Considering this although I’ll probably get the 35/1.8S as an all-rounder, but do you know if Capture One (latest iteration) will do similar correction of the distortion?
MartinG
November 24, 2024 5:46 pm
I have had this lens for about 8 months now. It’s a lens I enjoy using more than I thought I would. I actually find myself reaching for it in preference to my 24-70F4S. For landscapes in particular, I invariably find that a 14-30 focal length has more impact than the mid range 24-70 length. The resulting images are always good in terms of the colour balance (especially sky), detail, depth of field and sharpness. I never feel like I should have bought the F2.8 version. The 14-30 is the most usable and logical choice for wide angle images. I am pleasantly surprised by how well it exceeds my expectations as a lens in this focal range. The convenience of a lens which packs away into such a small size is not to be underestimated either.
old sub sailor
July 22, 2024 8:17 am
I thought about the high “big brother” high dollar lens, but I used to shoot astro with film using a Meade 10″ Schmidt-Cassey; I figured after that, where would the fun be and I don’t do it any more (and I have hand issues now). So I just bought this one.
RSSER
March 21, 2024 4:16 am
Just got a used one of these and reckon it’s relatively light and compact for the spec. It’s great that it’ll take a screw-on CPL. Frankly I would have preferred a small f4 20mm prime and couldn’t find one. This WA range will come in handy though.
What I found interesting is how well the 14-30 stood up to the competition at f8 and f11 – in fact none of the primes were decisively sharper at these apertures. As I rarely stray from those apertures I’m very reassured by your review. (And your testing reaffirmed my previous decision to get the 18-35 f-mount over the much-dearer 16-35. I was quite sad to trade that one in).
That’s part of why I bought this lens for my own landscape photography. I’m at f/8-16 most of the time anyway, and sharpness differences between lenses are a lot smaller there.
Kamuran Akkor
March 2, 2024 8:25 am
Hi. I think if a lens is designed to be geometrically corrected, then “extreme distortion before correction” cannot be a con. Just test the performance at 14mm and that’s it. I have seen similar cons in other reviews as well (like some Canon lenses). If performance suffers greatly at 14mm compared to others, that may be a con but a lens designed to be corrected isn’t a negative by itself.
It’s still a negative in my book, because correcting such extreme distortion can lead to blurrier corners. (Our corner sharpness measurements are always done on uncorrected RAW files, which by necessity is without any distortion corrections.) But all I can do is offer the data for your consideration. You can make your own decisions whether any of the pros or cons here are relevant to you.
“…in my book…” same same in my subjective opinion; so it goes either way and on and on, you know eh?
Terence
July 12, 2022 4:11 am
The best comment I read was the Z14-30 is 85-90% of the Z14-24 for about 50% of the price. As this focal range is more of a “nice to have” than my bread and butter focal range, I am happy to make the compromise in terms of optical quality for the cost benefit (the new Z14-24 is not sooo much heavier or bigger than the little brother that I consider this a huge factor. Not so compared to the f-mount or third party alternatives which easily crack the 1kg mark…)
when you are 77 and scar tissue along with arthritis is eating up your hand you will change your opinion about “…not sooo much heavier or bigger … ” ‘big time. ;)
Sean
May 29, 2022 2:46 am
I had my newly aquired Z7II and 14-30mm out for the first time yesterday. Corner sharpness seems acceptable but the vignetting and distortion are fairly pronounced. The distortion is what it is. It’s the vignetting that has me more concerned. I was shooting with my Kase polorizer attached at the time–though it is not supposed to cause vignetting at 14mm, I wonder if that was an issue. Also I had the in camera vignette correction turned off.
Lightroom and some other post-processing software takes your in-camera vignetting corrections into account when showing you the (supposedly) “unedited” image. I’d suggest turning vignetting removal to medium or high in your camera, then see if you still notice a problem. If so, the filter is likely a bit too thick.
JR Arsenault
January 20, 2021 6:19 pm
Bought the 14-30mm a couple months ago. Fabulous travel lens for scenics and interiors, extremely sharp corner to corner and consistent at all FL’s. The Z7 cleans up most of it, you can do a lot SOOC with little post required. Happy camper, sold the F mount zoom glass … but still keeping 20mm f3.5 AiS because I still love its’ capture qualities.
