I sold all my Sony gear because I never loved it. I changed to Nikon Z and I'm happy with it. It's so intuitiv to handle, lies wonderful in my hand - and the optics are realy great. Regards from Hamburg
Thanks for the low-key review without annoying background music or forced attempts at humor. Too many TH-cam photography reviewers are narcissists who make the video more about themselves than the product in question.
I've gone from my D850 and D4s to a Z6 and Z7. With the DSLRs, I carried around the fabulous Tamron 15-30 f2.8 (Gen 1) and did so for a long time. Like you, I don't shoot ultra-wide often but do like the option when the need or situation arises. The 14-30 f4s has been amazing. It goes in my bag wherever I go and adds very little in terms of weight or space. I seldom shoot astro, and do have a 20mm f1.8g that I have for those occasions. Just the other night I was shooting some awards night pics of winners when I quickly realized my 24-70 2.8s wasn't wide enough for the groups I had and the space I was confined to. I remembered I had the 14-30 in my bag, did a quick lens change and it performed fantastically in a low light situation. It saved my butt, and while it may not be my most used lens it is definitely one I don't leave home without anymore! I I couldn't say that about the big, heavy Tamron.
@Jason Spannagel, as someone who went from the D850 to the Zs, how have you fared with the new system? Was the switch worth it? Do you ever find yourself wanting to go back to the D850? I have a D850 myself, but I travel a lot, and it's hard to carry all the weight. I mean, the camera itself plus the holy trinity give me almost 5 KG, whereas the Z set would give me a total of 2,7 KG. It's just a lot less, which would make life so much easier on my back and knees! I have been seriously tempted to switch to the Z system, but have been timorous. I can't rent/test the new system where I live, and it would be costly to migrate, only to perhaps later regret it and want to go back to the D850. Ideally a good switch would be permanent. I really would love to hear your thoughts on the change from the D850 to the Z system, how it has suited you so far, and whether it's one of those "never looked back" cases. Thanks in advance for any input you can share.
Haggen Kennedy honestly I haven’t looked back. There are quirks about the Z’s with things like sports and birds in flight, but for literally every other situation I’ve preferred the Z’s. I’m hoping those quirks can be fixed with firmware updates. But I’ve been managing even with them. It’s really just a super tiny lag in the evf. If that can be sped up just an instant and they continue to improve eye-detect I would never see a situation where I wanted for my d850 or D4s again. I’ve gotten so used to those cameras now that I’ve never considered going back to a DSLR. Also the s-glass is beyond fabulous. They are just stellar. I’ve preferred my 1.8 35 and 50 to any of the g or d mount 1.4s I’ve used of those lenses. The 24-70 2.8s is the best version of that lens I’ve ever used. The 14-30 is perfect for me, as I don’t need the 2.8 in an ultra wide and I’m excited to add the 85 and 70-200 when they launch. I’ve already sold my 85 1.4d since it didn’t auto focus and will be selling my Tamron 70-200 G2 when the new Nikon 70-200s ships. I can only imagine those lenses will really round out my lineup. Still looking for something like a 150-600 or 100-400 in the s mount to replace my 200-500. And then the big primes. I doubt I’ll be able to afford to replace my 300 2.8 or 600 f4 anytime soon, even if they do ever get to those for the z mount.
The Z7 got me back into Nikon because of its small form factor high resolution sensor and great native lens selection (at least for me). I have the Leica SL system but it is really getting way too heavy for me to hike with for any distance. The Z7 fits the bill. I just added the 14-30 to go with the 24-70.
@@yapster804 At the time I bought my Z7 I have no idea if Canon even had a mirrorless system. I have never liked Canon's camera system period. They never felt right and their control layout was not for me. I have had Nikon for many years in the past so it was natural that I go back with them and I am very pleased that I did.
Just bought a Nikon Z8, nikkor 14-30mm zoom, tamron 28-70mm zoom and a tamron 70-200mm zoom. This is a very flexible, high quality platform that can handle a lot of assignments. Nikon is back.
Thank you for the review it’s really good to hear. Whilst I am sticking with my D750 and D7200 for a while my wife did invest in a Z6 a couple of months ago, purely for the weight and compact package. At the moment she only has the 24-70 f4 and 50 1.8 but has found both lenses to be exceptionally good. I think this will be next on the list! I’m really looking forward to the journey and to see how the new mount develops. Thanks again for your review and look forward to seeing further updates when you eventually buy yours 👍
I have a Sony α7 camera and some FE lenses. What I appreciate with this Nikon lens is the unique possibility of a circular filter on a 14mm full frame lens. No another full frame autofocus 14mm lens, zoom or prime have a filter thread. I may buy a Nikon Z mount camera because with the Techart adapter can accept with autofocus my full frame Sony FE e-mount lenses. Nikon Z mount cameras have a 16mm very short flange distance and can accept lenses from many different mounts.
Haggen Kennedy For very expensive lenses or cameras I buy from European websites and nearly always the European Amazon. I always choose registered shipping with tracking. For less expensive lenses, filters and general photo equipment I prefer the specialized greek shops e-photoagora, aadigitalphoto, sony center, or Kounio. Of course there are the Greek chain stores of general electronic like Plaisio, Public, kotsovolos who sell cameras and lenses but are generally more expensive. If you visit Athens the Public and Plaisio stores near Syntagma square are very convenient for buying photography related products.
This Raymond agrees 😀 The 14-30 f/4S was the second Z-mount lens I bought for my first Z6, 2 years ago. I'ver since bought 3 more, most recently the MC 105 F/2.8 VR S. Nikon is really impressing with these lenses. For my use, I'll probably stick with the 14-30 f/4; as you say, there's not usually a need for wider apertures in an ultra wide lens (aside from astro) and it's a compact/light little package.
Thanks for the review! I recently upgraded from a Nikon D80 to the Z 6 and having heavily used and loved an 8mm fish-eye on the D80, I find myself craving an ultrawide for landscapes and travel. I currently own the 24-70/4 and 50/1.8 for the Z-mount and have been very impressed with them, so the 14-30/4 is indeed very tempting, for exactly the reasons you mentioned. As to how the Z system is maturing, before the upgrade I was concerned that the range of lenses would be limiting, but sitting here I actually don't feel like I'm missing much personally - a macro is the obvious one for me, but the FTZ has so far been working great for that. I'm happy that Nikon are leading with the versatile, compact and not-ultra-expensive lenses, which I as a non-professional with a limited budget find far more attractive than the expensive (but great, I'm sure) glass Canon have so far put out for the RF-mount.
I just switched from Olympus to Nikon Z... the Z5... the lens I need right now is a wide... I have the kit 24-50 and the telezoom 24-200 and thrilled... I bought a Tamron 17-35 and put it on the body and had lens error issues right away!! I am taking that back, spending the extra money and getting the 14-30. Your video helped confirmed my decision... Thanks!
I own this lens although I am not a wide-angle shooter but I always think such a lens should be part of a comprehensive photography equipment. But now I also own a Z50 in addition to my Z6 and I found out that the 14-30 is a great always-on lens on this APS-C guy. And it delivers fantastic results. 😊👍🏼
I just got the Zf, and needed an ultra wide practical zoom as my primary lens. Not much available for the Z mount, and I’ve tried alternatives like Laowa, Samyang, Voigtlander, etc, but there were too many optical compromises. This lens was the perfect choice. Wide, versatile zoom range, takes filters, optically excellent, predictable and even, with (for all practical purposes) no distortion, vignetting, chromatic aberration, or weird color shifting. Just a great lens, and affordable. 😊
Great review as always ... I love the smaller form factor and the extra sharpness of the Z lenses makes them an option that is hard to ignore. I'm still on an APS-C camera (D7100) ... will definitively start taking a closer look at the Z series cameras in the not to distant future.
