Overkill? Not Needed Lens?
Apr 23, 2022 11:08:34 #
CliffMcKenzie
Loc: Lake Athens Texas
Opportunity: In early fall, shoots in Utah, Northwest New Mexico and Southern Colorado
Current Inventory of wide angle lenes: Nikon (all lenes are Nikon) prime 20 1.8 & 24-70 2.8.
Primary Camera Body: d850
Anal: Am I anal regarding sharpness of lens? Yes, just returned a 24-120 4 as the images were too soft when compared to 24-70 & 70-200 2.8.
Lens Consideration: 14-24 2.8. My push back is the waste of money due to overlap of current inventory. Yes, I can pano, stack & HDR. I don’t use my 20 that much as my favorite on camera lens is the 24-70.
Cost: Cost of 14-24 is about $1,800 & 2 week rent is about $175 (never rented before) or about 10% of the cost.
Your thoughts are appreciated. If you have 14-24, do you use it that often? Is it worth the additional investment? Would you rent in this case? Thank you UHH, Cliff
Current Inventory of wide angle lenes: Nikon (all lenes are Nikon) prime 20 1.8 & 24-70 2.8.
Primary Camera Body: d850
Anal: Am I anal regarding sharpness of lens? Yes, just returned a 24-120 4 as the images were too soft when compared to 24-70 & 70-200 2.8.
Lens Consideration: 14-24 2.8. My push back is the waste of money due to overlap of current inventory. Yes, I can pano, stack & HDR. I don’t use my 20 that much as my favorite on camera lens is the 24-70.
Cost: Cost of 14-24 is about $1,800 & 2 week rent is about $175 (never rented before) or about 10% of the cost.
Your thoughts are appreciated. If you have 14-24, do you use it that often? Is it worth the additional investment? Would you rent in this case? Thank you UHH, Cliff
Apr 23, 2022 11:24:58 #
Are the capabilities (bottom end field of view) for the 14- compared to the 24- that important to you?
Does the 10mm difference matter that much?
Does the 10mm difference matter that much?
Apr 23, 2022 11:34:46 #
Longshadow wrote:
Are the capabilities (bottom end field of view) for the 14- compared to the 24- that important to you?
Does the 10mm difference matter that much?
Does the 10mm difference matter that much?
10mm on the wide end makes a hugh difference in what the camera can capture.
Apr 23, 2022 11:39:57 #
rcarol wrote:
10mm on the wide end makes a hugh difference in what the camera can capture.
Yes, but does it matter to him?
Does not to me.
Apr 23, 2022 11:49:46 #
ahudina
Loc: Browns Point, WA
CliffMcKenzie wrote:
Opportunity: In early fall, shoots in Utah, North... (show quote)
I too used to shoot with a D 850 before going lighter with a Z7 ii. On the D 850 I loved my Sigma Art 14-24. Check out the reviews, most all rate it as sharper than the Nikon and at a significant cost savings. Currently use the Nikon Z 14-24 on the Z7 ii and am very impressed but for the price I should be. Cheers.
Apr 23, 2022 11:51:09 #
larryepage
Loc: North Texas area
CliffMcKenzie wrote:
Opportunity: In early fall, shoots in Utah, North... (show quote)
Cliff--I have the 14-24 Nikkor and actually use it pretty frequently. I don't use it for straight landscapes. It is too limiting on composition if you want to avoid bending the horizon, and it pushes everything too far away. The resolution of the D850 partially compensates for details being made smaller, but you still have to develop a strategy to manage the distortion.
I wouldn't consider that the 14-24 and the 20mm are redundant to each other. 14mm is a lot shorter and wider than 20mm, and my guess is that the 20mm lens is a lot smaller and lighter than the zoom (I've not actually used one).
I wasn't able to come to the club meeting Thursday, but can bring mine to the May meeting if you'd like to look at it, or let me know if you're going to be up this way, and we can meet before then.
Apr 23, 2022 12:28:13 #
My EF 16-35 f/4 IS is one of my favorite and most used lenses, more than the 24-70 f/2.8 that doesn't have IS support. What do you need f/2.8 for? Certainly not landscapes. Why not the Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f/4.0G ED VR? So what if there's overlap? For walking in canyons and most every tight space, this is the lens you need.
Apr 23, 2022 12:45:59 #
the lens in question is great but; using filters is difficult since the glass extends out requiring special filtering and the thing is heavy
I tried it to go with my 24-7- and 70-200 F2.8 pair used on the d850 and decided the negatives out weighed the pluses of the fast lens
I bought the 12 to 24 f/4 that can use thin filters, is lighter and some what less expensive and uses a 77mm screw on filter as do the 24 to 70b and 70 to 200.
I tried it to go with my 24-7- and 70-200 F2.8 pair used on the d850 and decided the negatives out weighed the pluses of the fast lens
I bought the 12 to 24 f/4 that can use thin filters, is lighter and some what less expensive and uses a 77mm screw on filter as do the 24 to 70b and 70 to 200.
Apr 23, 2022 12:46:38 #
I find that there are few differences in the current top-of-the-line digital cameras for the camera bodies are microprocessor driven and most often their sensors are outsourced to the few manufacturers that make them.
