Well, I can finally talk about those two lenses, the 24mm f/1.4 and 16-35mm f/4 VR, I was shooting for Nikon’s Japanese ad agency back in Miami a while ago. First, I’d like to apologize to the DPReviewers and Nikonians whom I upset with my passing mention of new gear I couldn’t identify until it was announced.
Guys, I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to rile you up that much…. although it’s pretty much a truism that at any given time, camera manufacturers are testing new stuff, so I’m still not really sure why everybody got so, um, exercised.
Actually I do know why. Speculating about new gear is almost as much fun as eating pizza and drinking beer (you know you’ve reached a certain age when pizza and beer go from being a dietary staple to a forbidden fruit), and far less damaging to your arteries (although it seems to play havoc with some people’s blood pressure!).
There was no marketing conspiracy, though, with me making the passing mention. I just really needed a blog post (sometimes, it’s very hard to come up with bi-weekly tidbits….it’s the freakin’ digital Sword of Damocles hanging over your head!) and really it was to talk about the helicopter company and give them a plug.
But folks posited all kinds of conspiratorial sub-rosa marketing campaigns. Thankfully, nobody accused either Nikon or me of engineering the great financial meltdown or fixing the Super Bowl game. (So, my all-powerful Nikon cronies, and fellow members of the New World Order, we got away with those; heh, heh, heh….yeah, Cheney; gimme a high five!).
This shot was done with the new 24mm f/1.4, a nano-coated gem. It’s a 77mm filter mount, not too big or heavy for what it is and sharp as a tack. Nice bokeh too. I made this shot with the D3s I had to borrow to do the shoot (I’m a DX guy, still, but am sorely tempted by these lenses—I miss the narrow DOF with fast, wide glass. And this baby is just a world class optic.).
It’s Tungsten white balance and the musician, Miami personality, and all around great guy Leo Casino is being lit with an orange gelled SB900 shot through my little portable umbrella setup held by an assistant.
Hit the jump for a couple of other samples. My brief from the agency was to highlight the nice bokeh and shoot wide open, or close to it, whenever possible. More on the other lens coming up in another post.
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Paul
8 Feb 2010Nice report Bob. Looking forward to the next one.
Walter
8 Feb 2010Finally! Wow!
Now all we need is an updated 85/1.4 lens from Nikon….
Bob
8 Feb 2010Really? What I need is a bank loan for all this tasty gear….BK
Walter
8 Feb 2010How true – the 24/1.4 will be pretty expensive… 🙁
Vince Passaro
9 Feb 2010Bob —
This being a 24mm on a full frame, that would mean the first shot and the second at least are cropped, no? Or am I crazy? My film 24mm shots even in closeups look a lot wider than these.
Meanwhile, no matter the answer, they are beautiful photographs, with the first, as someone said above, ranking as a magnificent classic.
Vince P
Bob
10 Feb 2010No, they’re not cropped. Don’t know why they don’t look wide enough. Bob
NikoDoby
8 Feb 2010Thank you Bob Krist! You are so much cooler than McNally!
Bob
8 Feb 2010Not so. Joe is the man, and I’m happy to be counted as being one of his friends…and his confessor! BK
Will Foster
9 Feb 2010ah beer and pizza…
Thanatham Piriyakarnjanakul
9 Feb 2010I think BK is not Air Condition or Refrigerator, Joe McNally too. 😉
Bob
9 Feb 2010Huh? Oh, cooler, now I get it!
Darrin
8 Feb 2010I love the photos. My favorite is the the city. Great work.
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Big Ben
9 Feb 2010why not post some full sized shots at F/1.4? we’d love to see just how sharp it is. 😉
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Sam Obeid
9 Feb 2010Awesome sample shots…it going to take a lot of effort to not buy this.
Anthony Plummer
9 Feb 2010Thanks Bob – good of you to share your experience with the 24. It looks like a great piece of kit. Really excited to see more superb images and nice bokeh from you wielding this lens. Of course they’ll probably force me to take out a fat loan to get my hands on one of my own.
