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| Michael Ng | profile | all galleries >> Photo Gear & Reviews >> 24mm f/1.4G AFS Review | tree view | thumbnails | slideshow |
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For years Nikon users were hoping for the long overdue replacement of the legendary 28mm f/1.4D. Prices were hovering around the ridiculous for this lens which was the only other alternative to the manual focus 35mm f/1.4 if you were looking for that elusive wide FOV with shallow DOF effect. The wait has both pleasantly and expensively ended with the announcement of Nikon’s most expensive AF-S wide prime, the Nikon 24mm f/1.4G AF-S ED. |
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Lens Construction: 12 elements/10 groups (2 ED glass elements, 2 aspherical lens elements and Nano Crystal Coat)
Minimum f/ Stop: 16 Closest Focusing Distance: 0.25m Maximum Reproduction Ratio: 0.179 Filter Attachment Size: 77mm Lens Cap: Snap On Weight (Approx.): 620g Supplied Accs: LC-77 cap, LF-1 Rear cap, BH-51 Hood, CL-1118 pouch. |
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What’s in the Box: Upon opening the box, you’re greeted with the new Nikon packaging style, which uses a hard plastic casing for the lens body and a cardboard box for the hood. Also included of course is the warranty card and the user’s manual. Nothing else out of the ordinary here. Costmetics: The lens had a fairly large barrel. This comes with the f/1.4 territory. It feels great on a D700 with or without the vertical grip. It may be a tad unbalanced with the lighter and smaller Nikon bodies. But this lens is best unleashed on an FX body anyway. The finish is Nikon’s trademark crinkle finish. It’s a plastic base with some spatter-like patterns that creates a nicer feel and better grip on the lens. In recent times Nikon has come under some scrutiny for using more plastic-like materials. But I don’t think anyone should be too concerned over the durability of this lens. It still feels very robust. The front element is a spherical element which is recessed below the lenses’ filter threads so its well protected and even better protected with the hood on. There’s a rear gasket as with the professional line of Nikkors for weather sealing. Selling points: With the release of the 35mm f/1.4G, many photographers were left wondering which lens should they pick should cost not be an issue. For me, the decision was down to the filter size and the close focusing capability. The 24mm focuses down to 0.25m while the 35mm focuses down to 0.3m. That 5cm difference may not sound like much but think about the additional field of view that affords you if you’re in a cramped space. The other plus point was that the lens accepts 77mm filters. If you have a collection of Nikon pro glass you’d know that the 77mm is the most common size and you’d probably already have some investment in filters of that size. Great news that you wouldn’t have to spend any more on a new polarizer. This lens does not feature Nikon’s Vibration Technology, which probably would have added more heft, bulk and cost to the lens. I don’t see this as a deal breaker for me but it would have been nice to have if I could get more DOF in low light conditions while handholding the camera. Performance: >Auto Focus: As we’d come to expect from pro Nikon glass with AF-S motors, the AF is quick and silent. The large aperture and lens elements help the camera’s AF acquire its focus more easily as well. However I must admit that there were times when I wasn’t sure if focus was locked with the shallow depth of field and the silent AF. I tend to shoot with the AF “beep” feature turned OFF. >Image Quality: This lens was my first lens with Nikon’s Nano Crystal coat. Thus I was interested to know what all the fuss was about. So a quick test shooting into the sun satisfied my curiosity. Ghosting and flaring was extremely well controlled. Better than I’ve seen my favorite, the 17-35mm f/2.8D perform in similar conditions. I was sold. The sharpness of this lens is fantastic as well, bringing up fine detail with ease just as long as you have your shutter speeds in check. Vignetting is not an issue with this lens. Bokeh is lovely. Out of focus elements appeared creamy smooth. Distortion is extremely well controlled. Shooting interiors was a pleasure as straight lines remained straight across the frame. Conclusion: The 24mm f/1.4G brings up a new way of producing those wideangle images with paper-thin DOF. The features bundled with this lens make for a very versatile package for wedding shoots, full-length portraiture, interior/architectural shoots, and product photography. If the cost is not prohibitive, this lens is a great lens to have in your bag. I must say that the field of view may not fit into everyone’s general shooting style. So at the end of the day pick the right tool for the job. Pros: - Close focusing ability at 0.25m - 77mm filter threads - Superb image quality - Shallow DOF on a wideangle Cons: - Asking price - Very large diameter barrel - No VRII (nit-picking) ©Michael Ng 2011 |
 Pretty balanced when matched with a D700 
Shooting into the sun shows excellent control of flare/ghosting
Tack sharp images with creamy out of focus elements 
Close focusing easily gets you into the thick of things |
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 Well controlled distortion. |
 Very good detail retention. |
 Another distortion check. |
 Shooting into the sun. Well done. |
 Amazing details even at 100%. |
 Homage... |
 0.25m closeups. |
 Again shooting into the sun. No flaring. |
 Great for food shots. |
 Close focusing is such a gift. |
 Another food shot. |
 One handsome lens |
 Front element is spherical |
 No VR II switches |
 Mated with a D700 |
 Furry Friend |
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