Great review, and I feel the same with my Z6. I want to go all into the S lens line as I move forward, and rely less on the FTZ adapter. Subscribed, and looking forward to getting the 14-30, currently have the 24-70 & 50mm S lenses.
What do I think? As far as S lenses go, Nikon is taking an approach to fit within the majority of their customer's budget. A good S f/4 lens without going bankrupt and the f/4 lenses offer great value and super performance. I switched to Nikon way back in the day from a Minolta XD-11 and never regretted it. Sure I want a Pro Z with a 600mm S lens, in time it will come. Nikon is a great company and I trust their vision. I am also excited to see how Sigma and Tamron and other 3rd parties will respond to the Z mount.
Wow, a Minolta XD-11. You've been at it for so long. I wonder how you view the changes in camera/lens technology. Is it easier now to accomplish your artistic vision, given the advances in technology? Or is it harder because technology can get in the way? Or is it the same, as it really depends on the photographer? I'm betting you have stories to tell!
I was at my local photo store this afternoon where there happened to be a presentation by Nikon with the Z6, Z7, the S mount adapter and a lot of new and old lenses to try. I played some time with the 14-18 mm f4 on a Z6 and I was seriously impressed. I switched to Fujifilm a few years ago (x-h1, x-t3) , but wow... this combination is truly tempting.
I think you some up my thoughts pretty well. Nikon's Z lenses might not be the most exciting for specs. like Canon's amazing RF lenses, but they're more practical for most users. They've not compromised on the slower lenses which often is the case, and have produced high quality, weather sealed, compact, lightweight, pin-sharp, low-breathing lenses for a very competitive price when compared to other FF mirrorless systems, many of the lenses like this ultra-wide come with filter threads too, while solving or minimizing a lot of the aberrations their equivalent F mount lenses suffered from. The Z mount dividend is clearly more than marketing and is paying back in spades.
As far as I pick up, this is good stuff, and good stuff helps. Lenses that you probably have in your bag are better then ones you leave at home. Let's be fair, as much as the big heavy glass is really nice, you probably won't have it with you every day. Now I already have a Sony Full Frame CSC So...yeah not going the Nikon route any time soon. But yeah, size and weight, it is glorious. A lot of good in a small package makes a photographer happy. Many years ago you had to go to MFT for that, now you can get a decent size and weight on a Full frame, hooray for us the consumer!
I brought the Z7 last week and love it compared to the weight of my D810 and f2.8 lens I have been lugging around. My first Z lens purchase was the 50mm prime whic is so tack sharp for portraits etc, and I have just ordered the 14-30 wide angle which is coming today. Thanks for the review it has reinforced my decision to buy it.
Really enjoy your straight forward approach to reviews and the concept of a non toxic review targeting photographers who shoot in the real world rather than test lines and charts. Thank you for your hard work. Consider me subscribed!
@michael Not really. The lens is a tax write off for business and it hurts the wallet less when you can get 12 month financing through Adorama or B&H. When I bought the lens it was a little less than $125 per month for 12 months and the lens is even less now. If I were to finance it today, I would only have to pay $96 per month for 12 months. The lens performs fantastically for Real Estate Photography with a few nit picks here and there. I don't regret my decision to purchase this lens for my business.
F or Z. For my needs a simple question. Tons of old glass available, especially the non- adaptable D and AF series. With cool lenses like the 135mm dc or various luminous 300mm options, Nikkor or third party. I admit, the light weight and video options of the Z6 are tempting
Good video 😊📷👍🏾. After watching this I’m thinking more about picking up the 14-30 F4 Lens. I like using an ultra wide for outdoor photo shoots for a different perspective than the 24-70 2.8 and F4 for my Z6. I have the 14-24 2.8 but rarely use it for those ultra wide shots I shoot. Most of the time I’ll reach for my D500 with a 10-24 Tamron lens which works great.
I have the z 24-70 2.8 and that sucker is heavy after a while. we were in Colorado recently and man did it get heavy after a while. I'm gonna buy this one for sure
I think Nikon played it smart . By first offering F4 & F 1.8 lenses they somewhat eased the financial pain of moving into a new system while providing a lighter kit . Sure f 2.8 zooms are sexy , but they are pricey .
Can’t wait to get this. Absolutely loving my Z6. Have the 24-70 F4 and 50 1.8Z lens. Have sigma 105 2.8 macro lens for that stuff and want the sigma 150-600 for super zoom. If Nikon release a native 70-200 F4 then that will complete my kit. Otherwise may have to shell out for the 2.8 version of 70-200.
Hello thanks for this nice review. But let me ask you something please. Comparing with 24-70 f4 in the range 24-30 they have the same image quality or distortion?
Is it true that for this lens Adobe Lightroom automatically does lens-corrections on the image and there is no way to turn off the lens-corrections in Adobe? Also, is it true that CaptureOne offers lens-correction in the lens-profiles as an option?
I am not really into super wide, Ms. S. Chick said. Well, Ms. Chick, it just requires exercise. Leave rainman at home and go into a nearby landscape, maybe with a road or river, and flat without a lot happening. Take a shot with the road in the middle and you'll notice that the road's foreground almost fills the entire picture. Now give yourself the assignment to work with that road and get a better composition. Camera higher, lower, move to the side of the road/river and take different angles and perspectives. You'll quickly develop a sense of how to work with that. It gives you a feeling how to work with things that need to be leading lines. A zoom lens does not help. As if it were a prime, put the lens at 28mm for starters and it is easier. When you master that, go to 24mm and next to 20mm. You'll quickly grasp what each number means in terms of "stage" - the cutout that the camera sees at each number. Initially avoid below 20mm. Now after the landscape without people, go inside and repeat. This is at shorter distances, I'd assume. Once you "get" that, put the camera on a tripod for a nice cutout, and bring in the rainman and put him in different places in the photograph. Left edge and turned+looking to the side (where the optical axis is), center and looking into the camera, then turned to the side, and next to the right edge maybe turned to the camera looking into the lens. Composit into one image with 4 four rainmen. There is a visual lesson in there. Repeat with the rainman in the flat or plane field (the vertical field perpendicular to the lens's optical axis.) at the focusing distance versus a constant distance to the lens.
great review, yes, I agree this is a great combination of focal lengths, esp. if you want to have a wide and go for a street photography ~35mm focal length as well, would have to bring a 20,35 &50 prime with you otherwise, but with this lens and the 24-70 you have all of them in a compact 2 lens setup, and without weighing you down either.
Nice video! I am happy with the Nikon Z series lenses. I own two, the kit lens that came with the Z 5 and Nikon Z 50mm 2.8. I also have the 50mm on the F-mount and was happy with that lens, but went with the Z version because the FTZ adapter adds some additional weigh. Maybe that is just me.
I sould update myh previous comments on this lens... the 14-30 is one of my favorite lenses that I've owned thus far. I had the 15-30 Tamron for my F mount cameras and it was a great lens (I never purchased the 14-24 because of the cost and have no plans to purchase the 14-24 S lens either -- I don't really need the f/2.8 aperture to be honest. But the 14-30 ticks all the checkboxes for me, and you can install filters on it (couldn't do that -- at least not very easily -- with the older F-mount 14-24 or the Tamron 15-30). And while the 14-30 has its drawbacks, which for what I do, is not many, it's price point is appropriate and its a lens that I like to shoot with when doing architecture and landscape.
This lens is similar to its F mount 16-35 f4. With a smaller more round front element than the Nikon 14-24 lens which I love. The flatter front elements of the 14-24 produce a less distorted, lesser stretched image. Of course you sacrifice filters. The upcoming 2.8 lens will likely be a 14-24 variant.