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low
9 Feb 2010holy cow these samples are great! thanks for the samples bob!
Benardo Galmarini
9 Feb 2010Hi Bob!
I think that the saxo guy photo and the final landscape are two masterpieces! (I think the first one is really THE great one. Really great combination of only three primary colors, in a perfect way! Looks very good for a book cover, or at least a great Miami poster!)
Can you share here the F number, speed and iso you used in the aerial shot? Best, Bernardo
Bob
9 Feb 2010Hi Bernardo! It was 1/350th f/2 at ISO 3200. I had the rig on my old KenLabs Gyro Stabilizer. Say hi to Mercedes! Bob
Mark
9 Feb 2010Looks very nice! The bokeh doesn’t seem that pronounced, though, even compared to, say, the 35mm f2. It’s a bit hard to tell at these sizes, though.
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danny
9 Feb 2010Excellent news! And just gorgeous photos!
And one expensive lens! I hope you don’t mind that we use your blog to sell stuf, but is anyone in the need for a kidney? I have a spare and I want a new lens n_n.
Marshal
9 Feb 2010Thanks Bob. But I’m especially looking forward to your review & samples of the 16-35mm and how you think it compares to the venerable 17-35mm ED-IF, one of the all-time Nikon image quality champs. Both optically, such as center-to-corner sharpness and performance(AF, ergonomics, etc).
Foto
9 Feb 2010This lens is cool:)
Fabian Gonzales
9 Feb 2010Those are some great photos, Bob.
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John Verbruggen
9 Feb 2010What about the 16-35 mm? Are you showing some shots of that lens too? I am a little more curious to that lens to be honest. It has more practical use and is more afordable. Finally a good alternative for the 14 – 24 mm with the possibility to use filters.
Skunk
9 Feb 2010What’s the next best thing for a fast & wide for DX shooters?
Actually forget the glass, who’s the lady?
Bob
9 Feb 2010Man I wish they’d make a DX version of this lens. I’m with you on that!BK
cyron
9 Feb 2010Hi Bob, thank you for the first review. Hope to see more pictures. Great job..
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ben
9 Feb 2010Looking forward to the 16-35mm review!
Really nice pictures- love the ones of the girl at the desk- thanks!
Mario
9 Feb 2010Thanks a lot for sharing, father Bob. And you ARE cooler than Joe, I swear. 🙂
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hey
9 Feb 2010the 24 1.4 looks absolutely gorgeous. It provides excellent context of the scene while keeping a pleasing amount of background blur and subject isolation. It is going to be a hit with wedding guys for sure.
I thought I wanted a 24-70 f/2.8 but your two shots of the lady in pink made me change my mind. thanks for sharing!
RSloop
9 Feb 2010I am interested to hear how a wide-angle zoom with VRII can be half the price of this great prime w/o VR? I hope this can be addressed in your next piece.
Bob
9 Feb 2010You have me confused with a marketing exec…I have no idea how anything gets priced. BK
eduardo barillari
9 Feb 2010Hi Bob, nice pics. I loved the pics with the lady in pink. Can you share with us how did you light those pics and also the f-stop, iso and speed?
Thank you!
Bob
9 Feb 2010The lady in pink shots are both by windowlight. We had to pop up a 42″ diffuser and stick it in the window to cut the direct sun. ISO 200 1/750th @f1.4 at the desk and 1/350th @f/1.4 at ISO 400 at the spinning wheel.
eduardo barillari
9 Feb 2010Thank you!
Jim Green
9 Feb 2010Very nice photos, is that City Tavern with the colonial hostess?
PS – you must be a saint – you post great pictures, a couple of comments. Post on new gear and you get tons of comments.