Considering this although I’ll probably get the 35/1.8S as an all-rounder, but do you know if Capture One (latest iteration) will do similar correction of the distortion?
I have had this lens for about 8 months now. It’s a lens I enjoy using more than I thought I would. I actually find myself reaching for it in preference to my 24-70F4S. For landscapes in particular, I invariably find that a 14-30 focal length has more impact than the mid range 24-70 length.
The resulting images are always good in terms of the colour balance (especially sky), detail, depth of field and sharpness. I never feel like I should have bought the F2.8 version. The 14-30 is the most usable and logical choice for wide angle images. I am pleasantly surprised by how well it exceeds my expectations as a lens in this focal range. The convenience of a lens which packs away into such a small size is not to be underestimated either.
I thought about the high “big brother” high dollar lens, but I used to shoot astro with film using a Meade 10″ Schmidt-Cassey; I figured after that, where would the fun be and I don’t do it any more (and I have hand issues now). So I just bought this one.
Just got a used one of these and reckon it’s relatively light and compact for the spec. It’s great that it’ll take a screw-on CPL. Frankly I would have preferred a small f4 20mm prime and couldn’t find one. This WA range will come in handy though.
Under specs change 22 to 82 filter size
Thanks for catching that typo, just fixed it!
What I found interesting is how well the 14-30 stood up to the competition at f8 and f11 – in fact none of the primes were decisively sharper at these apertures. As I rarely stray from those apertures I’m very reassured by your review.
(And your testing reaffirmed my previous decision to get the 18-35 f-mount over the much-dearer 16-35. I was quite sad to trade that one in).
That’s part of why I bought this lens for my own landscape photography. I’m at f/8-16 most of the time anyway, and sharpness differences between lenses are a lot smaller there.
Hi. I think if a lens is designed to be geometrically corrected, then “extreme distortion before correction” cannot be a con. Just test the performance at 14mm and that’s it. I have seen similar cons in other reviews as well (like some Canon lenses).
If performance suffers greatly at 14mm compared to others, that may be a con but a lens designed to be corrected isn’t a negative by itself.
It’s still a negative in my book, because correcting such extreme distortion can lead to blurrier corners. (Our corner sharpness measurements are always done on uncorrected RAW files, which by necessity is without any distortion corrections.) But all I can do is offer the data for your consideration. You can make your own decisions whether any of the pros or cons here are relevant to you.
“…in my book…” same same in my subjective opinion; so it goes either way and on and on, you know eh?
The best comment I read was the Z14-30 is 85-90% of the Z14-24 for about 50% of the price. As this focal range is more of a “nice to have” than my bread and butter focal range, I am happy to make the compromise in terms of optical quality for the cost benefit (the new Z14-24 is not sooo much heavier or bigger than the little brother that I consider this a huge factor. Not so compared to the f-mount or third party alternatives which easily crack the 1kg mark…)
I think that sums it up! Glad you’re enjoying yours.
when you are 77 and scar tissue along with arthritis is eating up your hand you will change your opinion about “…not sooo much heavier or bigger … ” ‘big time. ;)
I had my newly aquired Z7II and 14-30mm out for the first time yesterday. Corner sharpness seems acceptable but the vignetting and distortion are fairly pronounced. The distortion is what it is. It’s the vignetting that has me more concerned. I was shooting with my Kase polorizer attached at the time–though it is not supposed to cause vignetting at 14mm, I wonder if that was an issue. Also I had the in camera vignette correction turned off.
Lightroom and some other post-processing software takes your in-camera vignetting corrections into account when showing you the (supposedly) “unedited” image. I’d suggest turning vignetting removal to medium or high in your camera, then see if you still notice a problem. If so, the filter is likely a bit too thick.
Bought the 14-30mm a couple months ago. Fabulous travel lens for scenics and interiors, extremely sharp corner to corner and consistent at all FL’s. The Z7 cleans up most of it, you can do a lot SOOC with little post required. Happy camper, sold the F mount zoom glass … but still keeping 20mm f3.5 AiS because I still love its’ capture qualities.
Glad you’re enjoying it! I’m still using mine several years later and am very satisfied with it.