Af-s Nikkor 24-120mm F/4g Ed Vr Lens Review
In summary
A versatile, but quite expensive, 5x standard zoom lens that covers a popular focal length range for general photography.Appear in mid-September 2010, the AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR is an update to the pop 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 VR that features a constant f/4 maximum aperture across the focal length range. Designed for Nikon's FX (36 x 24 mm sensor) cameras, it is also usable with the company'south DX models, where it covers a focal length range equivalent to 36-180mm. . . [more]
Full review
Announced in mid-September 2010, the AF-Southward Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR is an update to the pop 24-120mm Æ'/three.5-5.6 VR that features a constant f/4 maximum discontinuity across the focal length range. Designed for Nikon's FX (36 x 24 mm sensor) cameras, information technology is as well usable with the company'southward DX models, where it covers a focal length range equivalent to 36-180mm.
Nikon has been manufacturing 24-120mm zoom lenses since 1996, attesting to the popularity of this zoom range. The new lens introduces some useful upgrades and a small change in the blueprint that may prove initially disconcerting to some users. Just, overall, it'south a stride in the right direction.
Our tests were conducted on the Nikon D7000 body, which is a comfortable match in size and weight. We were unable to evaluate the lens on ane of Nikon'southward FX bodies but assume they would be as suitable.
The AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR, shown without the supplied end caps and lens hood. (Source: Nikon.)
The optical pattern comprises 17 elements in thirteen groups and includes two ED (Actress-low Dispersion) and three aspherical elements. Nano Crystal Coatings have been applied to minimise flare and ghosting.
The diagram higher up shows the position of the various lens elements with the exotic elements colour-coded. (Source: Nikon.)
Nikon'due south latest VR II built-in vibration reduction systemprovides up to four f-stops of camera shake compensation. It engages when the camera's shutter button is half-pressed and you can hear a soft click followed past a barely-detectable buzz as the internal motors suit the floating elements. The built-in Silent Wave Motor (SWM) focus drive promises fast and placidity autofocusing.
Build and Ergonomics
Although manufactured mainly from black polycarbonate, the 24-120mm f/4G lens is solidly constructed and well finished, although a tad pricey for a mainly plastic lens. The front end of the lens extends 10.iv cm from the camera torso at the 24mm position, stretching to 15 cm at 120mm. Attaching the petal-shaped HB-53 lens hood adds a further iv cm. Information technology has a ribbed inner surface and tin can be reversed onto the lens for storage.
The zoom ring is a xxx mm wide band located directly backside the front element. Information technology has a 22 mm wide, deeply ridged safe grip and rotates through roughly one quarter of a plough as y'all span the focal length range.
The abaft edge carries stamped markings for the following focal length settings: 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 70mm, 85mm and 120mm. These marks line up confronting a white dot on the master barrel.
But behind this dot lies the altitude calibration in metres and feet, which ranges from 0.45 metres to infinity. A plastic window covers the scale. Neither depth-of-field nor infrared markings are provided.
Backside the distance calibration is a nine mm wide focusing ring, which has rubber ridges with a different texture from those on the zoom ring. This ring moves through just over one quarter of a turn with stops at the closest focus and but by infinity. All focusing is internal, enabling angle-critical attachments to be used without requiring re-adjustment.
Between the focusing ring and the camera body – and around the barrel towards the left side of the photographic camera – are three slider switches. The top one handles focusing and has M/A and M positions. Full transmission over-ride is available in the M/A fashion.
The middle one is labelled VR ON and OFF and engages or disengages the VR II stabilisation. The bottom 1 switches between the Normal and Active VR modes.
Handling
Weighing 756 grams with lens hood and lens cap in place and protruding about 19 in front of the camera body, the 24-120mm f/4G lens is a substantial handful. While an splendid lucifer for the D7000 we used for this review, it may prove a fiddling heavy for Nikon'south entry-level models.
Both the zoom and focusing rings move smoothly, each through roughly one quarter of a turn every bit they bridge their respective ranges. Zooming requires a small amount of pressure level, minimising the chances of zoom creep when the lens is carried pointing downwards.
The focusing band moves has soft stops at the closest focus point (45 cm) and simply by infinity. The front element of the lens remains stock-still in identify during focusing.
Performance
Our Imatest tests showed the review lens delivered its best performance with aperture settings betwixt f/4 and about f/8 at the shorter focal lengths. For focal lengths betwixt 70mm and 120mm (inclusive), the highest resolution apertures were roughly half an f-stop smaller.
Diffraction began to kick in at around f/11 and resolution plummeted from f/xvi onwards. The f/22 aperture is one to avert, delivering low figures in our Imatest tests and visibly soft phtoographs. The graph below shows the results of our tests.
Subjective assessments of test shots confirmed the Imatest findings of corner and edge softening at wider aperture settings, specially at 24mm. Withal, stopping downwards to f/5.6 produced a visible comeback in edge sharpness at the wider focal lengths; less so from 70mm to 120mm. Nosotros found the all-time overall performance was with the 35mm focal length at f/5.6, an advantage it retained right up to f/11.
