{"id":41145,"date":"2023-07-20T07:26:42","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T06:26:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=41145"},"modified":"2024-04-21T11:51:05","modified_gmt":"2024-04-21T10:51:05","slug":"review-nikon-nikkor-z-24mm-f-1-8-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-nikon-nikkor-z-24mm-f-1-8-s\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Nikon Nikkor Z 24mm f\/1.8 S"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Nikon<\/p>\n

The Nikon Nikkor Z 24mm f\/1.8 S is the only Nikon 24mm with Z mount. 24mm on a full frame camera is quite wide at the verge of ultra wide angle, which can create dramatic images but at the same time it is not so wide that it makes composing images difficult. It is great for landscape photography, but due to its f\/1.8 wide aperture it can also be easily used indoors or in other low light situations. It is a relatively expensive lens for being a 24mm f\/1.8, but if this lens’s qualities show to be excellent then it can be considered as a reasonable price. Bear in mind that as Nikon’s only available Z mount 24mm prime it should appeal to all users, including the professionals and if its qualities are satisfactory for professional users then it is a relatively cheap lens. So, let’s see how it performs!<\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z6 | Nikon Nikkor Z 24mm f\/1.8 S | f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z6 | Nikon Nikkor Z 24mm f\/1.8 S | f\/13<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z6 | Nikon Nikkor Z 24mm f\/1.8 S | f\/4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z6 | Nikon Nikkor Z 24mm f\/1.8 S | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Nikon
Nikon Z6 | Nikon Nikkor Z 24mm f\/1.8 S | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z6 | Nikon Nikkor Z 24mm f\/1.8 S | f\/11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z6 | Nikon Nikkor Z 24\/1.8 | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z6 | Nikon Nikkor Z 24mm f\/1.8 S | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most of the sample images in this review and many more can be found in higher resolution\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Disclosure<\/span><\/h2>\n

I bought this lens with my own earned money for test\/review purposes.<\/p>\n

Specifications<\/span><\/h2>\n

Focal Length<\/b>: 24mm<\/span>
\n<\/span>Aperture Range<\/b>: f\/1.8 – f\/16<\/span>
\n<\/span>Number of Aperture Blades<\/b>: 9<\/span>
\n<\/span>Min Focus<\/b>: 0.25 m<\/span>
\n<\/span>Filter Size<\/b>: 72 mm<\/span>
\n<\/span>Lens Mount<\/b>: Nikon Z<\/span>
\n<\/span>Weight<\/b>: 450 g<\/span>
\n<\/span>Diameter x Length<\/b>: 78 mm x 96.5 mm<\/span>
\n<\/span>Elements\/Group<\/b>: 12\/10<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Nikon
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24mm f1.8 S Lens Construction<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Handling<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Nikkor Z 24mm f\/1.8 is like most of the other Z lenses relatively large and slick, seemingly of good quality plastic and robust, but the rear mounting plate is of metal. It is environmentally sealed. There are no other variations of this lens yet. There is only one switch on the lens for choosing manual or autofocus and a single but large metallic ring that is very easy to find without removing your eye from the viewfinder. The ring is normally used for autofocus override and manual focusing but can be programmed to be an ISO, Exposure compensation or aperture setting ring. The manual focusing is responsive and the rotation of the ring has good resistance. The autofocus is, like all the other Z lenses, focus by wire using a stepping motor (STM), accurate, quiet and acceptably fast. Despite the relatively big size there is no built-in image stabilization in the lens. The lens is built with <\/span>12 elements in 10 groups (including 1 ED glass and 4 aspherical lens elements, and elements with Nano Crystal Coat). It has 9 rounded aperture blades. The elements have Super Integrated Coating. The front element also has <\/span>fluorine coating against moisture and dust.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Nikon
Nikon Z6 | Nikon Nikkor Z 24mm f\/1.8 S<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Optical Features<\/span><\/h2>\n

Sharpness (Infinity)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Let’s first have a look at its MTF chart at f\/1.8 provided by Nikon:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

From the curves you can expect that the lens should have excellent contrast over the whole frame with excellent sharpness from center to at least the long edge of the frame and very good sharpness to the short edge of the frame with no field curvature, astigmatism or lateral CA. Looks very promising, let’s check it out in real world.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1.8: The sharpness is very good at the center, the midframe and corner are slightly weaker but still very good.<\/span>
\n<\/span>F\/2.8: Center sharpness is excellent, the rest of the frame has improved a lot, especially the mid-frame.<\/span>
\n<\/span>F\/4: The center sharpness is perfect and mid-frame excellent. corners have improved even more.<\/span>
\n<\/span>F\/5.6 even the corners are excellent now, so excellent everywhere.<\/span>
\n<\/span>F\/8: Excellent everywhere.<\/span>
\n<\/span>F\/11: A slight hit by the diffraction effect, which draws down the sharpness level a little.<\/span>
\n<\/span>F\/16: A little less overall sharpness due to diffraction.<\/span><\/p>\n

The micro contrast is very good and generally this is, although not perfect, an excellent\u00a0 performance. This is the sharpest 24mm lens Nikon has produced ever.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sharpness (Portrait)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Let’s look at the portrait distance (for a 24mm lens about 55-60 cm) at the very center<\/span>, center’s inner<\/span> periphery and center’s outer<\/span> periphery (points of interest for portraits).<\/p>\n

\"\"
Chart for points of interest for portrait sharpness.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n