Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED-IF Nikkor Lens
The first ever professional, ultra-wide, constant f/2.8 aperture zoom angle FX (full-frame) lens from Nikon, the 14-24 f/2.8G is poised to become another legend among Nikkor lenses, and was announced on 23-August-2007.
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens (view a larger photo)
Here's the direct link to the online PDF product user manual for the 14-24 (right-click to save to your hard disk).
Nikon 14-24mm reviews and user opinions
Review and test of the Nikkor 14-24mm and 24-70mm lenses
Pictchallenge-archives.net's piece is written in French, and you'd probably want to read this related forum thread that discusses the article.
Of particular interest is the section (middle portion of the review where a 100% crop, and two photos at 14mm and 24 focal lengths are presented) where they test the edge sharpness of the 14-24mm lens at 14mm and f/2.8, wide open. The lens was mounted on the Nikon F4 film SLR camera, with Fuji Provia 100F loaded. Using Google to translate that bit of French paragraph gives this:
In the absence of provisional D3 "testable" I'm just stayed on my hunger with this 14-24 planned for the new cabinet full format. Indeed, it will provide for the first time ever such a range in which there is no equivalent to this opening reserved for the digital zoom (the excellent zoom Olympus 7-14 mm, is equivalent to 14-28 a 24 x 36, opens at f / 4). But I mounted the latest addition to my ancient and solemn F4 (the first aircraft pro Nikon autofocus, already almost 20 years!) With a 100% viewfinder showed me exactly the framing and I was surprised to discover a real but controlled vigneting and low distortion apparent straight lines. I fed the F4 (see note) with reference to slide, a Fuji Provia 100F, and I made a few views. As it is not a test pitching - we await the D3! -- Images that follow are taken at full opening of f/2.8, because they were monitoring the obscursissement edges, and also check whether the definition declined steadily on the edges, or if it "spun" with aberrations and fringes, which is quite unpleasant! The silver crops would have little significance in view comparative techniques, but it is certain that the sharpness does not deteriorate so bad on the edges ... look at the excerpt below the lower right corner 14 MM!
I take it that the photographer was pretty excited by the results, and wished he could test it on a Nikon D3 instead.
A quick test by Maza.ch
In this forum thread, Maza shows crops from the left corner of photos comparing the sharpness from the Nikon 14mm f/2.8D ED AF Nikkor lens vs the new Nikkor 14-24mm - Nikon wasn't kidding around when they claimed that the 14-24mm is as sharp, if not sharper, than prime lenses. Maza also claims that the 14-24mm is sharper in the corners than the legendary Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S Nikkor lens.
Remark on the Nikon 14-24mm in the January 2008 issue of Kamera & Bild
If you understand Swedish, then it's best to read this issue for a glowing report by this magazine on the Nikon D3 camera and the Nikkor 14-24mm lens. If not, then a brief summary in English by PerL should help - in short, the Nikon 14-24mm lens would go straight to optical history. Jorgen E adds that the Nikon Nikon 14-24mm lens outperforms the Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L prime lens. The use of the Nikon 14-24mm lens on the D3 yielded photos that are more detailed than the Canon 1Ds Mark III plus EF 14mm f/2.8L combination.
Sample photos by camera / type of photography
Random images from user galleries on PBase.com
Don't forget to hit the refresh button on your browser to serve up another set of random pictures. You'll also find user reviews there.
Most of the "Pride of Midtown" (the most popular and photographed firehouse in New Your City) photos in this excellent article by Joe McNally was shot with the 14-24 mounted on a Nikon D700.
Nikon USA Press Release, 28th September 2007
Six full-sized Nikon D3 photos were released to the public in this announcement. The impressive ISO 6400 ice hockey shot was the photo taken with the Nikkor 14-24mm lens by Dave Black, and is one of the most effective demonstrations of how to use an ultra-wide angle lens for action and sports photography that I've seen. The image quality of this high ISO JPEG file which came straight out of the D3 is also unprecedented.
Extreme weather photography
Jim Reed puts the D700 through its paces, and used the Nikkor 14-24mm to great effect.
High-ISO night city shots taken by Photo-Cafe.jp with a Nikon D3 plus 14-24
I guarantee that this set of full-sized ISO 1600 to ISO 6400 samples will be the most amazing images of this sort you'll find anywhere. Not only is the corner-to-corner sharpness of the lens very good at f/8 and 14mm, the D3 also shows off how excellent its high ISO performance is - very nice noise characteristics, highly pleasing colors and no trace of harshly-blown highlights.
Official reference sites
NikonUSA.com - has information on key features, technical specifications, related accessories and you can download the product manual.
imaging.nikon.com - has MTF charts and a lens construction diagram.