Lateral chromatic aberration remained negligible at all lens apertures and focal length settings. This is doubtless due to the use of the ED elements and Nano Crystal Coatings. The graph below shows the results of our Imatest testing.
Some barrel distortion was observed at shorter focal lengths but it had been largely resolved past the 35mm position. Slight pincushioning could be seen in shots taken with the 120mm focal length. Neither distortion was visible enough to touch everyday photography.
Vignetting was also minimal at f/iv across the focal length range of the lens. Information technology's marginally more visible at the shorter focal lengths but eliminated by stopping down to f/5.6.
Autofocusing was fast and nearly silent, thanks to the Silent Wave Motor. It took roughly i second to go from 24mm to 120mm in brilliant weather and approximately ane.5 seconds to comprehend the aforementioned distance merely before dusk on a cloudy afternoon. Some hunting occurred in very low lite levels with low-contrast subjects and focusing was slightly slower for close-ups, fifty-fifty in relatively bright conditions.
Shut-up shooting capabilities are limited by the minimum focusing distance of 45 cm. However, with the 120mm focal length you become a magnification of 0.24x, which is adequate for many subjects.
Bokeh with the f/four aperture is pleasant enough for shut-up work (though not outstandingly smooth). Some outlining could be seen in shots taken with the f/4 setting and highlights reflect the shape of the circular discontinuity at all focal length settings.
The VR 2 image stabiliser enabled us to use shutter speeds as slow as 1/20 second with the 120mm focal length, confirming Nikon's merits of approximately iv EV of shutter speed compensation. More than 80% of shots taken in our stabilisation tests were passably sharp at between 3 and iv f-stops below the shutter speeds we would look from an unstabilised lens.
Buy this lens if:
– You want a capable, reasonably fast, full general-purpose lens to lucifer one of Nikon's larger DSLR bodies.
– Your preferred subjects include landscapes, portraits, interiors and weddings.
– You lot prefer a lens that retains the aforementioned maximum aperture throughout its zoom range.
– You'd like a lens that requires no readjustment when y'all fit polarisers and graduated filters.
Don't buy this lens if:
– Yous take an entry-level DSLR.
– Y'all prefer having the zoom ring closer to the camera torso than the focusing band.
IMATEST GRAPHS
From JPEG files taken with the lens on the D7000 body.
SAMPLE IMAGES
(All samples taken with the lens on the D7000 body.)
Vignetting at 24mm with f/4 discontinuity setting.
Vignetting at 50mm with f/4 aperture setting.
Vignetting at 70mm with f/4 aperture setting.
Vignetting at 120mm with f/4 discontinuity setting.
Distortion at 24mm; f/4, ISO 100, 1/125 second.
Baloney at 120mm; f/v.vi, ISO 200, 1/160 2d.
24mm focal length; f/16, ISO 400, 1/25 second.
35mm focal length; f/11, ISO 400, one/25 second.
70mm focal length; f/8, ISO 400, one/25 second.
120mm focal length; f/8, ISO 800, 1/25 second.
120mm focal length; f/4, ISO 1100, 1/640 second.
120mm focal length; f/four, ISO 200, i/thirty second.
100mm focal length; f/four, ISO 400, 1/125 second.
Showing slight outlining in the out-of-focus areas; 120mm focal length; f/four, ISO 200, i/250 second.
Showing the shape of the circular aperture reflected in highlights in the out-of-focus areas; 120mm focal length; f/4, ISO 200, 1/320 2nd.
Additional image samples can be found with our review of the Nikon D7000.
Specifications
Picture angle: DX format: 84 degrees to 20 degrees xx minutes; FX format: 61 degrees to xiii degrees 20 minutes
Minimum aperture: f/22
Lens construction: 17 elements in thirteen groups (2 ED and 3 aspherical lens elements, including elements with Nano Crystal Coat)
Lens mounts: Nikon AF
Diaphragm Blades: 9 (circular aperture)
Focus bulldoze: Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
Stabilisation: VR 2 built-in vibration reduction (up to four steps of camera shake compensation)
Minimum focus: 45cm
Maximum magnification: 0.24x (at maximum telephoto position)
Filter size: 77 mm
Dimensions (Diameter x L): Approx. 84 x 103.5mm
Weight: Approx. 710 grams (without end caps and hood)
RRP: $1,949
Benefactor:Nikon Australia; Ph: 1300 366 499; www.nikon.com.au
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Rating
RRP: $1999
Rating (out of 10):
- Build: 8.viii
- Treatment: 8.5
- Image quality: eight.5
- Versatility: 8.8
- OVERALL: eight.5
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Source: https://www.photoreview.com.au/reviews/dslr-lenses/dslr-lenses-aps-c/af-s-nikkor-24-120mm-f4g-ed-vr-lens/
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