$220 SAVE $130 = 37.0% Western Digital 16.0TB Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC550 3.5-in… in Storage: Hard Drives
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nikon AF-S VR Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED
Related: gear, image stabilization, Nikon, Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR, Nikon lenses
The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR replaces Nikon’s aging 24-120 f/3.5-5.6G VR design with a new design with ED glass and vibration reduction and a fixed f/4 aperture — all very worthwhile improvements, but coming at about twice the price.
The MTF charts suggest that the 24-120 will be a modest performance on full-frame Nikon FX cameras, but will likely prove very satisfactory on Nikon cropped-frame DX cameras.
Stopping down to f/5.6 - f/8 is likely to yield the best results, something field shooting will establish as part of a coming review.
The addition of Nikon’s Nano Crystal Coat and VR II vibration reduction should lead to consistently higher image quality for everyday shooters, and the constant f/4 aperture adds versatility, because f/5.6 in the 70-120mm range was never very usable with the prior version.
Optical construction
The complex optical construction means that one will have to hope for a well-built sample that performs to specifications, and the odds of such a thing are not always so good.
Specifications
Per Nikon. Weights are accurate to 1g as per a scientific scale.
| Focal length |
24-120 mm |
|---|---|
| Maximum aperture |
f/4 |
| Minimum aperture |
f/22 |
| Lens construction |
17 elements in 13 groups 2 ED elements, 3 aspherical elements, internal focus Nano Crystal Coat VR II vibration reduction |
| Angle of view |
20°30' - 84° (13°20' - 61° with Nikon DX format) |
| Closest focusing distance |
1.5 feet (focal length unspecified) |
| Maximum reproduction ratio |
0.24x = ~1:4 |
| No. of diaphragm blades |
9 (rounded) |
| Filter/attachment size |
77mm screw-on |
| Diameter x length (from lens-mount flange) |
Approximately 84 X 103 mm |
| Weight |
768g with lens hood and front./rear caps (as actually weighed) 708g lens only (as actually weighed) |
| Supplied accessories |
HB-53 Bayonet Lens Hood LC-77 Snap-on Front Lens Cap LF-1 Rear Lens Cap CL-1218 Soft Lens Case |
MTF chart (modulation transfer function
The MTF chart suggests excellent overall contrast (10 lp/mm) over the DX portion of the frame, but with steady loss of sharpness towards the edges and corners. Whether the dropoff in contrast is a basic performance characteristic or due to field curvature cannot be said from the MTF chart.
Performance looks to be modest on full-frame cameras, though it might be better in the mid ranges.
Conclusions
My full review will be published in DAP as soon as feasible, sometime in December 2010.
Where to buy and related gear
You can get the Nikon 24-120mm f/4G ED VR at B&H Photo, thank you for using links on this site when you buy.
See also my list of recommended Nikon gear and lenses, as well as the gear pages.
Learn more about Nikon lenses
For in-depth reviews of lenses that fit Nikon cameras, subscribe to Diglloyd’s Advanced Photography (DAP) and/or the Guide to Zeiss ZF / Zeiss ZE Lenses.
DAP is not just about lenses, it’s about cameras and technique and making better images, written to be approachable by beginner’s, but valuable to professionals. New material is constantly being added, so subscribe now!
Seagate 22TB IronWolf Pro 7200 rpm SATA III 3.5" Internal NAS HDD (CMR)
SAVE $100
