F2.8 vs F4 Lens | Can you REALLY tell the difference?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ธ.ค. 2024
- Is it worth always try to get the most expensive lens or is there a risk of diminishing returns. In this not very scientific video I go on a sunrise shoot and print some images to see if you can tell the difference...
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Beautiful photos.
I’m 76 with degenerative disc disease in my lower spine.
I still so enjoy getting out in nature with my camera.
It’s a challenge though.
Hope things are well and you're still out shooting! :)
have fun!
Hi nigel... Last week I mentioned my zone broke his neck in an accident and therefore photography has stopped in this house. Well on Wed he had surgery, like you, that promises to transform his life, so in celebration and anticipation... I'm taking an hour out with my camera, thank you for your inspiration!
When it comes to landscape photography I wouldn't even bother looking for f2.8. but there are a lot of other situations and scenarios where a f4 is not enough. So maybe if someone is only in landsape photography, the f4 lens is an ok option. Beautiful photos though! As always 😉
Yes definitely
@@simonpayne7994 YOU SAID IT ALL...a fast lens 1 stop down is sharp as piss :)
Lets play Spot the Pixel Peeper.
At the end of the day, if Nigel had to mark which photo was which to tell them apart then that pretty much says all that needs to be said. 'A good photographer will take a good photo no matter what equipment they use - Henri Cartier-Bresson'.
@@simonpayne7994 yep, that's what paraphrasing pretty much what I said. 👍
Nigel,
Just wanna say man. When I need motivation or inspiration you’re who I go to. The shots you make are so much more than visually appealing. Truly the ansel Adam’s of our time. Thanks man
totally agree for a lot of situations, don't spend your money if you shoot landscape or street photography, especially on daylight. But I'm a wedding photographer and a 2.8 DEFINITELY makes a difference in a dark room or church :)
The heather looks so beautiful! I currently have the 24-70 f/4 and strive to keep my camera bag as light as possible because...well, I am under 5 feet tall, so the weight of my camera bag is a major factor in anything I buy, and I do lots of hiking with my camera! So, thank you for doing a comparison between the f/2.8 and f/4, it helped solidify that for my landscape photography, the 24-70 f/4 is all I truly need! 😀
The F4 is a very high quality lens. I think Nikon decided that when they went to mirrorless, they wanted a fantastic lens with the kit. I ended up replacing mine with the 24-120, also a fantastic 1000 dollar lens. For weight, the F/4 is the choice.
Did the same, but imho the 24-70 f4 is not nearly getting the love it deserves. It's getting treated like the ugly duckling of the Z lens lineup, which probably says a lot about the overall quality of the Nikkor Z lenses. But except for the increased focal range with the 24-120, the 24-70 f4 is a really great lens, not deserving of the (often disparaging) "kit lens" moniker. I'd rather call it a "deluxe kit" lens, which it really is.
It’s a little stressful coming back but you are still number one in my book and a lot of other followers feel the same keep up the good work NIgel
When I bought my Z7 I bought it as a bundle with the 24-70 F4 and the FTZ adapter. It made the lens so cheap, I did have the 24-70 2.8 F mount and yes now that I have compared them the 2.8 is gone. The F4 is sharp enough for what I require and it is sharp. I think I may go for the 24-120 F4. I do not think these lenses will take the battering the pro lenses do but as far as sharpness they are very very close. Nice to see you getting out and about again time is a great healer take care.
"Now there are a few things I'm not quite happy with"
Shows a picture that utterly awesome....
Thanks!
Thanks so much - really appreciate that
I use to think that f2.8 was a huge deal. A few months back, I took a fast prime into the field and vwalla: after reviewing the metadata, there wasn't a single shot over f4. Most of them were around 6-8.
The Canon f4 I shoot with also has another feature I love, its got a macro mode and you can lock into. Pretty versatile.
so true, same here......
Love the shots! I bought my 2.8, not for landscape work, but for chasing my grandson around in low indoor light. It works beautifully for that - as does my 2.8 70-200.
@@johnsmith1474 True that, but I’m already pushing the ISO setting to keep my shutter speed high enough to avoid blur and the 2.8 DOF is great for shooting people.
I got the f/4 lens on your previous recommendations, Nigel. I'm grateful you've made these videos and observations about the two. I was on a tight budget when I got my Z7 and didn't feel like I was "missing out" picking up the f/4 instead of the f/2.8. Thanks!
I wish I had an eye like you Nigel. The way you can analyze the scene and come up with the framing is just impeccable
“A little rusty” I don’t think so Nigel. It’s great to see you back doing what you love.
