Lens Question - 1:4 vs f/1.4: I found a lens advertised on craigslist listed as "NIKON 12-24mm f/1.4G ED DX LENS" however the photo of the lens attached to that ad does not read as...

NewzShooter Loc: Las Vegas, NV

I found a lens advertised on craigslist listed as "NIKON 12-24mm f/1.4G ED DX LENS" however the photo of the lens attached to that ad does not read as f/1.4 but instead shows 1:4 G so my question is, is an 1:4 (that's 1 colon 4) lens different than a 1.4 lens? I'm guessing it would be quite different. So is a lens reading 1:4 actually an f/4 lens as opposed to an f/1.4 lens? Is an f/4 considered a fast lens? I would be using it primarily for indoor real estate photography. I need a wide angle lens, but is a lens that has printed on it 1:4 fast? Seems to me that is an f/4 and not a f/1.4 as the seller says it is. So does this mean it is NOT a fast lens? Please help! I don't want to throw away money needlessly. If it matters, my camera is the Nikon D7100, so is it even compatible with my camera?

OviedoPhotos

Its an f4. If it could possibly exist as a 1.4 it would cost a bazillion $$

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/1224.htm

michealj Loc: West Virginia

Would suggest you contact the seller and ask before making the decision. The Nikon 50mm af-s g 1.4 is a superb lens by the way. Worth the extra dollars IMHO. Good luck with your purchase! Mike J.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

NewzShooter wrote:

I found a lens advertised on craigslist listed as ... (show quote)

Does it look like this?

http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/nikon_50_1p4g_n15

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

NewzShooter wrote:

I found a lens advertised on craigslist listed as "NIKON 12-24mm f/1.4G ED DX LENS" however the photo of the lens attached to that ad does not read as f/1.4 but instead shows 1:4 G so my question is, is an 1:4 (that's 1 colon 4) lens different than a 1.4 lens?

Nikon does make a 12-24mm f/4G ED DX lens. They do not make an f/1.4 version (for the obvious reasons others have stated: it would be physically huge and the price tag would be even more astounding).

Contact the seller and inform him the listing is in error.

GC-FineArt Loc: WDC

NewzShooter wrote:

I found a lens advertised on craigslist listed as "NIKON 12-24mm f/1.4G ED DX LENS" however the photo of the lens attached to that ad does not read as f/1.4 but instead shows 1:4 G so my question is, is an 1:4 (that's 1 colon 4) lens different than a 1.4 lens? I'm guessing it would be quite different. ...

Your guess is correct -- 1:4 is not the same as f/1.4 (which would be indicated on a lens as 1:1.4) -- and yes they would be very different lenses.

However, since you also mention not wanting to throw away money needlessly, it seems to me that, regardless of the seller's screw-up, the real question is whether or not this 12-24mm is best suited to your needs as you describe them. I cant say, but Im sure there are others here who can give you advice in that regard.

NewzShooter Loc: Las Vegas, NV

Thank you to all who responded so far I'm now wondering if this is a lens I should get, the one on craigslist is selling for $425. BUT I'm guessing that an f/4 lens is NOT considered a fast lens? I would be using it primarily for indoor real estate photography and need something with a wide angle, but I want a fast lens.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

NewzShooter wrote:

I would be using it primarily for indoor real estate photography and need something with a wide angle, but I want a fast lens.

For real estate you don't need a fast lens. It's not going anywhere.

Photocraig

NewzShooter wrote:

Thank you to all who responded so far I'm now wondering if this is a lens I should get, the one on craigslist is selling for $425. BUT I'm guessing that an f/4 lens is NOT considered a fast lens? I would be using it primarily for indoor real estate photography and need something with a wide angle, but I want a fast lens.

Hi New, welcome to the Hog. I used to shoot my own Real Estate photos with a wide angle f 4-5.6 zoom. You need a flash or two or four to properly light and represent interiors. The reasons are there is uneven light due to window and house lighting and using the flashes can balance that and avoid hot spots and shadows. Even a 2.8 lens will be insufficient for many rooms and interiors. Get the f 4 lens if you like it. And also learn about flashes.

A TTL compatible speed light along with remote triggering (I used opticals with good results) will serve you well. And one compatible TTL light and other fill and highlight manual flashes worked for me. The TTL Speedlight worked as a flash controller and calculated and controlled the camera exposure.

Good luck,
Craig

Zone-System-Grandpa Loc: Springfield, Ohio

NewzShooter wrote:

I found a lens advertised on craigslist listed as ... (show quote)

F1.4 would be the aperture and 1:4 would be zoom ratio.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

I think what you need to check is does it come with a large lens hood that would enable you to stand the camera on a table with the back screen up and making a flat surface. This of course ensures that you have a flat and secure area on which to chop up a nice line of coke and really comes in as a godsend when used as a mobile spliff rolling platform. Always feel the hood is so much more important than the lens!!
Enjoy bro.

dardan Loc: Victoria

Zone-System-Grandpa wrote:

F1.4 would be the aperture and 1:4 would be zoom ratio.

Please be careful what you say if you don't know what you are talking about.

Firstly, there is no such thing as a Nikon 12-24 f/1.4, and secondly, how can a stated 12-24mm lens have a zoom ratio of 1:4?

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

NewzShooter wrote:

I found a lens advertised on craigslist listed as ... (show quote)

Nikon's convention is to state the maximum aperture as a fraction - in this case the lens says 1:4 meaning the max aperture is F4. If it were a 224-70 F2.8 - it would say 1:2.8; and a variable max aperture lens, like an 18-200 F3.5-5.6 would show !-3.5-5.6.

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Learn-And-Explore/Article/gg1e57vo/how-to-read-your-nikkor-lens-barrel.html

dardan Loc: Victoria

Billyspad wrote:

I think what you need to check is does it come with a large lens hood that would enable you to stand the camera on a table with the back screen up and making a flat surface. This of course ensures that you have a flat and secure area on which to chop up a nice line of coke and really comes in as a godsend when used as a mobile spliff rolling platform. Always feel the hood is so much more important than the lens!!
Enjoy bro.

That explains a lot.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

NewzShooter wrote:

Thank you to all who responded so far I'm now wondering if this is a lens I should get, the one on craigslist is selling for $425. BUT I'm guessing that an f/4 lens is NOT considered a fast lens? I would be using it primarily for indoor real estate photography and need something with a wide angle, but I want a fast lens.

This lens, along with the similarly priced but older Sigma 10-20 F4-5.6 are very popular among RE guys and gals. Both are sharp, and both produce really crisp and contrasty images.

My personal preference is to shoot a longer focal length, with the camera in portrait orientation, and create a 2-4 shot pano. Longer focal lengths will give you a more natural perspective (front parts of the image in proportion to objects in the back), and if you need wider, just add another shot, overlapping each at least 50%. Photoshop and PT/GUI make short work of the stitching process, and your images will have a look that is a cut or two above the images taken by everyone else typically using ultrawide lenses.