AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED

I purchased my 14-24mm approximately a year ago. Used 2-3x only. Recently came back from Yosemite NP where I had to switch to my 24-70mm F2.8. The images I got with the 14-24mm were unusable at all mm ranges when using F2.8-5.6. The images became usable only when stopped down to F8 or higher. I was using a tripod and ballhead with cable release. Have contacted Nikon to get their thoughts.

It is a lens whose sharp images and full coverage without deterioration from edge to edge are without parallel in my experience. This is undoubtedly the best lens of any kind I have used or purchased. To see its full capability, use a weighted, stable tripod, Nikon Camera Control Pro 2 software, low ISO in a naturally lit room at dusk or later, with a timed exposure at f/2.8 on a camera like my D800. Then explore the result for hours at up to 200% magnification. You will not be disappointed. But, note that to get full performance, a carefully leveled camera held steady at fast shutter speed or on a stable tripod when that is impractical is needed.

When I see reviews that are overwhelmingly positive for any product, I try really hard not to join in the chorus of praise with just another ´´Great lens´´ review.

So, here are some of the already-stated down-sides to this lens: It´s heavy, it´s bulky and it can´t take a filter. One other thing that has been mentioned but not emphasized - light leaks in from weird angles and I think it might have something to do with the way the hood is designed. The hood is a petal shape and the corners may go too deep allowing light to come in from the four corners. You can notice some smudges in the photo below of the star-field and tree tops. These happen when the subject is dark but there are light sources ´´off camera´´.

The up-sides to this lens are legion. It takes sharp sharp sharp photos in the worst lighting conditions and produces amazing colours with no hint of washout. Even at 14 mm, the distortion is minimal in most compositions. I take my best shots with this lens even though I probably only use it for 1 in 10 pictures.

When I show the photos below, I´m always told that I did a great job Photoshop´ing the shots with the Milky Way. I have no way of convincing people that there´s zero post processing on any of these pictures. None. Zilch. I take the Photoshop comments as a compliment to the lens.

This is not a ´´snapshot of family vacations´´ lens or a selfy portrait taking lens. But if you´re looking for a lens that will unleash some creativity in your compositions, this is the best that I have encountered for that.

Most aspects of this lens have been covered in other reviews. I will just say, yes, it is a great lens!!

I will add this , in regards to the ´exposed´ front element. It is a very exposed front element, and some are worried about scratching it. Well, I have to say, so far I have banged that glass twice, and it didn´t leave a scratch on it.
The most recent, I swung the camera to take a shot out of a cockpit window, and caught the map holder on the control column ... a sort of side/sliding blow off the front element of the lens ... in looking at it, I though there was a scratch ... after a cleaning with a cloth, it turned out that it took paint off the map holder, and there was no damage to the lens. So, while I´m sure one could end up scratching it, that front element is far more resilient than most would assume.

That´s what describes this lens! I´ve been waiting too long to buy this lens and the whole time I´ve been thinking if it is worth the money. What about the BIG front crystal? What about the weight? What about the lens´ filters? etc. At last I bought it, even though I still consider myself a beginner! Yes there´s a big front crystal, yes it´s a heavy lens and yes there´s that filter problem! What I think? It´s a pro lens! If it wasn´t heavier because of ALL those crystals it has inside what would it be? Its sharpness is JUST incomparable. Its colors are extremely vivid even at night. Great contrast, ULTRA-WIDE. Note that I own a D7000 and that I haven´t seen more than half of its potentials yet! I can´t imagine how it performs on a full frame DSLR! It´s a difficult lens to learn since it´s professional! It´s great for landscape, for tall and big buildings since it can capture the whole thing (with perspective). I have also taken some great portrait and even close-up pictures with this lens! Just perfect! Finally, there´s a slight (and when I say slight I mean very slight) distortion (of course), since it´s ULTRA-wide, which I personally think is a tiny problem and you can easily correct it if it bothers you! I don´t think there´s a lens with a maximum angle of view of 90° (on a DX) and 114° (on a FX) with such a slight distortion. I haven´t regret buying this lens and I don´t think I ever will.

Of all the gear in my bag this lens is my prime shooter. I dos wonders with distortion, is fantastic for small work environments, and at a uncommon focal length it it perfect for creative work too. As a press/sports photographer this lens allows me to focus on the story without losing the environment. When it comes to sharpness, this lens comes close to rivaling midrange prime lenses and it has very little falloff and no visible vignetting. I will also give kudos for having the strongest front element of any lens I own It to this day does not have a single scratch visible (under a magnifying glass) even though It has unfortunately found itself in some odd situations (one where it accidentaly hit a metal pole so hard that a piece of metal was stuck to the front element)

This lens is not without beefs however. Unlike my 17-35mm or Dx 10.5mm this lens tens to flare more when a light source (the sun) enters my frame.

Issue #2 is that this lens distorts a bit when coupled to a DX body (not that you should be using one) but when I put it on my D7000 it seems to have a bit of falloff on the edges not seen on my D700/N80 or friend´s Fx bodies.

Issue #3 is both a question and a complaint... who thought it was a good ides to not manufacture a lip on the lens barrel for the lenscap to hug. I have wasted hours looking for that lenscap because it will just ´´fall off´´. The lenscap over time becomes loose and will eventually become loose enough to not stay on properly (you will especially notice this if you shoot with the lens everyday. That story above wouldn´t have happened if the cap had bothered to stay on.

Issue #4 Is not really an issue, but being a superwide It might be helpful to mention that this lens has a distortion quirk. While you have to work to get any linear distortion (it is very good at that) the lens will ´´keystone´´ or accentuate the perspective of an object. It is more noticeable on a unorganic object and if used correctly may help your photography but it does exist

I purchased one of these 3 years ago and found it to be exactly what is advertised. back then it was used with a D3/D2Xs with good results. Here we are and the digital film making era is in full swing and the need for a second angle that also has to be wide prompted the purchase of a second lens. Well worth the price, optical excellence and using it on the current bodies it really does shine. The store location is very tight and the 14-24 is the only option and I took this hand held at 1/60 f7.1 ISO6400 on the D600 as an example.

I have shot only Nikon gear since the early 1970´s and have used most if not all of the variations of F, and now shoot with a D800 which is my dream camera...everything I always wanted in a camera is provided by the D800. Therefore the lenses are the variable. The color rendition is spot on, the autofocusing is fast even in complicated settings and the images are tack-sharp. I have read conflicting comments about its ability to produce rectilinear images. My testing indicates that if the lines in the subject are straight, and if the camera is held straight, the resulting image will be straight with no curvature of the field. I found I was able to create a curved field, and curved straight lines but I also found the curvatures to be easily repaired if they are displeasing for some reason.

I love the slip off lens protector which reveals the lens and the affixed hood. This is a brilliant innovation and I hope they continue to use it in the future.

The zoom ring and the manual override focus ring are easy to access and, to me, they are where they belong, not to mention their material is easy to deal with.

Until I bought the 14-24, the 24-70 and the 70-200mm lenses I used only prime lenses except for a 17-35mm AF-S IF-ED. Given the work I do I´ll keep my primes but, the three new zooms are amazing (read reviews of the other two as long as you´re here).

I´ve been shooting with Nikon glass for 30 years and I have accumulated a number of quality lenses. This one is on the top for clarity and color......they never cease to amaze me. Frankly, it´s worth every penny