Category Archives: Nikon

REVIEW: Nikon Z Nikkor 14-30mm F/4 S

May 21, 2025 Martin 13 Comments

Introduction

In my recent quest to review some of the zoom lenses in the Nikon Z series, we’ve arrived at the NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S — an ultra-wide-angle zoom and one of the first in the “S” line after the 24-70mm f/4 S. The other two f/4 S zoom lenses I reviewed (24-70mm f/4 and 24-120mm f/4) delivered impressive performance, but this one is an ultra-wide — a category that has historically been more challenging to get right. That said, Nikon has marketed it as part of the “S” line, which promises higher quality. Let’s see how it performs!

camera-icon2 I tested this lens on a 46 Mp Nikon Z7ii (Sample images were taken with a Nikon Zf)
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
Sample images in high resolution here.

Sample Images

Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 14-30mm F/4 S | @20mm f/16 (Stockholm, Sweden)

Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 14-30mm F/4 S | @30mm f/4

Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 14-30mm F/4 S | @18mm f/13 (Tokyo, Japan)

Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 14-30mm F/4 S | @21mm f/22 (Nagano, Japan)

Continue reading REVIEW: Nikon Z Nikkor 14-30mm F/4 S →

lenses, Nikon, Review

REVIEW/COMPARISON: Nikon Z 24-120mm F/4 S – How It Compares to Z 24-70/4 S

May 11, 2025 Martin 20 Comments

Introduction

Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S is often said to be one of the best all-around midrange zooms Nikon has made. It offers a versatile zoom range and a fixed aperture, and it’s part of Nikon’s premium S-line series. It’s also newer than the Nikon Z 24-70/4 S I reviewed recently — a lens I liked quite a bit. With its broader zoom range, Nikon Z 24-120/4 S promises more flexibility.
But is it the better lens overall? Let’s dive into this review and see how it compares to the Z 24-70mm S!

camera-icon2 I tested this lens on a 46 Mp Nikon Z7ii (Sample images were taken with a Nikon Zf)
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
Sample images in high resolution here.

Sample Images

Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 24-120mm F/4 S | @24mm f/4.5

Nikon Zfc | Nikon Z Nikkor 24-120mm F/4 S | @165mm f/5

Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 24-120mm F/4 S | @102mm f/4

Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 24-120mm F/4 S | @24mm f/16

Continue reading REVIEW/COMPARISON: Nikon Z 24-120mm F/4 S – How It Compares to Z 24-70/4 S →

Analogue, Nikon, Nikon, Projects

Analogue Adventures – Part 40: Fujichrome Provia 100F

April 30, 2025 BastianK 9 Comments

In the Fujichrome world, Provia is supposed to be the more neutral slide film compared to Velvia. I wasn’t a huge fan of Velvia 100, so let’s see how this Provia 100F worked out for me.
Processing (E-6) and scanning was done at urbanfilmlab in Germany. The pictures you see in this article are from one roll.

fuji fujifilm fujichrome slide film provia 100f france review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80 — Nikon F80 | Fujichrome Provia 100F | Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 40: Fujichrome Provia 100F →

lenses, Nikon, Review

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200 f/4G ED VR

April 23, 2025 Martin 3 Comments

Introduction

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/4G ED VR was Nikon’s latest enthusiast-level telephoto zoom lens with a constant aperture. Before its release, Nikon had long offered both professional 70-200mm and 80-200mm f/2.8 lenses, as well, a prosumer-grade fixed F4 70-210 and consumer grade variable-aperture telephoto zooms. With this lens, they aimed to provide a more budget-friendly alternative to their latest high-end 70-200mm f/2.8 VR. To achieve this, Nikon incorporated their latest advancements in coating technology, autofocus (AF), vibration reduction (VR), and optical design to create this lens by the end of 2012.

Let’s take a closer look!

camera-icon2 I tested this lens on a 46 Mp Nikon Z7ii (Sample images were taken with Nikon Zf , Nikon Z6, Nikon D600, and Nikon D7200)
I used a Nikon FTZ II F-to-Z adapter with this lens on Nikon Z cameras.
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
Sample images in high resolution here.

Sample Images

Nikon D600 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200/4G ED VR | @130mm | F4

Nikon D7200 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200/4G ED VR | @70mm | F5,6

Nikon Z6 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200/4G ED VR | @185mm | F4

Nikon Z6 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200/4G ED VR | @200mm | F4

Nikon D7200 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200/4G ED VR | @70mm | F4

Nikon Z6 | Nikkor AF-S 70-200/4G ED VR | @70mm | F4

Continue reading Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200 f/4G ED VR →

Astrophotography, Nikon, Review, Samyang

Review: Samyang 14mm 2.4 XP

April 8, 2025 BastianK 12 Comments

Introduction

samyang 14mm 2.4 xp premium manual focus astro wide angle ultra review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting compact nikon z6 z7 z8 zf sony a7rii a7riii a7rv a7iv coma — Samyang 14mm 2.4 XP via FTZ II on Nikon Zf

Released in 2017, this Samyang 14mm 2.4 XP had a similarly bad timing as the Zeiss Otus and Milvus lenses its mechanical design is undoubtedly based on. By that time many people started using mirrorless cameras, so these huge DSLR designs certainly started looking less appealing. On top of that, many of us had been burned by Samyang’s (at least at that time) awful quality control, so paying a premium price for a Samyang lens? Not many people were interested in doing that. Nevertheless, some people say this is one of the best lenses for astrophotography ever made, that alone is reason enough to have a closer look at it.