Excellent video as always, Nigel. I used to carry the holy trinity of lenses in f/2.8. Now that I'm getting up in age, I've abandoned all my 2.8 glass, with the exception of my 15-35mm since I also do some nightscapes. Otherwise, I would have all f/4 glass. I haven't missed the heavier lenses at all.
If you haven't done it already, I would be very interested in seeing your process for combining exposure and focus bracketed photos .
Great comparison - its what's behind the camera that makes the difference. Thank you Nigel.
Nigel, I’m so glad you’re back out! Your work is incredibly inspiring. Watching your videos makes me feel peaceful and content. Great way to start off my day. Thank you for all you do!
I have an F4 lens. And man it is sharp! Have rented a few 2.8s and genuinely think it's so marginal it isnt really worth the money. Although the Tamron lenses are so affordable they are tempting.
Really enjoyed the show. For minimizing weight I'd really recommend the 24-120. Fantastic lens with so much more range. Enjoy your content - hope the back works out well for you. Been there - no fun.
Mine finally arrived a month ago! Super happy with it. Too bad I've been working so much I only managed to take it for a spin once in that timeframe.
As much as I like the 24-70 for its weight and IQ, for me the 24-120 means I never have to get a telephoto. 100-120mm is plenty long enough for me, but 70 makes me wish for something longer.
Glad to see you out and about again. Thanks to Ann for helping out!
Hi Nigel, hope you getting well soon.
I had a similar problem with my back and I was stuck at home for 2 weeks, lying on my bed. Now I'm getting better but still struggle to go out and walk, take photos and make videos.
So when I saw this video with my fiancee and she saw your wife carrying your backpack, she recognize herself in that role 😅
So she says "hi and stay strong" to both ❤
Another interesting video Nigel - thanks! I wish my best was as good as your rusty. Great to see the back progressing & you're listening to it. Return to full strength soon!
Again, thanks for the comparison and insight. I also appreciate that you are critical of your own work and went through the objective reasons.
Same situation with Canon RF lenses and their 15-35 f/2.8 and 14-35 f/4. For landscapes, interiors, architecture, etc, f/4 is all one really needs.
I bought the 2.8 for it's versatility. For an enthusiast like me, I don't always use the lens for landscape only. I use it for portrature/friends/family/weddings/holiday/general use, too. It's very helpful in low light situations and it is the pinnacle of sharpness/beautiful rendering in any camera manufacturer's 24-70 focal range(zooms), usually..
I won't go near weddings or other events without my 2.8 lenses.
Great to see you out and. About again Nigel ! Glad you’re doing better.
Good to see you back out again and also good to see you have the sense to not overdo it.
Nigel, this video has come at a great time, just as I was thinking of upgrading lenses etc, hope the back is feeling better soon.
Thanks Nigel! Good to see you out and about.
👏👏👏 for your lovely wife for helping you! Thanks for all the quality work!
Thanks for your view on the F2.8 & F4 lens. Much appreciated. Beautiful landscape.
The f/4 is even significantly cheaper than its list price if you get it as part of a kit. Seems like a no-brainer unless you really need the wider aperture. The 24-70 f/4 vs 24-120 f/4 might be a more interesting comparison for landscape photography.
Glad to see you out and about!
Just wanted to comment to say that this is the first video of yours that I’ve watched from the field! Waiting for light (looks like I won’t get it), I realized it was Sunday morning and I had good cellular reception!
Nigel, something I've done to help my back was to purchase a padded tool belt with a back support. It allows me to disperse weight to my hips and off my back and shoulders. Great for for very long hikes with heavy tripod and lens. Good video!
Very fair comparison Nigel,Thanks!
Beautiful work Nigel! Lower is bad! Just glad to see you out. Great smile good sir!
As landscape photographer I prefer the F4 lenses. Less expensive and less weight. The best spot of my lenses is around F8, so why bother.... Great video.
Great video, as always, Nigel. Lovely images. The best one is your wife walking beside you because that is what love looks like and nothing is more beautiful.
Glad you’re on the mends… happy to see you posting again.
Great to see you out and shooting, Nigel.
Really good to see you getting back to normal, and hopefully the back will continue to get stronger. Beautiful image(s) you've got there. Give my best to Pebbles.
Many thanks to your "sherpa" for helping you get out as soon as possible. Good to see you back out there - always look forward to your videos.
No one pays me for my photos (nor would I want them to!) so for me f4 wins hands down. But I’m glad you aren’t afraid to be candid on this issue. Too many hobby photographers chase expense unnecessarily.
