Review of Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical

According provided by lens Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical huge thanks to the store www.fotika.com.uawhere you can find a huge number of different used photographic equipment, including this model.

Review of Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical

Review of Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical

The name of the lens is rather long, but informative, in the review I will call it in abbreviated form - Nikon 24-120 / 3.5-5.6 VR. This lens can be considered a logical development of an older model. Nikon 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6D AF Nikkor... Also, the lens has a very interesting 'older' brother - Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 4G ED VR SWM IF Aspherical Nano Crystal Coat, which is considered almost an icon among Nikon's zooms.

Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical

Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical

Nikon 24-120 / 3.5-5.6 VR has a fivefold zoom. The zoom ratio is easy to calculate by dividing 120mm by 24mm focal length. This is a pretty good indicator for full-length lenses. When using such a lens on cropped cameras EGF will be 36-180 mm, while using a wide viewing angle will not be comfortable. True, on Nikon DX cameras you can try on the loss of a wide angle and, with grief in half, use 24mm. For cropped cameras, there are many universal lenses of the 18-xxx class.

Nikon 24-120 / 3.5-5.6 VR with hood in transport mode

Nikon 24-120 / 3.5-5.6 VR with hood in transport mode

One of the strengths of the lens is very fast focus. The focusing time from infinity to MDF and back is the same as Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 4G ED VR SWM IF Aspherical Nano Crystal Coat (when set to 24 mm focal length). I would like to point out that the focusing speed is much faster at 24mm than at 120mm focal length. Focusing is performed using a Silent Wave Motor (SWM). Since a focusing motor is built into the lens, the Nikon 24-120 / 3.5-5.6 VR will work on All Nikon Digital SLR Cameras. The lens has a classic indicator of the focusing distance, though without the DOF scale. MDF is 0.5 meters, while you can shoot macro with a maximum magnification of 1: 4.8.

The lens has internal focusing (IF), while focusing, the front and rear lenses remain stationary. When the focal length is changed, the trunk of the lens lengthens, the front lens does not rotate, and the rear lens moves in the middle of the lens, creating a noticeable vacuum cleaner effect.

Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 [IF] Macro A20 Aspherical LD ​​XR DI VC and Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical

dimensions Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 [IF] Macro A20 Aspherical LD ​​XR DI VC and Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical

The lens has a focus mode switchM / AM'. In mode 'M / A'automatic focusing is available with a priority of manual control - you can always correct focus without switching to the' M 'mode. This mode is very convenient to use. In manual focus mode 'M', the focus ring rotates 120 degrees in active mode, and then simply slides in passive mode. Plastic focusing ring :(.

When focusing manually or when trying to adjust the focus in mode M / A, focus ring jerks... You can forget about smooth focusing - to manually move the focusing ring, you have to make a lot of effort, after which the ring begins to move and flies over the desired value.

Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical with hood

Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical with hood

The lens is deprived aperturebut the Nikon 24-120 / 3.5-5.6 VR has a Nikon VR image stabilizer that really helps with the job. I could easily take pictures with hand at shutter speeds up to 1/20 s and 120 mm focal length without blur. The stabilization system is activated by a separate switch on the lens 'VR ON / OFF' and can compensate up to 3 stops excerpts.

Example photo on a Nikon 24-120mm VR AF-S NIKKOR f / 3.5-5.6

Example photo on a Nikon 24-120mm VR AF-S NIKKOR f / 3.5-5.6

The aperture consists of 7 blades and closes down to F / 22 @ 24mm F / 36 @ 120mm. The lens uses fairly large 72mm filters. The Nikon 24-120 / 3.5-5.6 VR is assembled quite well, the lens trunk does not spontaneously protrude. The zoom ring is rubberized and located at the front of the lens, which is very convenient. The lens was produced in Japan from 2003 to 2008, and in Thailand from 2008 to 2010. The Nikon 24-120 / 3.5-5.6 VR is now discontinued and is among the archived Nikon lens models.

