Who loves ya, baby? I was supposed to be one of the first people in the world with the new Nikon 24mm f/1.4, but it came while I was on a work holiday in Jamaica. I’m still one of the first to sample its goodness, but instead of a sunny week in Jamaica, you get a rainy day in New York. Thanks to the people at Adorama for being so great, again and again.
I’m a nice guy, so to anyone who’s really curious about this new lens, I’m including some RAW samples. These are D3s RAW files, so make sure your RAW converter is updated so it can open them.
Initial impressions (full review after this weekend’s wedding): Sharper and more contrasty than it has any right to be. AF is not world-class in speed, like the 24-70 and 70-200, but still speedy and very accurate. If Nikon makes a 35mm like this, there will be nothing left in the Canon camp that makes my skin crawl with envy.
Nikon has some new, hyper-shock resistant packaging, which I really appreciated given how pricey this darned lens is.
Sharp, colorful, love it. RAW sample.
f/1.4 isolation makes the buildings pop through the foreground in this puddle reflection.
Can you say flare resistant? Heavily backlit statue. Still contrasty. RAW sample.
Mmmmm isolation. Not generally a tight portrait lens, but this guy doesn’t mind. RAW sample.
Water droplets in a cab window show the quality of foreground and background bokeh.
Also, you can see those qualities here, in a quick video. Also shows the focus throw and the sound of the manual focus, for video geeks. 720p version here. 1/50th, f/1.4 ISO 1600 on the D3s:
UPDATE: One from night-time:
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Krista - OMG!!!! I’m soooo jealoussss!!! Amazing clarity, colors and bokeh! You can’t freakin’ take a bad photo, can you??? ;-)
Steve Z - Damn thee gear lust.
brett maxwell - i hope that 35/1.4 is around the corner, that will cement my switch
Az - what a lens!
I’m holding out for the 35mm, this is a little too wide for me.
Domnic - Beauty
Avelaine Scyrup - Wowzers
Paul Von Rieter - AAHHH, another lover of the 24mm. Welcome to the club =). It is going to rock your world. I can’t wait to see the images from the wedding.
Dana Goodson - Ugh, I’m so jealous and torn! I have the 14-24 and love it but this seriously makes me drool. Now I’m torn.
Michael Hawkins - Looks sick dude. I should be getting a copy sometime this week and am ecstatic. I’ve been drooling over canons for too long!
Sam Obeid - Sweet and thanks for the RAW files. Can’t until one of my regular stores gets this baby in stock.
matt shumate - Oh dear. That glass looks dreamy. I’d probably have to give up my 24-70 to afford it, but wow, it almost looks worth it.
outsider again - fb is blocked, can’t use it at all = can’t see your video..
please use youtube or vimeo instead
Jamie M Swanson - Madison, WI - Wow…stunning. What a sharp, amazing lens!
Ali - ::drool::
William Hoiles - I would be curious to know how it handles fringing. The 85 f/1.4 and 50 f/1.4 both suffer from purple/green fringing, especially on things like tree branches against a white sky, or shiny reflective surfaces. It’s also common in the 35mm f/1.4 AIS.
Examples:
50mm – http://i43.tinypic.com/f19t9k.jpg
85mm – http://i42.tinypic.com/wgx4w6.jpg
Stan Jano - You were nice enough to post these images so I won’t knock them too much. They just don’t show me enough to even think of buying one.
Maybe it was the transmission quality because I heard your a great photographer. Stan
Ryan Brenizer - Patience; hese are from my first 30 minutes with the thing.
Josh - One word: Smooth.
Thanks a bunch, Ryan. It looks like a terrific lens, once again confirming my view that Nikon gets there second and best.
Cinal Studio - Looks like very good lens. Enjoy.
Naser - Freaking tight! Why should rich,competent New Yorkers have all the fun in the world :(
TQ - Im a canon chick… only been doing this for a year… im thinking I shoulda rolled with Nikon… any thoughts people?
Michael - Thanks for sharing. I now officially want one.
Josh - TQ: The Canon 24/1.4 II is a terrific lens too. It’s what the Nikon 24/1.4 will be judged against.
John - Damn! I am still waiting for mine to arrive and I need it for my cherry blossom photo trip in DC!
Adrian Rodriguez - Thanks, what a truly amazing lens. Have you ever done any photography workshops in NY from Adorama?
Ryan Brenizer - I do my own, but none for Adorama … yet.
Adrian Rodriguez - Checked out your website, fantastic body of work.
Eric Kotara - Yummy bokeh!
Michael (@TCRPMG) - Excellent shots! I need a better job! Thanks for sharing!
geoff - Who needs the ‘brenizer method’ anymore, just buy one of these gems!
Stan Jan0 - RB, the only one you posted that really interested me was the night time scene of the motorcycle, I think if that bright store front wasn’t there the image would really standout.
Stefan Elf - Thanks for posting RAW pictures! You can really tell this is a quality lens. You use this lens the way I’ve envisioned using it…
TQ - Thanks JOsh – qill check it out :)
Tabs
TQ - Ryan, do you ever do any workshops in London?????
Danny St - I have long been wanting to get this lens but was always hesitant because of it’s hefty price. After seeing your samples, I might just get one soon! It seems worth it.
Kevin Peden - Hi Ryan. many thanks for publishing your findings. I do a lot of landscape on Dartmoor here in the UK. I’m currently in the process of renewing one of my Nikon bodies (current D2x, D300 & D200 CONVERTED for infrared) and going for either a D3x or waiting for the D700 replacement, so I feel a need to buy a new wide zoom or prime as I’m currently using the Nikon 17-35. f2.8, with excellent results I must say, but feel that a new Nikon pro lens with the all new design and Nano Crystal coat will suit the new FX high pixel count sensors. It was between the 16-35mm f4 and 24mm f1.4mm, you have just convinced me to go for the 24mm. Thanks.
Robert aus Polen - Thanks for posting RAW pictures
fotograf żywiec - 24G is grate lens i agree, but price out of space