Well, to give you an other reason for having a wide angel lens, other than nature photography - that is kids doings. Being close to the kids in action at the same time capture their context. Then these ultra wide is absolutely rewarding. Just one example. I was in High Chaparral park, all kids dressed as cowboys, going on a steam engine train old classic, attacked by train robberies of large size with shooting guns enter the wagon. Then sitting 1.5 m in front of the kids and capture their surprising faces, all 4 of them together, plus the scene and atmosphere of a wooden train wagon under attack, only a wide angle will do.
Thanks for the review! I’ll likely be picking this up at some point. However, I am in love with the 24-70 and find it on my Z7 99% of the time. It fits the bill for most of my day to day shooting. I can’t wait to see a telephoto Z lens. For now I use the 28-300 with the adapter, but don’t find myself wanting it too much due to the weight.
I added the 14-30 to my Z7 kit, mostly for landscape work (and landscapes don't need F/2.8). I feel a bit silly since I took the 24-70mm on my recent back country ride over to Highway 191. That 70mm came in very useful when we hit the high country. I have the 12-24mm for the D500 and use it a lot and figured the 14-30mm would be in high demand on the Z7 but that has not panned out yet. I blame the high heat finally hitting valley, curbing my out door activities. :)
I've been watching your videos for the past week and you helped me buy a Z7. I could not be happier. I have a question though. I shoot interiors. Upgraded from a D7500 with a 10-20mm which is a huge leap. Now I'm hunting for the wide angle lens. Sharpness wise (because i don't mind the heaviness and the size of the lenses) do you think it would be best to get this z mount lens 14-30mm or a 14-24 2.8 with the FTZ adapter? I want to stay in between their budget. Thank you so much!
@@Lalalucy68 Hey Lucy. Yes I actually bought the 14-30 right after commenting on this video. I really really love it. I wanted to keep my equipment with the new Z mount, specially for the main lens. I do however use the Z adapter for my DX 50mm 1.8 and it looks even more incredible on a Z camera. There is not really much lag at all and it's also great for filming.
I use my D750 with 14-24 2.8 for almost 4 years. It has been trough a lot (really a lot). Never failed on me. but its in need of a cleaning and the focus motor seems to be on its last legs. Should i sell my D750 that has 400k shutter and the 14-24 and get the Z6 with 14-30?
Nice review, the f4.0 is good for landscape or architecture photography but for "astro" it maybe too much. I like the allowance for the filters. The 14 to 30 mm range feels like perfect for the wide end spectrum.
Great review. I've waited for the 14-24mm F2.8. Got it (12/10/2020). Hated the cost of the insane 112mm filters ($400+ ???!!!) and returned the lens. I bought this 14-30mm F4, and the 82mm standard size filters allow me to do 90% of what I wanted to do. Astrophotography MIGHT (might!) be a challenge for this lens. But as you know, in our land of Arizona, we can find many places which are so dark, the F4 can do the job. Tucson provides it all in terms of light. Thanks again, and happy, healthy 2021. Edit: Z6-II
I think the 14-30 f4 + the 20mm 1.8 gives you a better setup overall, at a lower cost, than the 14-24 2.8. For most of what I want from a wide-angle, I don't need the extra stop, so the light and convenient f4 wins. And the 20mm is great for astro.
Would you recommend this lens for the Nikon Z50? Or would you go with a third party lens like: Tokina axt-ii 11-20mm f/2.8 Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM Sigma 17-50mm EX DC OS HSM Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC OS HSM I have about $1500 to spend. Looking for the best quality lens I can get. If I can purchases two quality lenses with that amount would be even better. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
very nice review. I think i am going to purchase one for my z6ii. Its weight and size look very nice also for video. 14-24 F/2.8 looks gorgeous, especially on edges but bigger and i am afraid the UV, ND, polarizer fiters at 112mm could be very expensive. My Z 24-70 F/2.8 is already a 82mm with all these filters.
To me the 14-30 S lens allows me to use the ultra wide as I want to - I rarely use the hefty f2.8 due to sheer excessive weight, and size too. I have already used the S version massively more than the 14-24 f2.8, which in truth I am ready to retire very soon. And I’m not sure why I would need anything wider than f4 on this type of lens
Great review and thinking about getting one of these for my Z6. Do you know how it would compare with the Nikon Z 16-50mm DX f3.5-6.3VR lens which is considerably cheaper - both fitted to a full frame Z6?
So I bought the Z6 for video (as a new requirement for my projects who Kinda set photography aside when I tired of stills) knowing NOTHING about video (but after some research) I bought into the Z6 Filmmakers Kit - primarily for the option to render my studio shooting a play in ProRes RAW - and I got nothing Wide Zooms thinking they were the best way to frame my compositions in a tight space. I have since set the Z Zooms aside and started to use my legacy Nikkor lenses via FTZ Why? Primarily to Pull Focus with my Rhino Arc II Slider and Focus control. The problem with ALL Z lenses is they have “wired” focus and cannot - predictable - nail focus on a Rhino setup (w/o being slightly off and/or focus breathing) and video is all about being able to predictable pull focus for repeatable takes... at least in studio. Nevertheless, I did purchase the Z 85 1.8 for Rhino Focus Follow shots because that work like a charm for ONE person narratives where autofocus keeps you locked in while the Rhink ArcII follows you around (albeit it a limited area) Don’t regret having the Z Zooms in my kit for more run and gun shooting for fun... like parades... but they are the lenses I use the least.
This looks like a great all around wide angle lens at a very compact size. Like many Nikon shooters I am using both the Z and F mount systems and making the transition into the new system. I am waiting for the upcoming professional Z sports and action camera with dual card slots and battery grip to take the big leap into the Z system.
for landscape photography...night sky shooting as well ...I think this is a good fix...I prefer convenience (meaning less weight) than speed. Cheers from British Columbia
I have the Nikon Z 14-30 F 4 lens. It is on my Nion Z 7 ll I love the colors from this great tool. At 30 it is sooo good. Sharp. Good for me. Maybe for you.
Thanks for the review I currently own 3 S series lens for my Z6 and looking to purchase the 14-30 but like many waiting for 12-24 2.8 to be released. What I am finding with the S series lens F4 works just as good as the F series 2.8.
The Z series is maturing, however I think Nikon needs to release the next round of Z bodies by the end of 2020 to stay current. There are still some features the current Z bodies lack that even Canon is taking note on and is including in their R5 (like, dual card slots, even though their's is a CFX/XQD-microSD combo, better than just a single card slot). Second, is a battery grip (proper grip with controls that is--yes I'm aware of the vertical grip they have that is just a battery pack basically). I think in the next round of Z bodies, if they can include these two additional features, they will have a well-established system, especially once the 14-24 2.8 and some of the macro lenses are released, since they now have the basic line-up set pretty much (a 24-70--both fast and slower f/4 version, as well as the 70-200 2.8, and a handful of others--85, 50, 24, etc).
Nikon does some rather aggressive processing to rid CA and etc. Wish there's an option to turn that off like Canon's "corrections". Other than that, this lens is pretty good.
I got to play with a Z7 and 35mm f1.8 S recently and was impressed with the combination (as an Olympus owner). Secondly, the Z lenses were significantly lighter and smaller than the F lenses. So you get quite a compact setup, particularly for full frame. My biggest gripe, and maybe somebody can correct me, was the lack of liveview boost for framing at night-time. For anyone doing nightscapes, this is a bit of annoyance.
Terry Lovejoy pop it into video mode with very high/highest iso for framing then back to photo with lower iso, quicker than ramping it right up manually. I’ve found it to work at least, hope it’s of any help
Yes, 2.8 is unlikely except maybe for astro-photography. Those resulting photos look great. Seriously considering this one. It's a great time to be a photographer....so many choices....and the competition between the manufacturers is great! It just makes it better for us!