Bob
9 Feb 2010Nope, that’s a local historic property down here in Pennsylvania. Gear vs. Pictures? Gear wins every time. That’s just the way it is! BK
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Danny K
9 Feb 2010Fantastic! I’ve been anxiously waiting for some more nice primes to add to the collection.
-D
Max Mou
9 Feb 2010Just nice pics
Bob
9 Feb 2010Thanks Max Bob
Aileen Ah-Tye
9 Feb 2010Great picture – Bob. Especially your lead one. Once I finish Paris (if ever), I hope to do a story tied with music, too. In fact, I have someone just itching to help me, if I can get to it! I’m going to start shooting RAW, plus JPEGs, and see what happens. You continually come up with the good ones. Congrats!!
Bob
9 Feb 2010Thanks Aileen. Bob
Andrew Roos
9 Feb 2010Thanks for the write-up and the great pics – I especially like the one of the soprano sax (I think) player. no need to apologise to Nikonians and DPreview readers – at nikonrumors we just had a lot of fun guessing what you were shooting with, so please give us hints of mystery next time too 🙂
Bob
9 Feb 2010Andrew: If I haven’t angered the powers that be, and there is a next time, I’m afraid I’m going to keep my mouth shut until the stuff is announced. Too much pressure! Bob
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Terry Clark
9 Feb 2010Great gig Bob, congratulations!!
Good to see Nikon stepping up with fast glass again. I’m betting the folks who just bought a used 28 1.4 are doing a Homer Simpson today. Last check a used 28 1.4 was going for about $4K on that popular E auction site. Oh well.
Now when they come out with the 35 1.4 …
Bob
9 Feb 2010Thanks Terry, I hope they do too. But I hope they come out with a fast DX wideangle first. It would make my day! Bob
Ellis Vener
9 Feb 2010A lot of the people who buy the 28mm f/1.$ AI-S are likely involved in Motion picture production. Same with the 300mm f/2 AI-S. Manual focus and lens controlled apertures make sense for them.
Its either that or they are collectors and not working photographers.
Terry Clark
10 Feb 2010The 28 1.4 I was referring to is an AF lens, discontinued a few years back, now hot on the aftermarket. Well it was hot, I’m not so sure how toasty it will be with the 24 1.4 soon to be available.
The 300 f/2 was an amazing piece of glass. I used one to shoot some football back in the 70’s (oh geeze that sounds like a long time ago!). According to Bill Pekala the last of them were sold from the locker at NPS back in the late 80’s, and yes, they were being converted for the movie industry.
Bob
10 Feb 2010HmmmTerry, that’s some long corporate memory you’ve got. I thought you were just a kid:-). Bob
Ellis Vener
10 Feb 2010The 28mm f/1.4 was an AF-D lens with an aperture control ring so my comment is still valid.
When I was shooting the Statue of Liberty / Ellis Island /Liberty Weekend in 1986 as part of the official S-o-L team organized by Peter B Kaplan, NPS offered us our choice of lenses, including a 300mm f/2. I picked it up (in its case), walked about 30 feet and returned it for a 400mm f/3.5. There was just no way that I was going to haul that beast around for three days all over New York Harbor along with the other lenses, cameras and tripods and a couple hundred rolls of Kodachrome!
Terry Clark
10 Feb 2010LOL… thanks Bob, I still feel like a kid most days, except in the knees. And yes, I do have a pretty long memory, just don’t ask me about yesterday’s lunch ; )
I remember that 300 f/2 weighed somewhere around 36 pounds. It was one amazing chunk of glass. Can’t imagine attempting to carry it around for a three day event.
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Nik
9 Feb 2010Damn! Love this. Cool examples!
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John W Photography
9 Feb 2010Really great news. Can’t wait to see more images.
Ellis Vener
9 Feb 2010You’ve been listening to Loudon Wainwright III’s new CD!
Bob
9 Feb 2010Hi Ellis: Although I’m a fan, I wasn’t aware of Wainwright’s new title. “High, Wide, and Handsome” is old Americana, although I first heard on a job in Canada back in the 70’s, when I was shooting up a storm at Peggy’s Cove lighthouse and some local salt looked at me and said said a little sarcastically, “ooooh he’s flyin’ now; high, wide, and handsome.” Bob
Ellis Vener
9 Feb 2010Bob,
here you go: http://www.thecharliepooleproject.com/project.html
Bob
9 Feb 2010Thanks Ellis, I’ve got some album buying to do! Bob
Dana Hess
9 Feb 2010Enjoying the pics and the info on the new 24. BTW, are you guys getting the great snowstorm of ’10? Should make for some pretty shots if you can get out the door.
