How will this lens be for landscapes with the Z7, shot mostly on tripod at f/8 ? Or better to use one of the primes (85 f/1.8 for eg) and shoot pano ?
Bill V
July 8, 2021 11:09 am
This lens has pretty much replaced my 24-70 f/4 for landscape. The fringing on the corners at 24mm on the 24-200 is not as noticeable as the low-rez issues I get on the 24-70 when I am constantly cropping because I don’t get the landscape reach with 24-70.
Same here! I love the 24-70mm f/4, but the 24-200mm does everything I need in that range for landscapes.
Patrick
July 3, 2021 8:49 am
I bought this lens for hiking and longer walks and I really love it! It was one of the three reasons why I sold my Fuji gear and moved back to Nikon. When I got it, I had a few concerns because of its “plasticky” look but it feels really good in hand and works very smooth. The lock mechanism is perfect when you use a peak design clip on your backpack (the size is also great for carrying it on the clip because the camera doesn’t shake all the time like it does with more compact lenses like my old Fuji 18-55). It is even lighter than the mentioned 570 grams when you weigh it without lens cap.
My only two complaints are sharpness in the area of 160-200mm (not sure if that is “normal” for tele lenses, I’d never owned one before) and lack of sunstars. But you can’t have all those things in such lenses I guess. I got it for 670 € new (found a great deal) and use it with a B+W Clear filter when hiking. I will probably sell my 50mm 1.8 and buy the 40mm F2 when it is released to save weight. Then I have a great combo for hiking.
I’m very glad that you like it! The sharpness from 160mm onward is definitely the weakest, but should still be reasonable when stopping down if you get a good copy.
I too am likely to get the 40mm f/2 when it arrives. So glad to finally have a lightweight kit with all native Z lenses.
jason nelson
June 26, 2021 1:31 pm
Spencer, I find it amazing (in a GOOD way) that this ‘budget’ lens is packs enough quality enough to become the main lens for your landscape photography! In so many ways, our gear has gotten so very good that what we use is becoming somewhat irreverent.
My photography no longer improves with gear, it improves from study and planning. (Sure, autofocus improves my hit rate, but wicked fast AF can’t make a blah scene any better). It seems to me that we are at the point where any camera can do the job. Composition, lighting, and the moment are what we should be looking for. (Well, that’s what it has always been about.) With a really good zoom like this on your camera, there are so many more opportunities that will open up for a photographer.
Thanks for your thoughts, backed up with really good photographs.
Jason, I totally agree with what you say about how your photography improves. When even superzooms are this good nowadays, it’s clear that light and composition are the only things standing in our way of capturing great shots!
Robert John
June 26, 2021 1:10 pm
Be interesting to see how this compares to the Tamron 28-200 when it comes out in Z mount. Yes, the Tamron is narrower, but I’d expect to be using the 14-30 alongside this lens (I’m always happy to go out with 2 light lenses) and changing over at 24mm or at 28mm makes little difference. The Tamron also maxes out at f5.6.
jeffrey harring
June 26, 2021 12:24 pm
I am waiting for the Z 18-300. My favorite travel lens
Fred
June 25, 2021 3:23 pm
A general point about dust: dust on the rear element of some of the Z lenses where there are scant millimeters clearance to the sensor will look almost exactly like dust actually on the sensor. I ran into this the first time I cleaned my Z50. It was mostly a few bits of dust on the rear element of the little 16-50 kit lens that I was seeing and after a few failed attempts the “light” went on.
Also, while the exposed sensor might be somewhat more problematic, consider that your Z cam is always in “cleaning mode” and you should be sure to have the camera off to avoid an unwanted shutter release …
Aside from the need to do it in the first place, cleaning sensors on cameras is (to me) no more complex or fraught than cleaning lenses. I’m boggled by people who actually take their camera in to have this done !
I bought this lens as soon as it was available and have not regretted it for a moment. I use it constantly on my Z6 and occasionally on my Z50. I am very happy with the results. It does what is does very well.
Dinos
June 25, 2021 3:38 am
Spencer, what are your thoughts between the 24-200 and the 70-200 f4?