Hi SnapChick... First let me thank you for the detailed review of this NIkkor S 14-30 f/4. Though I do have prior experience with Nikon, and currently using Fuji's X-T3 (with some stellar Fujinon XF lenses), I was strongly considering going the Z7 route, but just concerned with Nikkor S lens availability, as I shoot primarily wide (24, 35), macro/micro (80), and occasional short telephoto (200-300). I know the Sony System has some quite good optics in those ranges, but not sure about Nikon's roadmap availability (and obviously unknown image quality) of, say, the Nikkor S 105 Micro, and how that would compare to the known stellar Sony 90 f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens. That said, I do love the ergos and body sealing of the Z7. But at the end of the day, I'm most concerned about image sharpness and detail retention when printing large. I'm thinking both systems would satisfy in that regard, but please correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks again!
Know this is a few months old, but did you get a chance to try any astro photography with the 14-30 f/4 S? It is a little slow for astro work, but given it is a native Z mount lens wondering how well it performed in low light. Thanks for the non-toxic review, always refreshing.
We have used it a few times! We used it for photographing the Milky Way and also the Northern Lights with both the Z6 and the Z7. Of course we needed to increase ISO sensitivity but it actually did pretty well. I would prefer a wider aperture lens but when it's all you've got... I wouldn't think twice about using it.
Once events are legal again, I think this lens will be ideal for shooting a room full of party goers, close up. And my Z6 will feel better than dragging out the D4s
I (literally) have sold my house and first, after zeroing my multiple credit card debt and hacking down the mortgage of my new home, I phoned the excellent, famous London Nikon only shop for a Z6 + FTZ + 24-70mm. My D200 is apparently worth just a pizza delivery so am gifting it + the superb 17-55mm to my partner. After a couple of weeks, I am confident of my choices. The body and zoom feel superb, compact for my retirement travels and 24.5 mp more than enough unless you want to spy on neighbours 2 miles away! Thank you for your always clear and sensible vids.
very nice video, just one observation, the only lens that would make the high aperture numbers "redundant", would be to have a prime wide angle tilt-shift lens, the tilt/shift doing a better job at d.o.f. control than a high F number can. but have not seen any in the lineup yet why?, do they expect us to still have to use the ftz and an F-mount lens for this job, having NO NATIVE equivalent?? even if Nikon did what Hasselblad did and made a PC + tilt/shift adaptor, which went in between ALL LENSES and the body (same as an extension tube), and had ALL compatibilities, ie had full electronic communication/ control of focal length, aperture and focus distance/ TTL flash communication with all current models of speedlights ( ESPECIALLY the new AWL RADIO SYSTEM + sb-5000) and as a full evolution of this idea, have this adaptor compatible with F mount AND Z mount glass! so no hunting for,or purchasing seperate kit to adapt things " add hock" to the system.
Have heard anything about lens flare or artifact visible in the upper left region around lights such as street lights or small light sources look like wavey twisted lines. visable f4 to f5.6 or f6 getting smaller an fewer lines as I close the lens till totally gone after around f6. first thought it was artifact from smoke but ruled this out. wondering if there is a defect in the lens
I am using Z50 , currently dont have Z 14-30mm f/4 S . Question : if I use Z 14-30mm lens on Nikon Z50 then get full frame image or crop image . Please check & provide suggestion
With your pictures you already ask yourself, do you need an input aperture of 2.8 ? Affordable lenses are also important, the cameras are not cheap and ultra-wide lenses are not used too often. That was once a good decision by Nikon.
This is am amazing lenses and i love this small part. It is a every Day lenses. And i thing for street photography 👌👍. I do not want to give it anymore. Thank‘s you for the review and the nice shoots.
Like someone said,it's more than time to stop the fake format and brand 'wars',and she is a perfect example.I took a look at the Z6 and after the recalls,along with some other things,I am on the fence still.I might just wait and see what comes next,like a second version.The lenses seem to be getting better results than the bodies right now.I do not worry about size /weight,yet something different might work,as it has before...
I wish the Z mount system would mature by allowing Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, and other third party companies to make native Z mount AF lenses. This is how Sony got to so many lens options so quickly.
Let's go back to the origin of "fast" lenses, like F/2.8 for this type instead of the F/4 now available. With an optical viewfinder, a faster lens means a brighter view in the finder and more precise focusing. With an electronic viewfinder (EVF), the camera presents us with an exposure correction and for view finder brightness we do not need a fast lens. Another thing is auto-focus. I noticed that (very) fast lenses present the AF tech in the camera with a big challenge and a DSLR may have a hard time focusing in lower light wit a faster lens. Then there is another, IMO most important, issue related to "fast" lenses. They have a larger diameter (necessarily) where the glass is more curved towards the edges (so the cross section is like a prism) and they have more chromatic aberration if not corrected extensively with more elements and more complex design. To me, the F/1.8 primes, the F/4 zooms, represent "light" and "compact" with simple designs and they have very good optical qualities. The venom in the tail: the Z 24..70/4S is really a let down. Please Mr. Nikon San, ask marketing and design techs to communicate better and ask tech design to come up with realistic forecasts, instead of socially desired answers.
Nikon needs to build a 70-300 f/4 s mount with AF-P or better performance and optical quality. That would be the perfect way to complete a compact three lens suite for the Z series.
BJ Nicholls Yes, and a 24-105/120 f/4 s. Almost going for used 6D ii and 24-105 as a waiting camera, instead of straight to Z6. The reason for that is because of video af, as I am entering the professional world (getting paid) and need to be able to shoot in low light (now using the D5300 with 18-55 because of af-p and vr)
Nikon fanboy through and through!used 2 D800 and 2 D3200 bought a D7200 and didnt like the crop factor and got the D750 now!Not going to buy Z series untill it has 2 card slots!getting a mirrorless camera later this year though!Olympus OM-D E5mkii for its video capabilities since I really really dont like Nikons N-Log at all!
Not sure why but ultra wide rarely ever does anything for me. I think it can be good if you're really doing strange angles and being creative, but straight on shots just look so distant from things. I like being right in there. 50mm is my favourite length.
I sold all my Sony gear because I never loved it. I changed to Nikon Z and I'm happy with it. It's so intuitiv to handle, lies wonderful in my hand - and the optics are realy great. Regards from Hamburg
Manni!!
Funny you posted this comment a year ago because Leigh sold her Sony gears too and ordered Nikon Z9.
Thanks for the low-key review without annoying background music or forced attempts at humor. Too many TH-cam photography reviewers are narcissists who make the video more about themselves than the product in question.
I have a Nikon Z6 with the 14-30 f/4 S that I use for residential and commercial real estate. love it.
I've gone from my D850 and D4s to a Z6 and Z7. With the DSLRs, I carried around the fabulous Tamron 15-30 f2.8 (Gen 1) and did so for a long time. Like you, I don't shoot ultra-wide often but do like the option when the need or situation arises. The 14-30 f4s has been amazing. It goes in my bag wherever I go and adds very little in terms of weight or space. I seldom shoot astro, and do have a 20mm f1.8g that I have for those occasions. Just the other night I was shooting some awards night pics of winners when I quickly realized my 24-70 2.8s wasn't wide enough for the groups I had and the space I was confined to. I remembered I had the 14-30 in my bag, did a quick lens change and it performed fantastically in a low light situation. It saved my butt, and while it may not be my most used lens it is definitely one I don't leave home without anymore! I I couldn't say that about the big, heavy Tamron.
@Jason Spannagel, as someone who went from the D850 to the Zs, how have you fared with the new system? Was the switch worth it? Do you ever find yourself wanting to go back to the D850? I have a D850 myself, but I travel a lot, and it's hard to carry all the weight. I mean, the camera itself plus the holy trinity give me almost 5 KG, whereas the Z set would give me a total of 2,7 KG. It's just a lot less, which would make life so much easier on my back and knees! I have been seriously tempted to switch to the Z system, but have been timorous. I can't rent/test the new system where I live, and it would be costly to migrate, only to perhaps later regret it and want to go back to the D850. Ideally a good switch would be permanent. I really would love to hear your thoughts on the change from the D850 to the Z system, how it has suited you so far, and whether it's one of those "never looked back" cases. Thanks in advance for any input you can share.