Thank your wonderful wife for being your Sherpa. Great to see your comp and reasoning on beautiful scenes
Nice work Nigel, must say that 3 shot vertical pano was brilliant. Glad to see you out and about, fingers crossed your back continues to improve
Great to see you back in the field
I enjoy seeing your thought process. And good for you for getting out and enjoying it! :)
So good to see you back in nature! Fingers crossed your back gets better and better. 🤞
Great to see you out and about Nigel, and good to see that you are looking after your back, easy to let the enthusiasm get the better of you. Some wonderful images there! I think in a landscape only scenario, the F/4 will be fine, still quality glass, and a hell of a lot lighter!
Hi Nigel - great to see you back on the hills. You mention focus stacking and exposure stacking. Any chance of a video covering this workflow please. Many thanks
Loads on my channel or you could check out my Masterclass where I go into more detail...
Great to see you back in the game! All the best!
Nigel on the 2nd image I would have thought you would have needed a much faster shutter speed than 1/2 of a second, you must have waited for the wind to stop? So glad to see you back in the field!
i had the same results and that is why i am just using the F4 Lens. The weight is another reason and I am super happy!
Wondering what you think between the 24-70 F4 and the 24-120mm. I didn't had the chance to try it in the field...
Switched from the 24-70 f/4 to the 24-120 f/4 and couldn't be happier. Aside from the obvious range extension, you get:
- slightly higher sharpness especially at the wind end
- higher max magnification ratio
- an extra control ring and function button
- standard, non-collapsible design (which I vastly prefer)
Usually 2.8 lens are optically more refined. F2.8 are more targeted to the professionals that on certain cenários need to work on challenging light conditions. f:4 are usually built thinking on enthusiasts and amateurs and are cheaper not only for having usually less glass but also a different construction. If we look at sony for example the 2.8 versions are usually GMaster lens and 2 or 3 more more expensive than the equivalente f4. (16-35 is a good example). Now.. if you notice any difference when using at f8 or f11 both lens ? Probably not. At least not for most cases. But if you look close enough there is a substancial difference on IQ on certain cenários. Does it matter? Probably not. And that was the reason I sold my sony a7R4 and reverted back to my fujifilm apsc kit. I don’t see a point on spending so much more for a bit more quality that usually only me can notice the difference. My target audience are not pixel peepers :)
This is really helpful, because I'm here wondering, why would it matter whether it's a 2.8 or a 4 when he's using f11 on the 2.8? So it's not just that the lens can let in more light, and that he's taking advantage of that with these photos, but it's that the lens itself is better, though as you mention, most people won't notice the difference. I'm still a student and trying to figure things out :)
@@L.Spencer I find that technique , correct lighting and good editing are more important than expensive lenses. I photograph weddings with the D750, 50mm 1.8 and 24-120 F4.
Hi Nigel, would you happen to have the photos without all the stacking as well? I'm curious how much of a difference it makes.
That wife of yours is good to you. And to us viewers for getting you back on YT :-)
I use the 2.8 15-30, 24-70 & 70-200. It’s not so much the wide aperture, but the extraordinary work that’s gone into them that gives me sharpness edge to edge that the cheaper lenses just cannot give me. Carrying up to 10kg of camera and lenses is a Herculean task, but we’ll worth it in my mind.
That said, your average punter wouldn’t know. And if it saves your back, then it’s a no-brainer.
Yup, that covers it. If you use the f2.8 you never have to wonder which is better.
is it just me or are these last few videos super sharp...it feels like the video quality is at a new level
I love this video Nigel - such a beautiful location. I was born near the Roaches so it took me back to my youth. It made me think though that it would be nice if you could post the locations more precisely for your videos that are in a specific spot.
Excellent video Nigel. I have both lenses and for the most part, especially when traveling, the f4 is the lens in the bag. Moreover, the 24-120 is my go to lens that covers most of the range I need especially for street work. 24-70 f2.8 has more glass, better construction and is brighter, which I find useful when weight is not an issue.
I own both and I'd say I still slightly prefer the 2.8. Firstly I'm a pixel peeper and I'd say the 2.8 seems to record higher frequency information better.(meaning the brighter parts of an image.). It definitely looks a tiny bit more cleanere and crispier when you stare the image for long enough. And I'm a firm believer that you buy nice it or you buy it twice. Buying an F4 will probably not settle you once for all, unless you swear to do landscape only for your entire life. For me it is the reverse case that I'm loving my 2.8 so much that I bought the F4 for daily use so I can avoid major wear and tear or even damage to my best lens, while in daily practice and just randomly capturing spontaneous moment in life but still with a decent quality lens. On the rebuttal side though, 2.8 does come with a huge vignette especially at wider apertures(that is you use the camera matching profiles). And it somewhat seems slightly warmer in rendition compare to the F4.(the latter seems to consistantly produce more colorful images in comparison) just my experience with the 2 copies in my possession. YMMV.