Here in California, we’re shivering with this 58-degree weather…
Bob
9 Feb 2010All right Dana, don’t rub it in:-). I’ve just laid in enough red wine and good cheese to get me through to the spring, so I say, let it snow! BK
Bert
9 Feb 2010Hi Bob,
Thanks for the review. Stupid question, but what was your distance from the woman in the first image? Lens distortion seems to be well controlled which was a fear coming from a 35mm f2.
Bob
9 Feb 2010Bert: It was three or four feet if I remember….I was close.Bob
janrig
9 Feb 2010Here’s some exif to this lady,
notice some flash was added.
Hope this helps. Lovely gear and pics.
Image Description = Historical reenactor Rose Gutekunst at the historic Parry Mansion in New Hope, PA. rnrnMODEL RELEASEDrnrnrnrn
Make = NIKON CORPORATION
Model = NIKON D3S
Orientation = top/left
X Resolution = 144
Y Resolution = 144
Resolution Unit = inch
Software = Adobe Photoshop CS4 Macintosh
Date Time = 2010-02-08 19:09:19
Artist = Bob Krist
White Point = [313/1000, 329/1000]
Primary Chromaticities = [64/100, 33/100, 21/100, 71/100, 15/100, 6/100]
YCbCr Coefficients = 299/1000, 587/1000, 114/1000
YCbCr Positioning = co-sited
Copyright = © Bob Krist
Exif IFD Pointer = Offset: 528
GPS Info IFD Pointer = Offset: 1204
[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/750″
F Number = F1.4
Exposure Program = Aperture priority
ISO Speed Ratings = 200
Exif Version = Version 2.21
Date Time Original = 2010-01-14 16:19:26
Date Time Digitized = 2010-01-14 16:19:26
Components Configuration = YCbcr
Compressed Bits Per Pixel = 4
Exposure Bias Value = -0.5EV
Max Aperture Value = F1.41
Metering Mode = Pattern
Light Source = Fine weather
Flash = Flash fired, compulsory flash mode, return light not detected
Focal Length = 24mm
User Comment =
Subsec Time = 0.6″
Subsec Time Original = 0.6″
Subsec Time Digitized = 0.6″
Flashpix Version = Version 1.0
Color Space = Uncalibrated
Exif Image Width = 995
Exif Image Height = 662
Interoperability IFD Pointer = Offset: 1172
Sensing Method = One-chip color area sensor
File Source = DSC
Scene Type = A directly photographed image
CFA Pattern = [R,G],rn[G,B]
Custom Rendered = Normal process
Exposure Mode = Auto exposure
White Balance = Manual white balance
Digital Zoom Ratio = 1x
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 24mm
Scene Capture Type = Normal
Gain Control = None
Contrast = Normal
Saturation = Normal
Sharpness = Normal
Subject Distance Range = unknown
Gamma = 2.2
Bob
10 Feb 2010I did use a flash on the background in a couple of shots with the young lady in period clothes, but not on her. I have a post coming up on it. Bob
Wicaksana
9 Feb 2010as always great images Bob…
Joe Federer Photography
9 Feb 2010Preorder, now! I want.
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Matt
10 Feb 2010Wow – thank you Bob, and thank you Nikon! Looks like a couple of great FX lenses. Am definitely curious to read a comparison with the outgoing 17-35 f2.8, although something tells me this new beauty will be the hands-down winner.