Haggen Kennedy honestly I haven’t looked back. There are quirks about the Z’s with things like sports and birds in flight, but for literally every other situation I’ve preferred the Z’s. I’m hoping those quirks can be fixed with firmware updates. But I’ve been managing even with them. It’s really just a super tiny lag in the evf. If that can be sped up just an instant and they continue to improve eye-detect I would never see a situation where I wanted for my d850 or D4s again.
I’ve gotten so used to those cameras now that I’ve never considered going back to a DSLR. Also the s-glass is beyond fabulous. They are just stellar. I’ve preferred my 1.8 35 and 50 to any of the g or d mount 1.4s I’ve used of those lenses. The 24-70 2.8s is the best version of that lens I’ve ever used. The 14-30 is perfect for me, as I don’t need the 2.8 in an ultra wide and I’m excited to add the 85 and 70-200 when they launch. I’ve already sold my 85 1.4d since it didn’t auto focus and will be selling my Tamron 70-200 G2 when the new Nikon 70-200s ships. I can only imagine those lenses will really round out my lineup.
Still looking for something like a 150-600 or 100-400 in the s mount to replace my 200-500. And then the big primes. I doubt I’ll be able to afford to replace my 300 2.8 or 600 f4 anytime soon, even if they do ever get to those for the z mount.
The Z7 got me back into Nikon because of its small form factor high resolution sensor and great native lens selection (at least for me). I have the Leica SL system but it is really getting way too heavy for me to hike with for any distance. The Z7 fits the bill. I just added the 14-30 to go with the 24-70.
Hi Bill, I'm in the same shoes as you were. What made you choose the z mount over Canon's rf mount body/lenses?
@@yapster804 At the time I bought my Z7 I have no idea if Canon even had a mirrorless system. I have never liked Canon's camera system period. They never felt right and their control layout was not for me. I have had Nikon for many years in the past so it was natural that I go back with them and I am very pleased that I did.
@@BillW0330 thanks for your reply!
Just bought a Nikon Z8, nikkor 14-30mm zoom, tamron 28-70mm zoom and a tamron 70-200mm zoom. This is a very flexible, high quality platform that can handle a lot of assignments. Nikon is back.
Thank you for the review it’s really good to hear. Whilst I am sticking with my D750 and D7200 for a while my wife did invest in a Z6 a couple of months ago, purely for the weight and compact package. At the moment she only has the 24-70 f4 and 50 1.8 but has found both lenses to be exceptionally good. I think this will be next on the list! I’m really looking forward to the journey and to see how the new mount develops. Thanks again for your review and look forward to seeing further updates when you eventually buy yours 👍
I have a Sony α7 camera and some FE lenses. What I appreciate with this Nikon lens is the unique possibility of a circular filter on a 14mm full frame lens. No another full frame autofocus 14mm lens, zoom or prime have a filter thread.
I may buy a Nikon Z mount camera because with the Techart adapter can accept with autofocus my full frame Sony FE e-mount lenses.
Nikon Z mount cameras have a 16mm very short flange distance and can accept lenses from many different mounts.
Hey, Achillea, are you beased in GR? Where in GR do you usually buy photographic equipment?
Haggen Kennedy For very expensive lenses or cameras I buy from European websites and nearly always the European Amazon. I always choose registered shipping with tracking.
For less expensive lenses, filters and general photo equipment I prefer the specialized greek shops e-photoagora, aadigitalphoto, sony center, or Kounio.
Of course there are the Greek chain stores of general electronic like Plaisio, Public, kotsovolos who sell cameras and lenses but are generally more expensive.
If you visit Athens the Public and Plaisio stores near Syntagma square are very convenient for buying photography related products.
This Raymond agrees 😀 The 14-30 f/4S was the second Z-mount lens I bought for my first Z6, 2 years ago. I'ver since bought 3 more, most recently the MC 105 F/2.8 VR S. Nikon is really impressing with these lenses. For my use, I'll probably stick with the 14-30 f/4; as you say, there's not usually a need for wider apertures in an ultra wide lens (aside from astro) and it's a compact/light little package.
Thanks for the review! I recently upgraded from a Nikon D80 to the Z 6 and having heavily used and loved an 8mm fish-eye on the D80, I find myself craving an ultrawide for landscapes and travel. I currently own the 24-70/4 and 50/1.8 for the Z-mount and have been very impressed with them, so the 14-30/4 is indeed very tempting, for exactly the reasons you mentioned.
As to how the Z system is maturing, before the upgrade I was concerned that the range of lenses would be limiting, but sitting here I actually don't feel like I'm missing much personally - a macro is the obvious one for me, but the FTZ has so far been working great for that. I'm happy that Nikon are leading with the versatile, compact and not-ultra-expensive lenses, which I as a non-professional with a limited budget find far more attractive than the expensive (but great, I'm sure) glass Canon have so far put out for the RF-mount.
I just switched from Olympus to Nikon Z... the Z5... the lens I need right now is a wide... I have the kit 24-50 and the telezoom 24-200 and thrilled... I bought a Tamron 17-35 and put it on the body and had lens error issues right away!! I am taking that back, spending the extra money and getting the 14-30. Your video helped confirmed my decision... Thanks!
I own this lens although I am not a wide-angle shooter but I always think such a lens should be part of a comprehensive photography equipment. But now I also own a Z50 in addition to my Z6 and I found out that the 14-30 is a great always-on lens on this APS-C guy. And it delivers fantastic results. 😊👍🏼
I just got the Zf, and needed an ultra wide practical zoom as my primary lens. Not much available for the Z mount, and I’ve tried alternatives like Laowa, Samyang, Voigtlander, etc, but there were too many optical compromises.
This lens was the perfect choice. Wide, versatile zoom range, takes filters, optically excellent, predictable and even, with (for all practical purposes) no distortion, vignetting, chromatic aberration, or weird color shifting.
Just a great lens, and affordable. 😊
I purchased the 14-30 f4 for my Z6II instead of using the FTZ adapter with my Nikkor 14-24 2.8...no regrets! Thanks for the great no nonsense video!
Great review as always ... I love the smaller form factor and the extra sharpness of the Z lenses makes them an option that is hard to ignore.
I'm still on an APS-C camera (D7100) ... will definitively start taking a closer look at the Z series cameras in the not to distant future.
Great review, and I feel the same with my Z6. I want to go all into the S lens line as I move forward, and rely less on the FTZ adapter. Subscribed, and looking forward to getting the 14-30, currently have the 24-70 & 50mm S lenses.
What do I think? As far as S lenses go, Nikon is taking an approach to fit within the majority of their customer's budget. A good S f/4 lens without going bankrupt and the f/4 lenses offer great value and super performance. I switched to Nikon way back in the day from a Minolta XD-11 and never regretted it. Sure I want a Pro Z with a 600mm S lens, in time it will come. Nikon is a great company and I trust their vision. I am also excited to see how Sigma and Tamron and other 3rd parties will respond to the Z mount.
Wow, a Minolta XD-11. You've been at it for so long. I wonder how you view the changes in camera/lens technology. Is it easier now to accomplish your artistic vision, given the advances in technology? Or is it harder because technology can get in the way? Or is it the same, as it really depends on the photographer? I'm betting you have stories to tell!
I was at my local photo store this afternoon where there happened to be a presentation by Nikon with the Z6, Z7, the S mount adapter and a lot of new and old lenses to try. I played some time with the 14-18 mm f4 on a Z6 and I was seriously impressed. I switched to Fujifilm a few years ago (x-h1, x-t3) , but wow... this combination is truly tempting.
