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Archive 2012 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?

  
 
aztwang1
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


I have been contemplating the 24-120 F4. I currently have a 14-24, 24-70 a 85.1.4 70-300 4.5 and a 105 2.8 in the 24-120 focal range. I would use it shooting PJ stuff as well a sports lens for say end-zone coverage. I do like he idea of covering the whole 24-120 in one lens and it's a bit more compact. I realize
I would not have a real shallow DOF. Iv'e also seen this lens used by Bill Frakes as a portrait lens with pleasing results. Thought I would ask ya'll that actually shoot this lens with your thoughts.
Thanks!
Don



Nov 14, 2012 at 04:33 PM
DerKaiser
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


I have not used the lens. It got a fairly "meh" review from Photozone. People here seem to really like it in general.


Nov 14, 2012 at 05:08 PM
bemyzeke
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


It is a very good walk-around lens. I use it on D800e and I am quite satisfied with it for most occasions. Of course, lenses with this kind of zoom range make some compromises, but comparing it to the Canon 24-105L which I was using before, this lens makes the right compromises.

The VR is strange though, specially at longer length it is not very effective. Maybe one stop, if that.



Nov 14, 2012 at 05:45 PM
edl415
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


The 24-120/4 is a very good all-purpose lens, I've been satisfied with my copy. It replaced a lot of Tamron 28-75 / 70-300 VR lens swapping. It has inherent faults that are easily corrected with LR lens profiles.

If you like the idea of covering 24-120 in one lens, I don't think you have many other choices.



Nov 14, 2012 at 06:21 PM
Creative Edge
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


I got rid of mine and really miss it..Thinking of putting my sigma 150 2.8 OS up for a trade.


Nov 14, 2012 at 06:26 PM
brunyan
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


I love mine.


Nov 14, 2012 at 06:28 PM
bmwrider75
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


Love mine too. Rich, contrasty, sharp everywhere at both ends of the range. For me, fast enough AF to easily capture fast sports. Here's a couple of shots from a country fair, for example. All taken wide open (with my former D7000. Haven't had my D600 long enough to get good samples from this lens yet).


















Nov 14, 2012 at 07:11 PM
thedruid
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


Use it daily my bread and butter lens, 24-70mm sits in my closet


Nov 14, 2012 at 09:26 PM
glassartist
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


It is a fine lens. Good range, good contrast, VR works fine when you need it.








Nov 14, 2012 at 10:31 PM
went
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


Happy with mine especially having matched it to this body, and it made a difference.







Nov 14, 2012 at 11:31 PM
Chris Dees
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


bemyzeke wrote:
It is a very good walk-around lens. I use it on D800e and I am quite satisfied with it for most occasions. Of course, lenses with this kind of zoom range make some compromises, but comparing it to the Canon 24-105L which I was using before, this lens makes the right compromises.

........


Exactly my experience.








Nov 15, 2012 at 04:11 AM
S Dilworth
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


I think you should try this lens before buying it. You might like it: the zoom range is great, the constant f/4 is nice, the VR is useful, the optics seem to be pretty good (for a 5 × zoom). But the mechanical quality is fairly shocking. Among other things, there’s the usual low-end Nikkor play in the focusing ring, even though $1300 is hardly a low-end price.

Not saying it’s a bad lens altogether. In fact, I keep thinking I should get one. But there’s a big difference in mechanical quality between this lens and the 24-70 mm f/2.8.



Nov 15, 2012 at 04:44 AM
sjms
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


thus the substantial pricing difference. and yes there can be/is an optical "hit" too but learning and knowing any lenses limitations helps a little. it is a good solid lens that fits many needs.
my almost equivalent in my D7000 is the Sigma 17-70/2.8-4
















Edited on Nov 15, 2012 at 06:05 AM · View previous versions



Nov 15, 2012 at 05:44 AM
S Dilworth
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


Yes, the 24-70 mm f/2.8 is about 50% more expensive, and even at that price it’s by no means a ‘perfect’ lens. There are always compromises, no matter how much money you throw at a problem.

I just think Don (the topic starter) should handle the 24-120 mm f/4 before plunking down $1300 for it, since he already owns the 24-70 mm f/2.8 and might have higher expectations than most people.

Then again, people don’t often complain about the play in the focus ring of the 24-120 mm f/4, even though it would drive me nuts in live-view manual focus. It shouldn’t matter when using autofocus.



Nov 15, 2012 at 06:03 AM
sjms
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


well I have to say on mine I have no real play in the focus ring that I perceive. I rarely use live view except in macro so this would not be an option there. I guess over the years I've been shooting with the gear that's passed through my hands I tend to be a little less sensitive as long as it works.


Nov 15, 2012 at 06:10 AM
trenchmonkey
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?
If you have to ask here...then probably not.

Edited on Nov 15, 2012 at 07:09 AM · View previous versions



Nov 15, 2012 at 07:05 AM
leighton w
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


Well...since Nikon just produced their 75th million lens, my question is, do I need all of them!


Nov 15, 2012 at 07:09 AM
S Dilworth
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


The 24-120 mm f/4 has some sort of reduction gear between the focusing ring and the distance scale. The play that I noticed means that when you reverse the direction of movement of the focusing ring, it travels a short distance before starting to move the lens elements and distance scale.

I observed this with several samples over the last couple of years (since the lens came out), but some are probably better than others.

It’s not a deal-breaker, but I was a bit surprised to see this on a $1300 lens. I’m used to that behaviour on cheaper AF-S Nikkors (my 16-85 mm f/3.5-5.6 had a lot of play).

The zoom ring of the 24-120 mm f/4 is also a bit stiff at the wide end, considering the close spacing of the focal lengths. Zooming from 24 mm to 28 mm happens very quickly compared to the 24-70 mm f/2.8.

The focal-length range is extremely flexible, so this lens still appeals to me.



Nov 15, 2012 at 08:03 AM
MRM4
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


I had one for a little bit and must have had a bad copy. I got a lot of dark corners on night time, flash shots. I ended up selling it. I borrowed one from borrowlenses.com just to see if I wanted to go back to it. I must have gotten a better copy from them because I didn't have the issues with the dark corners on their lens as I did with the one I had. I almost got another one, but decided to go with the 28-300 for now. If it doesn't work out, then I still may get the 24-120.


Nov 15, 2012 at 09:04 AM
sjms
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Nikon 24-120 F4...Do I need one?


S Dilworth wrote:
The 24-120 mm f/4 has some sort of reduction gear between the focusing ring and the distance scale. The play that I noticed means that when you reverse the direction of movement of the focusing ring, it travels a short distance before starting to move the lens elements and distance scale.

I observed this with several samples over the last couple of years (since the lens came out), but some are probably better than others.

It’s not a deal-breaker, but I was a bit surprised to see this on a $1300 lens. I’m used to that behaviour on cheaper AF-S Nikkors
...Show more

it is a clutching mechanism not gearing. my 24-70 is looser then my 24-120 on the focus ring



Nov 15, 2012 at 09:13 AM
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