It's silly. People came trying their worst to attack everything you said. Not hard to tell what's really on their motive. First, if you don't own both lenses at the same time but only judge from the detail in video or anything, you've got no credit to argue here. Your words maybe less stinky than a pile of shit that is about the usefulness and accountability of them.
clean and crispy high frequency detail aren't just something you can "achieve in post". That immediately gives it away you're not arguing based any fact/evidence. When I first got the F4 lens I shot both lenses back to back. Same Z7II same tripod same composition at every FL with different aperture making series shots of distant cityscape. At equal amount of sharpening there is a consistant lead for the f2.8. What do you have here to defend that rather claim things you saw in the video? Or what? you buy a F4 lens and sharpen it past 100 "in post" to try to beat the 2.8? Of course you may have that. That is not comparison, that is silly workflow and your pathetic display of not being able to realize your place and trying to argue on something you completely have no idea about. The F4 is a very good lens. But my honest conclusion derived from my tests is that there is still a difference. If people can't take that, it is their own problem. Also, post doesn't adjust everything like magic. Investment bias? LUL why do I have people who can't even invest trying to question my results here?
Next, wanna talk about large prints? Hah! even more stupid argument here! Guess what? the very TH-camr here had made videos before comparing his Z5 and Z7 switching lenses and see if 24mp is good enough for making large prints, and guess what? the better lens always produce better prints no matter on whichever body. That is a slap to your [ "pixel peeping" is a nonsense issue even at his large print size]. Even though that was comparing to a lower end superzoom. But for these type of works you're mostly shooting smaller f-stops and that usually gives a chance for the lower end lens to catch up in terms of optical performance.
The same goes for color rendering. I mean, everything I said are backed by my own tests of the copy I own. What do you even have? You attacked on everything claiming they're all in my head. But I could just see a repeating pattern here: It's actaully all in your head. You didn't argue a single thing based on any level comparison. It only gives me the impression you're one of those zombie like followers/consumer of contents that believes whatever the TH-camr said in their video. I think I've wasted enough time on just another bot.
Not rusty at all, such beautiful images!!
Z 24-120 f4 is my go to lens right now, it’s rarely off my camera honestly. 😎📸
I often shoot land/city/waterscapes at night. Since a fast zoom is out of my budget, I use fast primes and pretty much use my zooms for the day.
Hi Nigel, love your videos!!
I wanted to suggest that you make a video showing your favourite photography locations in the Lake District/Peak District.
I live in Australia and am planning to visit England soon, I would love to know of some great locations to make the most of the trip!
Keep up the good work 👍
I got a 24-70 f2.8L, 24-105L and just got the 24-70 f4L. For my experience is the best out of all three. The reason is lite, is sharper than all three, is really good at focusing, it has macro and comes with a hood.
More importantly the barrel distortion is minimal and disappear at 35 and 50mm.
The IQ and colour are superior and doesn't sofer from chromatic aberation unlike a fast lens.
I would more likely use the 24-70 F4 for every day use and pull a cheap 50 f1.4 or 1.8 when it get dark.
It don't zoom in and out on any zoom lens, what I do is set individual focal length as if they are separate lenses. For example 24, 35, 50 and leave the end like 70 or 105 to blure the background or for portrait.
In my case I won't be missing 105mm of the 24-105 I'll probably sell it and enjoy more the 24-70 f4.
So wonderful to see you back out in the field! Thank you for the wonderful video!
Good to see you back in action.
I think a lot of people have sold their 24-70 f4 S lenses to buy the 24-120 f4 S. I have loved my 24-70 f4 and won't let it go. It is a fantastic lens, and is probably one of the best used lens buys at the moment as all the sales have depressed the value a bit.
And thats the lens i want as well. The 24-120. Although my 24-70 has came in handy. I most definitely want that thee other
As a landscaper, I agree that f4 zooms make the most sense. But sometimes those 2.8 versions have other attributes like better coatings that help with contrast and color in flaring situations. That's where the difference in IQ becomes apparent, though it will vary from brand to brand, model to model
Coating is identical on these 2 lenses I think
@@NigelDanson f2.8 version has Areneo coating, Supposedly gives better contrast and reduces Lens flare.