I think you some up my thoughts pretty well. Nikon's Z lenses might not be the most exciting for specs. like Canon's amazing RF lenses, but they're more practical for most users. They've not compromised on the slower lenses which often is the case, and have produced high quality, weather sealed, compact, lightweight, pin-sharp, low-breathing lenses for a very competitive price when compared to other FF mirrorless systems, many of the lenses like this ultra-wide come with filter threads too, while solving or minimizing a lot of the aberrations their equivalent F mount lenses suffered from. The Z mount dividend is clearly more than marketing and is paying back in spades.
I went from the 10-24 on a DX to this lens on my upgrade. I love it. I also love that it goes to 30mm. Nice lens and thanks for the vid. Cheers!
I typically use 35mm as my go to lens..i may try using this 14-30 f4 as a travel lens. So far im loving it.
As far as I pick up, this is good stuff, and good stuff helps. Lenses that you probably have in your bag are better then ones you leave at home. Let's be fair, as much as the big heavy glass is really nice, you probably won't have it with you every day.
Now I already have a Sony Full Frame CSC So...yeah not going the Nikon route any time soon. But yeah, size and weight, it is glorious. A lot of good in a small package makes a photographer happy.
Many years ago you had to go to MFT for that, now you can get a decent size and weight on a Full frame, hooray for us the consumer!
I used this lenz the 1st time on my z5 on 4th of July and the results were amazing!
I brought the Z7 last week and love it compared to the weight of my D810 and f2.8 lens I have been lugging around. My first Z lens purchase was the 50mm prime whic is so tack sharp for portraits etc, and I have just ordered the 14-30 wide angle which is coming today. Thanks for the review it has reinforced my decision to buy it.
Love my Z7/6 and the new z mount. I will continue to buy needed fmount lens's and new z lens's I may need.
Really enjoy your straight forward approach to reviews and the concept of a non toxic review targeting photographers who shoot in the real world rather than test lines and charts. Thank you for your hard work. Consider me subscribed!
I love my Z 6. The 24-70 f/4 was nice but the 24-70 f/2.8 is amazing. I'm looking forward to the 70-200 f/2.8.
me too
I use the Nikkor 14-30mm f4 S for real estate photography. I consider it well worth the investment.
@michael Not really. The lens is a tax write off for business and it hurts the wallet less when you can get 12 month financing through Adorama or B&H.
When I bought the lens it was a little less than $125 per month for 12 months and the lens is even less now. If I were to finance it today, I would only have to pay $96 per month for 12 months. The lens performs fantastically for Real Estate Photography with a few nit picks here and there. I don't regret my decision to purchase this lens for my business.
F or Z. For my needs a simple question. Tons of old glass available, especially the non- adaptable D and AF series. With cool lenses like the 135mm dc or various luminous 300mm options, Nikkor or third party. I admit, the light weight and video options of the Z6 are tempting
Good video 😊📷👍🏾. After watching this I’m thinking more about picking up the 14-30 F4 Lens. I like using an ultra wide for outdoor photo shoots for a different perspective than the 24-70 2.8 and F4 for my Z6. I have the 14-24 2.8 but rarely use it for those ultra wide shots I shoot. Most of the time I’ll reach for my D500 with a 10-24 Tamron lens which works great.
I have the z 24-70 2.8 and that sucker is heavy after a while. we were in Colorado recently and man did it get heavy after a while. I'm gonna buy this one for sure
I think Nikon played it smart . By first offering F4 & F 1.8 lenses they somewhat eased the financial pain of moving into a new system while providing a lighter kit . Sure f 2.8 zooms are sexy , but they are pricey .
Just ordered one yesterday and will arrive today.
Can’t wait to get this. Absolutely loving my Z6. Have the 24-70 F4 and 50 1.8Z lens. Have sigma 105 2.8 macro lens for that stuff and want the sigma 150-600 for super zoom. If Nikon release a native 70-200 F4 then that will complete my kit. Otherwise may have to shell out for the 2.8 version of 70-200.
Hello thanks for this nice review. But let me ask you something please. Comparing with 24-70 f4 in the range 24-30 they have the same image quality or distortion?
Is it true that for this lens Adobe Lightroom automatically does lens-corrections on the image and there is no way to turn off the lens-corrections in Adobe?
Also, is it true that CaptureOne offers lens-correction in the lens-profiles as an option?
"Enable profile Corrections" is an option in the lens corrections area of LightRoom. I use it because it helps color, distortion, and vignetting.
I am not really into super wide, Ms. S. Chick said. Well, Ms. Chick, it just requires exercise. Leave rainman at home and go into a nearby landscape, maybe with a road or river, and flat without a lot happening. Take a shot with the road in the middle and you'll notice that the road's foreground almost fills the entire picture. Now give yourself the assignment to work with that road and get a better composition. Camera higher, lower, move to the side of the road/river and take different angles and perspectives. You'll quickly develop a sense of how to work with that. It gives you a feeling how to work with things that need to be leading lines. A zoom lens does not help. As if it were a prime, put the lens at 28mm for starters and it is easier. When you master that, go to 24mm and next to 20mm. You'll quickly grasp what each number means in terms of "stage" - the cutout that the camera sees at each number. Initially avoid below 20mm. Now after the landscape without people, go inside and repeat. This is at shorter distances, I'd assume. Once you "get" that, put the camera on a tripod for a nice cutout, and bring in the rainman and put him in different places in the photograph. Left edge and turned+looking to the side (where the optical axis is), center and looking into the camera, then turned to the side, and next to the right edge maybe turned to the camera looking into the lens. Composit into one image with 4 four rainmen. There is a visual lesson in there. Repeat with the rainman in the flat or plane field (the vertical field perpendicular to the lens's optical axis.) at the focusing distance versus a constant distance to the lens.
great review, yes, I agree this is a great combination of focal lengths, esp. if you want to have a wide and go for a street photography ~35mm focal length as well, would have to bring a 20,35 &50 prime with you otherwise, but with this lens and the 24-70 you have all of them in a compact 2 lens setup, and without weighing you down either.
Nice analysis and Thanks for sharing, what I'm finding with the Nikon S lenses is that f/4 is just as good as f/2.8
Nice video! I am happy with the Nikon Z series lenses. I own two, the kit lens that came with the Z 5 and Nikon Z 50mm 2.8. I also have the 50mm on the F-mount and was happy with that lens, but went with the Z version because the FTZ adapter adds some additional weigh. Maybe that is just me.
I sould update myh previous comments on this lens... the 14-30 is one of my favorite lenses that I've owned thus far. I had the 15-30 Tamron for my F mount cameras and it was a great lens (I never purchased the 14-24 because of the cost and have no plans to purchase the 14-24 S lens either -- I don't really need the f/2.8 aperture to be honest. But the 14-30 ticks all the checkboxes for me, and you can install filters on it (couldn't do that -- at least not very easily -- with the older F-mount 14-24 or the Tamron 15-30). And while the 14-30 has its drawbacks, which for what I do, is not many, it's price point is appropriate and its a lens that I like to shoot with when doing architecture and landscape.
This lens is similar to its F mount 16-35 f4. With a smaller more round front element than the Nikon 14-24 lens which I love. The flatter front elements of the 14-24 produce a less distorted, lesser stretched image. Of course you sacrifice filters. The upcoming 2.8 lens will likely be a 14-24 variant.
Well, to give you an other reason for having a wide angel lens, other than nature photography - that is kids doings. Being close to the kids in action at the same time capture their context. Then these ultra wide is absolutely rewarding. Just one example. I was in High Chaparral park, all kids dressed as cowboys, going on a steam engine train old classic, attacked by train robberies of large size with shooting guns enter the wagon. Then sitting 1.5 m in front of the kids and capture their surprising faces, all 4 of them together, plus the scene and atmosphere of a wooden train wagon under attack, only a wide angle will do.