How will this lens be for landscapes with the Z7, shot mostly on tripod at f/8 ? Or better to use one of the primes (85 f/1.8 for eg) and shoot pano ?
This lens has pretty much replaced my 24-70 f/4 for landscape. The fringing on the corners at 24mm on the 24-200 is not as noticeable as the low-rez issues I get on the 24-70 when I am constantly cropping because I don’t get the landscape reach with 24-70.
Same here! I love the 24-70mm f/4, but the 24-200mm does everything I need in that range for landscapes.
I bought this lens for hiking and longer walks and I really love it!
It was one of the three reasons why I sold my Fuji gear and moved back to Nikon.
When I got it, I had a few concerns because of its “plasticky” look but it feels really good in hand and works very smooth. The lock mechanism is perfect when you use a peak design clip on your backpack (the size is also great for carrying it on the clip because the camera doesn’t shake all the time like it does with more compact lenses like my old Fuji 18-55).
It is even lighter than the mentioned 570 grams when you weigh it without lens cap.
My only two complaints are sharpness in the area of 160-200mm (not sure if that is “normal” for tele lenses, I’d never owned one before) and lack of sunstars. But you can’t have all those things in such lenses I guess.
I got it for 670 € new (found a great deal) and use it with a B+W Clear filter when hiking.
I will probably sell my 50mm 1.8 and buy the 40mm F2 when it is released to save weight. Then I have a great combo for hiking.
I’m very glad that you like it! The sharpness from 160mm onward is definitely the weakest, but should still be reasonable when stopping down if you get a good copy.
I too am likely to get the 40mm f/2 when it arrives. So glad to finally have a lightweight kit with all native Z lenses.
Spencer, I find it amazing (in a GOOD way) that this ‘budget’ lens is packs enough quality enough to become the main lens for your landscape photography! In so many ways, our gear has gotten so very good that what we use is becoming somewhat irreverent.
My photography no longer improves with gear, it improves from study and planning. (Sure, autofocus improves my hit rate, but wicked fast AF can’t make a blah scene any better). It seems to me that we are at the point where any camera can do the job. Composition, lighting, and the moment are what we should be looking for. (Well, that’s what it has always been about.) With a really good zoom like this on your camera, there are so many more opportunities that will open up for a photographer.
Thanks for your thoughts, backed up with really good photographs.
Jason, I totally agree with what you say about how your photography improves. When even superzooms are this good nowadays, it’s clear that light and composition are the only things standing in our way of capturing great shots!
Be interesting to see how this compares to the Tamron 28-200 when it comes out in Z mount. Yes, the Tamron is narrower, but I’d expect to be using the 14-30 alongside this lens (I’m always happy to go out with 2 light lenses) and changing over at 24mm or at 28mm makes little difference. The Tamron also maxes out at f5.6.
I am waiting for the Z 18-300.
My favorite travel lens
A general point about dust: dust on the rear element of some of the Z lenses where there are scant millimeters clearance to the sensor will look almost exactly like dust actually on the sensor. I ran into this the first time I cleaned my Z50. It was mostly a few bits of dust on the rear element of the little 16-50 kit lens that I was seeing and after a few failed attempts the “light” went on.
Also, while the exposed sensor might be somewhat more problematic, consider that your Z cam is always in “cleaning mode” and you should be sure to have the camera off to avoid an unwanted shutter release …
Aside from the need to do it in the first place, cleaning sensors on cameras is (to me) no more complex or fraught than cleaning lenses. I’m boggled by people who actually take their camera in to have this done !
Very good points!
The most convincing argument in favor of this lens are your accompanying photos … terrific.
Thank you, Fred!
I bought this lens as soon as it was available and have not regretted it for a moment. I use it constantly on my Z6 and occasionally on my Z50. I am very happy with the results. It does what is does very well.
Spencer, what are your thoughts between the 24-200 and the 70-200 f4?
I replaced my 70-200mm f/4 with this lens! It’s not quite as sharp, but much lighter and smaller, especially taking the FTZ adapter into account.