Nikon 24-120 f/4 VR owners opinions

TordFuglstad

TordFuglstad

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Fuglstad
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So I'm looking into the 24-120 f/4 VR, but I have read that people have some mixed feelings about that lens.
Most people who give it a hard time don't own it though, and most people who do own it think it's a good lens.
So my question is if there is any owners of that lens here (FX body, preferable D800)?
Please post some sample photos and your opinions. Thanks! :)
 
It's a great walkabout lens, I use it frequently when I'm just 'out and about' with the camera.
I don't have the D800 but use it on the D3S (FF) and love how flexible it is.
Very occasionally I've regretted that it was f4 but with the VR and flexibility of ISO in camera it generally covers everything.
I find it to be sharp and with good IQ ... it can sometimes produce CA but that is easily removed in PS.


justice-1_ent.jpg



RJB_5257.jpg
 
gramps said:
It's a great walkabout lens, I use it frequently when I'm just 'out and about' with the camera.
I don't have the D800 but use it on the D3S (FF) and love how flexible it is.
Very occasionally I've regretted that it was f4 but with the VR and flexibility of ISO in camera it generally covers everything.
I find it to be sharp and with good IQ ... it can sometimes produce CA but that is easily removed in PS.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. Glad to hear that you are happy with it. Make me more certain on getting this lens. :)
 
Its a very versatile lens, I use mine with a D3x in the studio and out and about, i find the extra 50mm over the 24-70 very handy, and it helps with flow when shooting as you don't have to change lenses to get that bit extra reach.
Quality wise it has a bit more distortion than the 24-70 but if you have a newish version of most raw converters this can be eradicated in seconds with their lens profiles, so for me its a non issue. the biggest thing i notice is i don't miss the 24-70 2.8.
 
I have the f3.5-5.6 Vr version and its the first lens I grab for my holiday walkabout lens.
Its not that long (fits easily into my camera bag) and not too heavy to unbalance my camera. Some give it a bad review but that's a load of rubbish it is a great lens


Camera price buster

Nikon AF-S VR 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED £479.99
Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR £809.00

I don't think the extra cost is worth it, I would rather spend the difference on a UV filter and a trip out to use it.

With all due respect to gramps the photos posted at least the bottom one has been edited (CS5) .
Nothing wrong in that but to demonstrate what a lens is capable of by means of a photo it should be as taken not altered first.




As taken and untouched just resized for here. Check with exif viewer
 
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realspeed said:
With all due respect to gramps the photos posted at least the bottom one has been edited (CS5)
Click to expand...

They've both been edited, it wasn't a scientific experiment just picking a couple from the pot in answer to the O/P's request. Any photo that I keep, from any lens, gets edited in some way.
 
mho said:
Its a very versatile lens, I use mine with a D3x in the studio and out and about, i find the extra 50mm over the 24-70 very handy, and it helps with flow when shooting as you don't have to change lenses to get that bit extra reach.
Quality wise it has a bit more distortion than the 24-70 but if you have a newish version of most raw converters this can be eradicated in seconds with their lens profiles, so for me its a non issue. the biggest thing i notice is i don't miss the 24-70 2.8.
Click to expand...

Thank you for giving your opinion! :)
Makes me want this lens even more.

Jan K. said:
Check out Manzurov's test... http://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-24-120mm-f4g-vr

Like it here too, btw...
biggrin2.gif
Click to expand...

Thank you for the link :)

realspeed said:
I have the f3.5-5.6 Vr version and its the first lens I grab for my holiday walkabout lens.
Its not that long (fits easily into my camera bag) and not too heavy to unbalance my camera. Some give it a bad review but that's a load of rubbish it is a great lens


Camera price buster

Nikon AF-S VR 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED £479.99
Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR £809.00

I don't think the extra cost is worth it, I would rather spend the difference on a UV filter and a trip out to use it.

With all due respect to gramps the photos posted at least the bottom one has been edited (CS5) .
Nothing wrong in that but to demonstrate what a lens is capable of by means of a photo it should be as taken not altered first.




As taken and untouched just resized for here. Check with exif viewer
Click to expand...

Thank you for your opinion, I bet the 24-120 3.5-5.6 is a good lens for your use.
But with all due respect, you own this lens on a DX-body. Which means you only use the middle part of the lens. Also the D300 has a 12.3 mpx sensor which means the lens-flaws won't show up as it would on my D800 which has a 36.3mpx full-frame sensor. On the D800 you need really sharp and good optics. And for me it's no problem paying the double to get a lens with better quality all over. Also, as a professional, I need top-quality glass to give my clients what they expect. That said I don't doubt the 24-120 3.5-5.6 to be a good lens. :)
 
Yes, the f3.5-5.6 was the 'kit lens' for the D700 and it was slated as inadequate for FX.. but more than satisfactory for DX....What suits a D300 won't necessarily suit FX. I waited and waited for the f4 which suits my D3 very well, in many ways it is superior to the older lens.

Do I miss 2.8? no. It has VR and with high ISO I have no problems. Having said that, I prefer my DA*16-50...
 
Love mine, excellent range and sharp from f4 and the VR is very useful. A few shots from Paris:

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JP7_1008.jpg
 
I'm currently using one on my d600 and I can't really fault it except for slightly noisy autofocus which is annoying in movie mode
 
I can't afford an FF camera at the moment in so can only talk about what I use sorry. My state pension doesn't go that far.

Realspeed
 
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Just to point out the f3.5-f5.6 is not a DX lens so suitable for FF cameras. its a 24-120mm f3.5-5.6 G ED lens. Which is why I mentioned it. The only difference between both lenses is one if f4 with internal movement and the one I have the movement extends and has a different f stop number.

In actual fact in some cases it could be better as it goes f3.5 whereas the other is stuck on f4
I too read about it being slated which is a load of rubbish in my opinion.
AS a professional photographer yes you would need the best understandably but for us hobby types we have to make do

Realspeed
 
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TordFuglstad said:
So I'm looking into the 24-120 f/4 VR, but I have read that people have some mixed feelings about that lens.
Most people who give it a hard time don't own it though, and most people who do own it think it's a good lens.
So my question is if there is any owners of that lens here (FX body, preferable D800)?
Please post some sample photos and your opinions. Thanks! :)
Click to expand...

I have the 24-120 f/4 VR and use it on my D800 body 99% of the time.
Its give me about 96-98% of the quality of my 24-70 and 70-200 f/2.8's, has VR throughout the range, cheaper and well built. I got mine to save on the weight of carrying both the top zooms around with me and would not have got the top end zooms had this 24-120 f/4 been available earlier. Its not perfect, but post processing eliminates most of the issues. Highly recommended.
 
I now have owned the 24-120 F/4 a couple of weeks and it's very good indeed! Awesome to have that VR, means I can shoot very low shutter speeds without having to use tripod. In the studio it's superb! Using F/8-F/11 all the time in the studio means I avoid the flaws it might have.
 
Might have to keep an eye out for a 2nd hand f/4 version. I wasn't over impressed with my variable aperture version that came with the D700 - the lens that replaced it in my bag is way sharper throughout and is f/2.8. It's only downside is that it tops out at 70mm rather than 120!
 
Just ordered the 24-120 F4 as a `walkabout & holiday` lens (I previously liked the 16-85mm range on DX) so should be with me by Tues.
£779 new, UK stock, delivered.
 
I think you will like it Carl :)
 
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