Thanks for the review! I’ll likely be picking this up at some point. However, I am in love with the 24-70 and find it on my Z7 99% of the time. It fits the bill for most of my day to day shooting. I can’t wait to see a telephoto Z lens. For now I use the 28-300 with the adapter, but don’t find myself wanting it too much due to the weight.
I added the 14-30 to my Z7 kit, mostly for landscape work (and landscapes don't need F/2.8). I feel a bit silly since I took the 24-70mm on my recent back country ride over to Highway 191. That 70mm came in very useful when we hit the high country. I have the 12-24mm for the D500 and use it a lot and figured the 14-30mm would be in high demand on the Z7 but that has not panned out yet. I blame the high heat finally hitting valley, curbing my out door activities. :)
I've been watching your videos for the past week and you helped me buy a Z7. I could not be happier. I have a question though. I shoot interiors. Upgraded from a D7500 with a 10-20mm which is a huge leap. Now I'm hunting for the wide angle lens. Sharpness wise (because i don't mind the heaviness and the size of the lenses) do you think it would be best to get this z mount lens 14-30mm or a 14-24 2.8 with the FTZ adapter? I want to stay in between their budget.
Thank you so much!
Did you get any clarification on this? I currently own a Z5 and shoot interiors myself. Wonder if this lens would be perfect or not.
@@Lalalucy68 Hey Lucy. Yes I actually bought the 14-30 right after commenting on this video. I really really love it. I wanted to keep my equipment with the new Z mount, specially for the main lens. I do however use the Z adapter for my DX 50mm 1.8 and it looks even more incredible on a Z camera. There is not really much lag at all and it's also great for filming.
I use my D750 with 14-24 2.8 for almost 4 years. It has been trough a lot (really a lot). Never failed on me. but its in need of a cleaning and the focus motor seems to be on its last legs. Should i sell my D750 that has 400k shutter and the 14-24 and get the Z6 with 14-30?
Nice review, the f4.0 is good for landscape or architecture photography but for "astro" it maybe too much. I like the allowance for the filters.
The 14 to 30 mm range feels like perfect for the wide end spectrum.
Great review. I've waited for the 14-24mm F2.8. Got it (12/10/2020). Hated the cost of the insane 112mm filters ($400+ ???!!!) and returned the lens. I bought this 14-30mm F4, and the 82mm standard size filters allow me to do 90% of what I wanted to do. Astrophotography MIGHT (might!) be a challenge for this lens. But as you know, in our land of Arizona, we can find many places which are so dark, the F4 can do the job. Tucson provides it all in terms of light. Thanks again, and happy, healthy 2021. Edit: Z6-II
I think the 14-30 f4 + the 20mm 1.8 gives you a better setup overall, at a lower cost, than the 14-24 2.8. For most of what I want from a wide-angle, I don't need the extra stop, so the light and convenient f4 wins. And the 20mm is great for astro.
@@johnd7564 Completely agree!
Would you recommend this lens for the Nikon Z50? Or would you go with a third party lens like:
Tokina axt-ii 11-20mm f/2.8
Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM
Sigma 17-50mm EX DC OS HSM
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC OS HSM
I have about $1500 to spend. Looking for the best quality lens I can get. If I can purchases two quality lenses with that amount would be even better. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
very nice review. I think i am going to purchase one for my z6ii. Its weight and size look very nice also for video. 14-24 F/2.8 looks gorgeous, especially on edges but bigger and i am afraid the UV, ND, polarizer fiters at 112mm could be very expensive. My Z 24-70 F/2.8 is already a 82mm with all these filters.
To me the 14-30 S lens allows me to use the ultra wide as I want to - I rarely use the hefty f2.8 due to sheer excessive weight, and size too. I have already used the S version massively more than the 14-24 f2.8, which in truth I am ready to retire very soon. And I’m not sure why I would need anything wider than f4 on this type of lens
Bought this for£427 new in the box.
It's a lovely lens.
i love this lens for real estate photography
Great review and thinking about getting one of these for my Z6. Do you know how it would compare with the Nikon Z 16-50mm DX f3.5-6.3VR lens which is considerably cheaper - both fitted to a full frame Z6?
So I bought the Z6 for video (as a new requirement for my projects who Kinda set photography aside when I tired of stills) knowing NOTHING about video (but after some research) I bought into the Z6 Filmmakers Kit - primarily for the option to render my studio shooting a play in ProRes RAW - and I got nothing Wide Zooms thinking they were the best way to frame my compositions in a tight space. I have since set the Z Zooms aside and started to use my legacy Nikkor lenses via FTZ
Why? Primarily to Pull Focus with my Rhino Arc II Slider and Focus control. The problem with ALL Z lenses is they have “wired” focus and cannot - predictable - nail focus on a Rhino setup (w/o being slightly off and/or focus breathing) and video is all about being able to predictable pull focus for repeatable takes... at least in studio.
Nevertheless, I did purchase the Z 85 1.8 for Rhino Focus Follow shots because that work like a charm for ONE person narratives where autofocus keeps you locked in while the Rhink ArcII follows you around (albeit it a limited area)
Don’t regret having the Z Zooms in my kit for more run and gun shooting for fun... like parades... but they are the lenses I use the least.
This looks like a great all around wide angle lens at a very compact size. Like many Nikon shooters I am using both the Z and F mount systems and making the transition into the new system. I am waiting for the upcoming professional Z sports and action camera with dual card slots and battery grip to take the big leap into the Z system.
Fast forward to 2021..got this lens to pair it with the Z7ii👍
You get to go out and see so many beautiful places and enjoy so much. That's really nice.
for landscape photography...night sky shooting as well ...I think this is a good fix...I prefer convenience (meaning less weight) than speed. Cheers from British Columbia
Nice snaps with the Zed 6 and that bubby lens , i`m thinking a z camera and wide lens will be on my shopping list soonish .
Thanks for the review S C.
I have the Nikon Z 14-30 F 4 lens. It is on my Nion Z 7 ll I love the colors from this great tool. At 30 it is sooo good. Sharp. Good for me. Maybe for you.
Thanks for the review I currently own 3 S series lens for my Z6 and looking to purchase the 14-30 but like many waiting for 12-24 2.8 to be released. What I am finding with the S series lens F4 works just as good as the F series 2.8.
The Z series is maturing, however I think Nikon needs to release the next round of Z bodies by the end of 2020 to stay current. There are still some features the current Z bodies lack that even Canon is taking note on and is including in their R5 (like, dual card slots, even though their's is a CFX/XQD-microSD combo, better than just a single card slot). Second, is a battery grip (proper grip with controls that is--yes I'm aware of the vertical grip they have that is just a battery pack basically). I think in the next round of Z bodies, if they can include these two additional features, they will have a well-established system, especially once the 14-24 2.8 and some of the macro lenses are released, since they now have the basic line-up set pretty much (a 24-70--both fast and slower f/4 version, as well as the 70-200 2.8, and a handful of others--85, 50, 24, etc).
hi, my Nikkor 14-30 lens wont close all the way back after opening for the first time. Is that normal??
Nikon does some rather aggressive processing to rid CA and etc. Wish there's an option to turn that off like Canon's "corrections". Other than that, this lens is pretty good.
I got to play with a Z7 and 35mm f1.8 S recently and was impressed with the combination (as an Olympus owner). Secondly, the Z lenses were significantly lighter and smaller than the F lenses. So you get quite a compact setup, particularly for full frame. My biggest gripe, and maybe somebody can correct me, was the lack of liveview boost for framing at night-time. For anyone doing nightscapes, this is a bit of annoyance.