The lenses are the "eyes" of the camera and good glass makes for good eyes. To me, they are the most important part of the camera rig. The most expensive digital camera, mirrorless or not, will always be reduced to the lowest performance of the lens mounted on it.
Ultra-wide lenses are great for close-quarter needs. There will be some bending distortion at the edges as the angle of the lens approaches that of a "fisheye". I've seen some wonderful artistic work done with wide-angle lenses, including extreme closeups and near macro work.
If I were to go, I would rent the best lens available for limited use in my collection of lenses. Good travels and I look forward to seeing your posts when you return.
The lenses are the "eyes" of the camera and good glass makes for good eyes. To me, they are the most important part of the camera rig. The most expensive digital camera, mirrorless or not, will always be reduced to the lowest performance of the lens mounted on it.
Ultra-wide lenses are great for close-quarter needs. There will be some bending distortion at the edges as the angle of the lens approaches that of a "fisheye". I've seen some wonderful artistic work done with wide-angle lenses, including extreme closeups and near macro work.
If I were to go, I would rent the best lens available for limited use in my collection of lenses. Good travels and I look forward to seeing your posts when you return.
Apr 23, 2022 12:58:22 #
therwol
Loc: USA
CliffMcKenzie wrote:
Anal: Am I anal regarding sharpness of lens? Yes, just returned a 24-120 4 as the images were too soft when compared to 24-70 & 70-200 2.8.
I don't think so. I have the same camera. My 24-120 f/4 is not as sharp as a much older 28-105 D and it drives me crazy. Call me a pixel peeper, but I do like to zoom in on detail in photos to see things that I don't appreciate in a scene with just my eyes.
Apr 23, 2022 14:17:53 #
zug55
Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas
CliffMcKenzie wrote:
I don’t use my 20 that much as my favorite on camera lens is the 24-70.
I think here is your answer. If your preferred lens is the 24-70mm and you don't use the 20mm much, why should you buy a ultrawide zoom? I think that the 24-70mm will serve you well on this trip. Don't forget your 70-200mm--there will be ample opportunity to isolate details in the wonderful Southwestern landscapes.
Apr 24, 2022 05:34:01 #
CliffMcKenzie wrote:
Opportunity: In early fall, shoots in Utah, North... (show quote)
14-24 is one of my most used lenses. I could not live with 24 as my widest. But that is my style of shooting. Here is the 14-24 wide open in China, with my back against the wall at the opposite side of the street. Sharpness and clarity are excellent.
Apr 24, 2022 06:07:28 #
zug55
Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas
kymarto wrote:
14-24 is one of my most used lenses. I could not live with 24 as my widest. But that is my style of shooting. Here is the 14-24 wide open in China, with my back against the wall at the opposite side of the street. Sharpness and clarity are excellent.
This is a great shot! As you point out, focal length is a matter of preference. Each focal length has its own signature and offers its own creative potential and way of story-telling. Most of my shots are at 35 or 40mm, and I seldom go wider than 24mm. I carry the smallish Zeiss Batis 18mm for those occasions but don't use it often even though it is a great lens.
I live in Nairobi part-time, and I often explore the city with a small 35mm prime, which is how I like to see the city. Even in rural Kenya, I don't ever shoot wider than 24mm--just like I would not in the American Southwest. But then everybody has to find their own style.
My earlier point was not that ultrawide lenses are not useful. The opposite is true, as your fine image shows. It just seemed to me that Cliff doesn't shoot ultra-wide very often and that adding a 14-24mm lens would not really add value for him.
Apr 24, 2022 06:10:25 #
CliffMcKenzie wrote:
Opportunity: In early fall, shoots in Utah, North... (show quote)
If you seem to not have missed it thus far then rent.
If you then discover you find value in it then buy.
I believe Lens Rentals lets you buy the lens if you want and apply the rental towards the cost.
Have fun.
Apr 24, 2022 06:25:44 #
This is my take on this. If you want the lens for the trip renting is a great idea. Another gentleman stated what is true, if you do not use the 20mm lens that often I am afraid the 12-24 will not be as useful in your photography.
I use the Nikon 12-24 f4 AFS and I am more often at 24 than I am at 12mm. I have not used the lens much since I bought it. I am using the lens with my D610 and in spite of being a DX lens I can use it between 18 and 24mm without vignettes. For my style of photography 18mm is pretty wide.
"If you have 14-24, do you use it that often?" My retired ophthalmologist travels a lot and he rarely use his lens judging from the images he sends me. If others who own the lens use it a lot should not be your primary concern since I am sure your style of photography is different to them. Rent it for the trip and you will have a better idea of how useful the lens will be for you in the future.
I use the Nikon 12-24 f4 AFS and I am more often at 24 than I am at 12mm. I have not used the lens much since I bought it. I am using the lens with my D610 and in spite of being a DX lens I can use it between 18 and 24mm without vignettes. For my style of photography 18mm is pretty wide.
"If you have 14-24, do you use it that often?" My retired ophthalmologist travels a lot and he rarely use his lens judging from the images he sends me. If others who own the lens use it a lot should not be your primary concern since I am sure your style of photography is different to them. Rent it for the trip and you will have a better idea of how useful the lens will be for you in the future.
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