IDguy Loc: Idaho

Mine arrived a few days ago. Thought I’d share a few things and invite comments or tips.

I recently participated in a thread where a few folks were counseling the OP that a wide angle lens isn’t a worthwhile investment. I disagree and suspect they simply hadn’t learned how to use. I checked Bryan Peterson’s composition book and am currently viewing the Great Courses Masters of Landscape and Wildlife course. Both extensively use wide angle lenses to create awesome images.

I had a Nikon F mount 16-35 VR. Awesome lens that I used a lot. It is at Adorama for their bid. I will be sending it away because the 14-30 performs as well and is half the size and weight of the 16-35 with FTZ needed on my Z6. The Z6 IBIS makes up for the lack of VR on the 14-30 and V isn’t an issue on most wide angle shots anyway.

One of the gripes the wide angle detractors had was distortion at the edges. The Z6 has auto distortion correction built in and with the EVF what you see is what you get. It seems to do a nice job and you aren’t allowed to turn it off with the 14-30 attached.

Another gripe was vignetting. There is none with the hood attached all the way down to 14mm. There is a little with my Marumi thin CP filter. Although small there are several ways to deal with it if you don’t like it:

1. Set Vignette reduction to high in the shooting menu.
2. Go a smidge longer than 14mm and watch it disappear in the EVF.
3. Use the 16x9 image size (which I usually do anyway for landscapes).
4. Eliminate it in Lightroom.

So not a problem for me.

I plan to take only it and the 24-200 on an upcoming cruise in June (covid permitting). I’ll mostly use it in buildings (Hermitage) and for landscapes.

Appreciate any other experiences with it or suggestions.

Quixdraw Loc: x

I always travel with a wide angle (though rarely a Super Tele as they are a PITA on any type of commercial transportation). In addition to landscapes / Seascapes, wide angles are very useful indoors and in tightly confined urban areas. Of course, I'm a bit of a glutton for punishment. Never less than two DSLRs and four lenses on a serious photo trip. Travelling in my own car, add a super tele and whatever else strikes me as potentially useful.

Photec

I have some thoughts on wide angle to super-wide angle shots. I have a 14-24mm f2.8, a 45mm PC, and a 50mm f1.8 that I like to use for wide shots. If the 14-24 is not going to give me the shot I am thinking of I will try the 45mm and do a pano by shooting in portrait angle and shifting left, center, right. If that won't produce what I'm looking for I put the 50 on and shoot as many pano shots as I need to give me the desired view. As you might suspect, each lens will give a different look. I can usually tell which lens to pull out long before I even set the tripod for the shot.

User ID

The advisory against UWs was mainly related to broad distant vistas, and that is good advice. Much of the other advice was also good, in pointing out that UWs solve problems indoors quite well.

And acoarst the very reasonable remarks that you must learn to use an UW ... that just gathering in 50% greater angle of view is a recipe for ultraboring empty looking pictures ... is also good advice.

Been using UWs for decades and would never dismiss them as useless. Cannot recall ever using them for distant views ... not even once. Close in or crowded outdoor situations, or difficult interiors, call out for these lenses.

Quixdraw Loc: x

There is a definite learning curve with wide & ultrawide. Once learned, can produce some remarkable photos, but not for every task. If I had to have just one lens with me it would be 24-85 or 24-120, multipurpose but wide enough to get a good part of the wide angle work done.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

I’ll still sometimes do panos other ways with other cameras. I know how to take and stitch multiple shots with any camera using Lightroom or photoshop. My iPhone and Lumix GM 5 take panos (why doesn’t Nikon do that?).

My Z50 has quickly become my hiking camera. My Lumix GM 5, which used to fill that role, is headed down the road as soon as I get inspired. The kit 16-50 on the Z50 weighs nothing and takes excellent images. It even has VR. And I use it to take multiple shots for wide angle. Learned long ago to take a shot holding up fingers with how many to stitch to simplify finding them in Lightroom.

So far I am keeping my DX AFS 10-24 to use on the Z50 with FTZ. It takes awesome images although lacking VR. But it plus FTZ weighs more than the Z50.

PS: I have a snippy answer for my question above but there is no need for me to post my speculation. Does anyone know if high end Canons provide it? I’m pretty sure my Sony NEX7 did.

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

Enjoy your combo! I agree wholeheartedly. Our trip to Russia was cancelled and don't know when we will re-book. Have a great time and take lots and lots of pictures.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

I don’t think people were saying an ultra wide was a bad idea in general, just not as good as a pano for those vast Southwest views. There is a learning curve and ultra wides definitely gave their uses, especially for close work and interiors.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-597795-1.html

The Z 14-30 , for optical sharpness, blows all other wide angles out of the water - according to published objective Imatest numbers that I see.

But, then again, I am a "troll" - so no reason to give credence to any of my comments .......
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imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I also suggest you look at David Muench's work .....
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IDguy Loc: Idaho

Discovered something today. The CP I have on the 14-30 that gave the slight vignetting is a Vivitar that came with it. I don’t have a Marumi thin of that size. The filter size is 82 mm so the Marumi will be pricey.

I compared the Vivitar to my 77 mm thin Marumi and the rotating part of the Marumi is half the thickness. So it probably wouldn’t Vignette at all. But I don’t think using 14 vs like 14.2 matters $100 to me. And I mostly got the lens for the indoor shots where I wouldn’t use CP anyway.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Yes, panos is just one use of a wide angle lens. Multiple shots don’t work for many of the other uses. I was really impressed by the wildlife and action shots using wide angle shown in The Great Courses National Geographic Photography Masters Course. And I use indoors and in narrow urban areas.

neillaubenthal

[quote=IDguy]Learned long ago to take a shot holding up fingers with how many to stitch to simplify finding them in Lightroom.

Great idea...I usually hold up my hand and then figure it out but the number of fingers I think I will borrow.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

[quote=neillaubenthal]

...I take a pic of my hand, do the pano, and then the hand again. No muss, no fuss...