Terry Lovejoy pop it into video mode with very high/highest iso for framing then back to photo with lower iso, quicker than ramping it right up manually. I’ve found it to work at least, hope it’s of any help
Love the Z 14-30mm f4 and the Z 24-70mm f4, but wish Nikon had a Z 70-200mm f4 lens to complete the set.
Yes, 2.8 is unlikely except maybe for astro-photography. Those resulting photos look great. Seriously considering this one.
It's a great time to be a photographer....so many choices....and the competition between the manufacturers is great! It just makes it better for us!
Hi SnapChick... First let me thank you for the detailed review of this NIkkor S 14-30 f/4. Though I do have prior experience with Nikon, and currently using Fuji's X-T3 (with some stellar Fujinon XF lenses), I was strongly considering going the Z7 route, but just concerned with Nikkor S lens availability, as I shoot primarily wide (24, 35), macro/micro (80), and occasional short telephoto (200-300). I know the Sony System has some quite good optics in those ranges, but not sure about Nikon's roadmap availability (and obviously unknown image quality) of, say, the Nikkor S 105 Micro, and how that would compare to the known stellar Sony 90 f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens. That said, I do love the ergos and body sealing of the Z7. But at the end of the day, I'm most concerned about image sharpness and detail retention when printing large. I'm thinking both systems would satisfy in that regard, but please correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks again!
Know this is a few months old, but did you get a chance to try any astro photography with the 14-30 f/4 S? It is a little slow for astro work, but given it is a native Z mount lens wondering how well it performed in low light. Thanks for the non-toxic review, always refreshing.
We have used it a few times! We used it for photographing the Milky Way and also the Northern Lights with both the Z6 and the Z7. Of course we needed to increase ISO sensitivity but it actually did pretty well. I would prefer a wider aperture lens but when it's all you've got... I wouldn't think twice about using it.
@@LeighAndRaymond Thank You, good information. And yes, a wider aperture would be best.
Once events are legal again, I think this lens will be ideal for shooting a room full of party goers, close up. And my Z6 will feel better than dragging out the D4s
I (literally) have sold my house and first, after zeroing my multiple credit card debt and hacking down the mortgage of my new home, I phoned the excellent, famous London Nikon only shop for a Z6 + FTZ + 24-70mm. My D200 is apparently worth just a pizza delivery so am gifting it + the superb 17-55mm to my partner.
After a couple of weeks, I am confident of my choices. The body and zoom feel superb, compact for my retirement travels and 24.5 mp more than enough unless you want to spy on neighbours 2 miles away! Thank you for your always clear and sensible vids.
Enjoyed your review. Just received my 14-30mm f/4 S lens. Loving it so far. P.S. I see Barbie is still doing hand-stands.
very nice video, just one observation, the only lens that would make the high aperture numbers "redundant", would be to have a prime wide angle tilt-shift lens, the tilt/shift doing a better job at d.o.f. control than a high F number can.
but have not seen any in the lineup yet why?, do they expect us to still have to use the ftz and an
F-mount lens for this job, having NO NATIVE equivalent??
even if Nikon did what Hasselblad did and made a PC + tilt/shift adaptor, which went in between ALL LENSES and the body (same as an extension tube), and had ALL compatibilities, ie had full electronic communication/ control of focal length, aperture and focus distance/ TTL flash communication with all current models of speedlights ( ESPECIALLY the new AWL RADIO SYSTEM + sb-5000) and as a full evolution of this idea, have this adaptor compatible with F mount AND Z mount glass! so no hunting for,or purchasing seperate kit to adapt things " add hock" to the system.
Have heard anything about lens flare or artifact visible in the upper left region around lights such as street lights or small light sources look like wavey twisted lines. visable f4 to f5.6 or f6 getting smaller an fewer lines as I close the lens till totally gone after around f6. first thought it was artifact from smoke but ruled this out. wondering if there is a defect in the lens
I am using Z50 , currently dont have Z 14-30mm f/4 S . Question : if I use Z 14-30mm lens on Nikon Z50 then get full frame image or crop image . Please check & provide suggestion
Crop
I just traded in my 14-24 2.8 and 16-35 f4 for this lens and a fraction of the size and weight and only had to give up one stop of light
Do you know when the 70-200 z lense is expected to come out ? Will watch this later tonight :)
It's on the roadmap for this year but I'm not sure when!
That was a great review. Thank you!
"Non-toxic," FTW! ;)
How does it handle low light vs the F2.8??
With your pictures you already ask yourself, do you need an input aperture of 2.8 ? Affordable lenses are also important, the cameras are not cheap and ultra-wide lenses are not used too often. That was once a good decision by Nikon.
Amazing lens!
This is am amazing lenses and i love this small part. It is a every Day lenses. And i thing for street photography 👌👍. I do not want to give it anymore. Thank‘s you for the review and the nice shoots.
Like someone said,it's more than time to stop the fake format and brand 'wars',and she is a perfect example.I took a look at the Z6 and after the recalls,along with some other things,I am on the fence still.I might just wait and see what comes next,like a second version.The lenses seem to be getting better results than the bodies right now.I do not worry about size /weight,yet something different might work,as it has before...
What lense are you using for your vlog?
Thank you so much for information so I am I’m looking for some Nikon Z lenses this is really good information
I wish the Z mount system would mature by allowing Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, and other third party companies to make native Z mount AF lenses. This is how Sony got to so many lens options so quickly.
Viltrox has offerings for both apsc and full-frame
Great review and photos !
Thank you for the review. I'm looking at the 14-30mm f/4 S for my next purchase.
@michael I've already purchased it.
Let's go back to the origin of "fast" lenses, like F/2.8 for this type instead of the F/4 now available. With an optical viewfinder, a faster lens means a brighter view in the finder and more precise focusing. With an electronic viewfinder (EVF), the camera presents us with an exposure correction and for view finder brightness we do not need a fast lens. Another thing is auto-focus. I noticed that (very) fast lenses present the AF tech in the camera with a big challenge and a DSLR may have a hard time focusing in lower light wit a faster lens. Then there is another, IMO most important, issue related to "fast" lenses. They have a larger diameter (necessarily) where the glass is more curved towards the edges (so the cross section is like a prism) and they have more chromatic aberration if not corrected extensively with more elements and more complex design. To me, the F/1.8 primes, the F/4 zooms, represent "light" and "compact" with simple designs and they have very good optical qualities. The venom in the tail: the Z 24..70/4S is really a let down. Please Mr. Nikon San, ask marketing and design techs to communicate better and ask tech design to come up with realistic forecasts, instead of socially desired answers.
Nikon needs to build a 70-300 f/4 s mount with AF-P or better performance and optical quality. That would be the perfect way to complete a compact three lens suite for the Z series.
BJ Nicholls Yes, and a 24-105/120 f/4 s. Almost going for used 6D ii and 24-105 as a waiting camera, instead of straight to Z6. The reason for that is because of video af, as I am entering the professional world (getting paid) and need to be able to shoot in low light (now using the D5300 with 18-55 because of af-p and vr)
Z lenses are the reason I want to go to the Nikon Z 6--and the compact form factor
Nikon fanboy through and through!used 2 D800 and 2 D3200 bought a D7200 and didnt like the crop factor and got the D750 now!Not going to buy Z series untill it has 2 card slots!getting a mirrorless camera later this year though!Olympus OM-D E5mkii for its video capabilities since I really really dont like Nikons N-Log at all!
Not sure why but ultra wide rarely ever does anything for me. I think it can be good if you're really doing strange angles and being creative, but straight on shots just look so distant from things. I like being right in there. 50mm is my favourite length.
I'd love to see a review on the video capture abilities for cinematography and general vlogging.
What about VR? Z50 body has no IBIS.
I'm a little worried about Nikon's financial future but as far as the lens unless you need a wide for astrophotography that lens is perfect
We need video about anamorphic lens they said it perfect