Nikon 24-70mm f4 S

[PeterN]

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.

[Birna Rørslett]

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.

[PeterN]

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.

[Birna Rørslett]

No, just darker corners.

I processed the files in Photo Ninja. It ignores any maker-specific instruction for geometry correction.

[PeterN]

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

[chris dees]

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.

[Roland Vink]

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.

[Jack Dahlgren]

I find it to be rather sharp. There is some geometric distortion, but the lens profile for it can automatically correct.

[PeterN]

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...

[Luc]

Another excellent Z lens!

[Bent Hjarbo]

Another excellent Z lens!

Must agree, even in night photography it work very fine

[Bent Hjarbo]

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.

[Luc]

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)

[Bent Hjarbo]

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

[Luc]

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.