Reality is the difference is so small it's not worth worrying about, only reason to buy the f2.8 version is if you actually need 2.8 for low light etc.
Lovely video as usual. The F4 plus a trip to a dream travel landscape location vs the F2.8 in my living room. The F4 wins. I’ll have to rewatch this video to remedy GAS.
Wonderful images! Appreciate you sharing this comparison, very interesting and compelling.
Thankyou. From the start you are full of info and straight into what helps us. Takes me away from daily stuff and into my hobbie
Sorry , how is pebbles??
Gorgeous location. Fantastic photos. Nice colors. Glad your doing a bit better. As always thanks for the great video.
Thank you for a great video Nigel! I could definitely tell you were happy to be back photographing again.
I see a difference in contrast between the f/2.8 and f/4 versions (the 2.8 being slightly higher contrast), but the difference could easily come from post processing.
Your back must be a lot better, Nigel. I have just scouted this area and am amazed you even attempted the ascent!
I’m always telling people exactly that. Glad to see you run in around. 👍🏼
Just received my Sony PZ 16-35 F4. Couldn't justify the 2.8 GM. If I do any astro in the future, I'll plunk down for a 1.4/1.8 prime. Thx for the content and feel better... trust me I empathize.
Yet another fantastic video! I cannot wait to get your calendar. Great video as always!
Nigel, I love this composition. 👌 Thanks for another fantastic video.
Good to see you out walking. I just found your channel, and intend to spend hours absorbing your knowledge.
I use f4 zooms and add a couple of wide aperture primes for the times I might need it, like a wide angle f2 for Astro and an f1.4 portrait lens. They are cheaper and higher quality than fast zooms, and f2.8 isn’t really fast enough in low light anyway! I find f2.8 zooms a pointless compromise. But I’m a landscaper and architecture guy doing very occasional portraits.
Nigel I just love your studio. I really want to have one exactly like yours in the future
The Lexar cards he mentioned have been sooo good in my experience. Would also recommend personally.
You can when you break the 300 dpi printing barrier or cropping , pro glass does pip the post
Beautiful photos as always. It is really nice to see how much your wife really cares about by carrying your gear up that hill. For me I always go for the F2.8 lens only because I also do some portrait photography on the side. Keep up the great work and hopefully your back gets better by the time fall foliage arrives.
Ann is ace!
@@NigelDanson I can tell and it is just amazing to see that. Can't wait for next weeks video and hope you have a good week.
If I were a landscape guy I’d definitely choose the f4 versions. But for what I do I need that wider aperture
astrophotography maybe
@@mere_mort4l nah I shoot fashion, portraits, and street
Great video great audio. Great pictures. 👍
Great location. Great light. Great gear. But a wife that will get up early and porter your gear when your back is recuperating. that is priceless. better than master card.
Nigel, You're being too hard on yourself. That image shown at timestamp 15:00 is simply incredible. I'm really picky when it comes to composition (thanks to your videos through the years) and I love everything about it.
Very enlightening video, thank you. I would also like to say well done to the person behind the video camera - excellent footage!
Just a great video! Love your explanations, Nigel--so much to consider when composing and finalizing the shot. Even the music (I had never heard "There He Goes" by Loving Caliber before so this was a learning moment, too).
Normally f8 is where you start to get pretty reasonable cross-frame sharpness, but some lenses require a bit more stopping down to get comparable sharpness in the corners. Perhaps your f/4 needed a bit more stopping down?
Also,f/4 lenses are usually designed for excellent cross-frame sharpness due to their main purpose in landscape photography, so it would be very odd if it didn’t perform at least on par with the f/2.8.
From what I've seen (at least from reviews and MTF charts), most modern lenses tend to be the sharpest around f/5.6 and lose sharpness starting around f/11.
Great images, at a great location, on a beautiful morning. Too bad you didn't have more going on in the sky. I agree that you don't need the f/2.8 for landscapes. I hope you back continues to improve.
Hi Nigel - as someone who also suffers from back problems I've used SnapBridge quite frequently and had very good results. It's much better than not being able to get the shot all together. Since you haven't mentioned it, I wondered if you've ever used it and if so how you liked it. Thanks again for getting back out there and helping the rest of us get better photos!!
Yes - I use it a bit
@@NigelDanson Since you haven't mentioned SnapBridge I wondered how you felt about it. I use it whenever I need to get low but can't risk triggering more back pain.
The print at 14:43 looks great, I do not agree about the difference in the heather in shadow at the right bottom and the warm sunlit heather in the upper left corner, but I do not think that the sky/clouds looks good, I would have done something to it or cropped a bit of the top off.