NikonGear'23
Gear Talk => Lens Talk => Topic started by: PeterN on July 02, 2019, 18:51:33
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I did not see a thread focusing on this lens so I thought to start one. If I missed something perhaps the mods can merge this post into the existing thread.
I tested the lens this afternoon. Well, testing is a big word for what I did but I did some boring comparison shots from f4-f16 for focal length 24-38-35-50-70mm. Photos were made of a brick wall (yawn) and a resolution card. There is noticeable lack of sharpness at f4 at every focal length near the edges. Things improve at every aperture (number) increase. Even f16 looks better than f4. The worst focal length is 35mm as the center is also quite unsharp. In addition, the lens is no match with the 35mm and 50mm primes in my case.
Do you have similar experience? If not, I might have an inferior copy. I am curious to your thoughts and experience.
Thank you.
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Hm. My copy of the 24-70 is sharp across the entire frame at all settings. There *is*, however, severe vignetting on the wide end.
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Hm. My copy of the 24-70 is sharp across the entire frame at all settings. There *is*, however, severe vignetting on the wide end.
Does that "translate" that into softness? I've read that Adobe automatically corrects distortion and vignetting. BTW I did not notice much vignetting in photomechanical either.
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No, just darker corners.
I processed the files in Photo Ninja. It ignores any maker-specific instruction for geometry correction.
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No, just darker corners.
I processed the files in Photo Ninja. It ignores any maker-specific instruction for geometry correction.
Ok. Thank you. I will bring my copy back to the shop
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My copy is pretty sharp and is at least as sharp in the center as my 24-70E (which is going) and better in the corners.
All the reviews from reputable reviewers I’ve read are pretty positive about this lens.
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There is noticeable lack of sharpness at f4 at every focal length near the edges.
Some have reported field curvature with this lens, so that would show up with brick wall tests and shots near infinity, but not for regular 3D subjects.
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I find it to be rather sharp. There is some geometric distortion, but the lens profile for it can automatically correct.
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Thanks everyone for your thoughts and experience.
I did get another copy and did another let's-make-photos-of-a-resolution-chart-yippie test (at 24-35-50-70mm and apertures 4-5.6-8-11-16).
This copy looks definitely sharper at focal lengths 24 and 35mm at all apertures. At 50 and 70mm both are more comparable although there is still a slight difference. The biggest difference is at 35mm. I must say that both copies show a clear difference in sharpness between f4 and f5.6/ Much more so than the primes. But it might all be a matter of perception.
Anyway, thanks for your help. I will keep my second copy.
May the photo-show begin in this thread...
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Another excellent Z lens!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49623166753_b6648e3845_h.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48506305366_79c63190e4_h.jpg)
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Another excellent Z lens!
Must agree, even in night photography it work very fine
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I just now see some remarks about this lens, as not their cop of tea.
Maybe we should get some more information regarding the downside of the this f4 lens.
I have been happy with mine, easy to travel with at take pretty sharp images.
Just added one to show, also the out of focus areas.
My great grand son.
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Nice image, Bent.
Within the limitations of the f4 aperture I'm very happy with the optical performance of the 24-70mm f4 S. For the relatively low price I can't fault this lens on handling, build and performance.
Skagen (Denmark)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49187396573_abcea87b04_h.jpg)
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Nice image of Skagen, how did you get that high vantage point?
I was visiting Skagen this autumn.
I agree without you on the 24-70
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Thanks Bent. My wife and I were there May 2019. Skagen was a stop on our Baltics/St Petersburg cruise. The posted image was shot from the upper deck of the cruise ship.
Here's another one from Skagen.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49186307518_d6d909d2d4_h.jpg)
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Corner performance is very good. This image shot at 24mm f5.6.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48506647212_30b525b057_h.jpg)
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Another one at 24mm f5.6.
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Saint Petersburg/Russia.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47974412086_05b5dfb3f2_h.jpg)
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Great images Luc.
The 24-70mm has been a pro photographer' workhorse in any configuration, so common and
nothing special? ;)
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IF, I had a Z body, that lens would certainly be the first Z lens that I would choose for it!
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If I had a Z body, that lens would certainly be the first Z lens that I would choose for it!
If you're getting a Z body then you can get this lens at a 40% discount as part of a kit, at least in the U.S. I found the f/4 aperture and 70mm upper limit to the zoom range somewhat limiting on my one major outing with this lens late last year, but then I'd been spoiled by shooting with f/1.8 primes previously. The lens is a very nice compromise between size and quality. I'd still prefer the outstanding 24-70 f/2.8 except when I need to stay smaller and lighter, or alternately, shooting with primes. I wish Nikon would come out with a 105mm f/1.8 S-series lens. That would make a nice three-lens kit with the 24mm and 50mm lenses.
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If you're getting a Z body then you can get this lens at a 40% discount as part of a kit, at least in the U.S. I found the f/4 aperture and 70mm upper limit to the zoom range somewhat limiting on my one major outing with this lens late last year, but then I'd been spoiled by shooting with f/1.8 primes previously. The lens is a very nice compromise between size and quality. I'd still prefer the outstanding 24-70 f/2.8 except when I need to stay smaller and lighter, or alternately, shooting with primes. I wish Nikon would come out with a 105mm f/1.8 S-series lens. That would make a nice three-lens kit with the 24mm and 50mm lenses.
I'm aware of the discount on the 24-70 as a kit lens with the Z6. I'm also aware that some here are not fans of the 24-70. However, that lens is behind many intriguing images posted on this site, and I'm sure that it would please me.
Looking at lens choices that users might pick, it's seldom that you could not cite a better lens to replace it, but usually at a much higher cost. ;)
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I just now see some remarks about this lens, as not their cop of tea.
Maybe we should get some more information regarding the downside of the this f4 lens.
I have been happy with mine, easy to travel with at take pretty sharp images.
Just added one to show, also the out of focus areas.
My great grand son.
Nice capture of your grandson! Great environmental portrait showing the sharpness and fine optical properties of the 24-70 f/4 S ;)
Why the 24-70 f/4 S is not on my inventory,,, Well for my use cases it just doesn't tick all the boxes ;)
I prefer lenses with no or very limited geometrical distortion - and if there is distortion that it is an 'uncomplicated' distortion, I have seen the image degradation from removing this distortion in post processing and the in camera firmware processing and I don't like it.
The leica Q, Q2 fixed lens as well as the Leica SL with the zooms are examples of such in camera firmware distortion removal. Looks fine for most images agreed! However for Architectural images as well as nature images with for instance the horizon at the image top or bottom, it's sometimes ruins the IQ image possibilities.
For stitching panoramas this shows up as well - Yes first when you push the files,,, I push my files,,, 8)
That's why I use zooms with little or no geometrical distortion at most focal lengths;14-24mm AFS 2.8 - 24-70mm E AFS 2.8 - 80-200mm AFS 2.8
Fixed lenses are usually easier to find witch are without strange geometrical distortions,,,28mm E 1.4 AFS
These fit the bill regarding distortion but also has enough sharpness to not be a compromise ;)
Last point; I dislike the extending design - I try to avoid them as a mechanical engineer I shake my head when I grab the front of the lens and i wobbles from side to side,,, All this talk about IQ and precision ground elements and tolerances,,, and the whole lens assembly shifts around :o :o :o