( 36 reviews )
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Posted: Jul 20 2009
I have been using this lens on a D700, and one of its best characteristics is how well it functions at wide angles with minimal distortion. There is little evidence of perspective, pincushion, or barrel distortion. Vertical lines stay that way, and this lens is great for interior pictures. It is big, heavy, and not designed to be used with filters, whether for effect or protection of the front element. It's clearly the best wide angle zoom lens I have tried.
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( 0 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jul 7 2009
Others have written extensively about the wonderful optics behind the 14-24 zoom, and I would agree. The sharpness is beyond amazing, even wide open, and it's really hard to find an optical flaw in this lens, period. It is that good. On the other hand, there are a few challenges to this sort of lens. First, it is rather large and heavy, and can feel a bit unbalanced on some of Nikon's smaller DSLRs. A D300 with battery grip feels about right, as would the D700/D3/D3x or similar. And really, to fully appreciate the performance this type of lens can deliver, you want an FX sensor camera: D700, D3 or D3x. On DX, ultra-wide sort of becomes wide, but not wide enough. Others have mentioned the other gotchas: the protruding (and very expensive looking) front element, and the inability to use any type of filter to protect said element. I tend to protect my lenses anyway, but it does make me a bit paranoid knowing that I might be one bump away from doing my expensive lens serious damage. The bulk impacts me in another way. Wanting the same high performance out of the rest of my lenses, I find myself carrying the 14-24, 24-70, 70-200 and two camera bodies. Add a macro lens, a flash or two...well, it's like 20 pounds of gear. Makes you understand how much suffering you'll do for your art. Of course, this is a bit of a special purpose product, so if you're buying one, make sure you know what you're getting and why you want it. If you do, you'll love every obese ounce of glass and metal, and be rewarded with incredible images.
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Posted: Jun 27 2009
I ordered my Nikon 12-24mm F2.8 lens right here from Amazon. The order was filled by J&R, they shipped out my lens and it was delivered to my front door in less than 48 hours with expedited shipping. You just can't expect any better or faster service than what Amazon and J&R provided me. This lens is a work of art. The front of the glass is like a giant BULB, but WOW, it is WIDE. RAZOR SHARP is simply a understatement, this lens is "GREAT". I knew from the very first shot that I took, that I had a keeper in my hands. The color just POPs out and grabs you like a barbed wire girdle, and everything was unbelievably tack sharp, I was truly stunned by the performance of this lens. I am using this lens with a FX D700, and boy it is one heck of a combination for what this lens was designed for. The creative possibilities with this lens are endless. I won't bore you with anymore hype to sell you one these lens, because if you have read some of the other reviews here on Amazon, you won't find hardly anyone that has anything negative to say about this lens, other than you can't put a protective filter on the front of it due to the front lens being rounded like a bulb. Trust me, just be very careful with it, and it will produce some of the most stunning wide photographs you will ever lay your eyes upon when in the right photographers hands. They will have to "pry my dead cold hands" off of this lens one day, it is that GOOD !!!!!! It is definitely a keeper for life. Thanks Nikon, Amazon & J&R, I am signing off to go take some amazing Photographs here in Steinhatchee Florida on the Gulf of Mexico. Happy Shooting everyone @@@@@
