent to part of a 36 x 54 inch print. When I am making a decision on whether a lens is "good enough" I do it at 100% because I know quite well I wont ever have a print larger than 36 inches made. While I don't have the 14-30 Nikkor Z I'm pretty certain it is more than "good enough". If you decide my method of evaluation is interesting look into it and you will find a very wide selection lenses that cost a lot less than the superpremiums and get excellent results.

 

[Superscroll]

Great videos Sprite, thanks for posting those. First video the thing that grabbed me was his comment on contrast. That extra pop is certainly desirable but then he says you wouldn't look at a 14-30 image and say 'needs more pop' unless you saw it next to the same from a 14-24. I then wonder how much of that can you make up for in post.

Second video with the 200% zoom would seem to make the 2.8 a no brainer but 200% is quite a bit of zoom.

Also helpful to see the lenses next to each other. Has me wondering what sort of velcro gymnastics I'd need to perform to fit the 2.8 in my bag.

 

[Rene Gr]

Has this been linked already?

Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S Review - Page 3 of 6

A hands-on lab review of the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S, a portable ultra-wide lens for Nikon's mirrorless system. See how it measures up.

photographylife.com

It tells the same story as the videos. The 14-24 is performing better. But the 14-30 is really impressive already. For my use, it is way good enough.