Tags on Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical

Tags on Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical

When shooting at a focal length of 24mm (widest angle), the lens produces a soft picture. In fact, at wide angle, sharpness does not improve even when the aperture is closed down to f / 16. When shooting at infinity, for example, a tree - all the leaves turn into a "mess". In this case, the sharpness falls from the center to the edges of the image. This ailment is treated by increasing the focal length to 28-35 mm, where the lens becomes sharper. Uncle Ken Rockwell turned on Nikon 24-120 / 3.5-5.6 VR due to this serious ailment to your list The 6 Worst Nikon Lenses. In general, this model is not considered very successful among photographers, and two low-dispersion and two aspherical elements in its optical design... In the review I have visited two such lenses - one mercilessly filled up the entire right corner of the image, the second was very bad in the corners at 24 mm focal length. It is said to be due to poor rear lens design, which can get slightly skewed when using the lens.

Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical and Nikon AF Nikkor 28-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5D

Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical and Nikon AF Nikkor 28-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5D

Aside from the low sharpness of 24mm, the lens delivers the expected quality. At 24mm, barrel distortion is slightly visible, the lens 'pulls' the edges of the frame a lot, you need to be very careful when shooting people in this range. Chromatic aberrations not very strong, only 24 mm can seriously spoil the image. Color reproduction is normal. The bokeh at the long end of the lens is normal, similar to the bokeh of many other "dark" super zooms. The vignette is only perceptible in the wide-angle range. I was pleasantly pleased with the performance in the backlight.

Here link to the archive with the originals - 665 MB, 47 photos in .NEF format (RAW) from the camera Nikon D700 (FX)

Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical on ZK

Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical on ZK


Lens prices in popular stores can look at this link, or in the price block below:

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List of all Nikon FX 24-XXX autofocus lenses:

  1. Nikon 24-50 mm 1: 3.3-4.5 AF Nikkor
  2. Nikon 24-50 mm 1: 3.3-4.5D AF Nikkor
  3. Nikon 24-70 mm 1: 2.8GN AF-S Nikkor ED Nano Crystal Coat SWM IF Aspherical
  4. Nikon 24-70 mm 1: 2.8EN AF-S Nikkor ED Nano Crystal Coat SWM IF Aspherica VR + its modification of the 'Nikon 100th Anniversary Edition'
  5. Nikon 24-85 mm 1: 2.8-4D AF Nikkor IF Aspherical Macro (1: 2)
  6. Nikon 24-85 mm 1: 3.5-4.5G AF-S Nikkor ED SWM IF Aspherical
  7. Nikon 24-85 mm 1: 3.5-4.5G AF-S Nikkor ED VR SWM IF Aspherical
  8. Nikon 24-120 mm 1: 3.5-5.6D AF Nikkor
  9. Nikon 24-120 mm 1: 3.5-5.6G ED AF-S Nikkor SWM VR IF Aspherical
  10. Nikon 24-120 mm 1: 4G N AF-S Nikkor ED VR SWM IF Aspherical Nano Crystal Coat

Catalog of modern lenses for Nikon can see here.

Results

Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical - versatile lens for a full frame with image stabilizer and fast autofocus with a nice range of focal lengths. A major drawback of the lens is poor 24mm sharpness. For DX cameras, versatility will not be enough due to crop factor.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

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Comments: 47, on the topic: Review of Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical

  • Vlad

    I bought this lens in the "light used" version as a cheap zoom all-round for Nikon z5. I was tempted by the low price and the run-up of focal points. I chose it carefully, I bought only the third copy, made in Japan. The glass cost about $ 150.
    There are no described problems at 24 mm - the sharpness is quite high at any AF at close and medium focusing distances. More soapy at infinity, but not critical. AF is quite fast, comparable to the 50 1.8g. Manual focusing is awkward, but I don't use it.
    The lens is weighty and feels sturdy and reliable. At 24 mm, the trunk has a small backlash, disappears up to 50 mm. Does not travel under its own weight. The sections of the trunk are metal, apparently, the lens inside has a metal structure.
    In general, glass is good for its price. I did not notice any obvious jambs. You just need to carefully choose a copy

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