Bob
10 Feb 2010Matt: I didn’t do any side by sides with my 17-35mm…didn’t have the time. The VR more than makes up for the one stop difference in speed. I’m guessing that the 16-35 is going to be a better performer, since every lens in the digital age gets far more scrutiny at 100% than the film-era lenses ever got! Bob
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john kraus
10 Feb 2010Bob, re: the new 16-35, can you offer any input on how it compares to the 14-24 in terms of rectilinear and optical distortion, or lack thereof?
Also any issues with autofocus slowing down in low light due to the f/4 widest aperture?
Thanks much-
Bob
10 Feb 2010John: I’ve never used the 14-24, but the 16-35 seems very clean in terms of distortion. I didn’t notice any slowness in AF in low light. I was hired to make pictures with these things, not run optical tests, and I only had them for a short amount of time, so I couldn’t run any real scientific tests. For that, you’ll have to wait till the magazines and websites get hold of them. I did enjoy making pictures with them, though. Bob
john kraus
11 Feb 2010Thanks much for answering, Bob. I wasn’t looking for optical tests as much as real world experience. My guess is the rectilinear/distortion issues are minimal, or you would have noticed them. AF focus in low-light sounds good as well. Though with the D3s the requirements for lowlight AF get even greater- As images look great (to me) at 6400 and above, I’m hoping the f/4 lens can focus in those conditions. This for event work.
The quality of the 14-24 is outstanding, but I find it a pain for PJ work- I so often want to go longer. Though fine for set-up shots.
Bob
11 Feb 2010John: I haven’t used the 14-24 so I don’t have anything to compare the 16-35 to, but it seemed to focus fast and sure even in low light. I didn’t notice any roadblocks at all from the equipment. I think one reason they went with an f/4 rather than a 2.8 was to keep the lens reasonably lightweight, and very sharp. The VR makes up for at least part of that speed loss. I don’t know if you’d want to dump your 14-24 (my pals who use that lens are mad for it). The greater range would make it easier for PJ work for sure. If I were going FX, I’d go for the 16-35 over the 14-24,b ut I’m a filter guy too. Hope this helps, wish i could be more helpful. I got the lenses, had to shoot with them and return them really quickly. cheers, Bob
Vincent
14 Feb 2010Hi Bob,
Congratulations for having been hired by Nikon to test on field these new gears!
Regarding the long-awaited 24/1.4, do you think it is well-corrected against coma phenomenon (like the legendary Noct-Nikkor 58/1.2)? It seems to be so regarding the final landscape…
Cheers.
Bob
14 Feb 2010Vincent: It appears to be very well correcsted for coma, but how it compares to the Noct, I can’t say, having never used the latter. Bob
Markus
1 Mar 2010Hi Bob,
thanks for posting the pictures with the 24 f/1.4. I am really interested in this lens. Is the bokeh really so pleasing (I especially like your very first picture with the man in front of the car), or did you also notice situations where it was a bit harsh? And it would be great if you could give me your impressions as regards the distortion of this lens. Can it also be used for architectural work, or wouldn`t you recommend it for that?
Thanks a lot for your help!
Best wishes from Germany
Markus
Bob
1 Mar 2010Markus: I am not an expert in bokeh…the bokeh looked fine to me, but I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about bokeh. I think this lens, used properly, would be fine for architecture. I feel safe in saying it is one of the best, if not the best, 24mm f/1.4 lenses on the market. But I am just a working photographer, and not an optical expert. Let’s just say that for my clients, like National Geographic Traveler and other magazines, this lens would be fine! Bob
Markus
2 Mar 2010Bob: Thanks a lot for taking your time and helping me out! I will have a close look at this lens when its up for sale.
Best wishes from Germany
Markus
Bob
2 Mar 2010Marcus: Wish I was more technically oriented and could help you out more. But I had limited time with the gear and the bokeh looked so good to me that it’s making me rethink my commitment to stay small and DX….so that’s probably pretty good bokeh! Bob
Jeremy Wade Shockley
5 Mar 2010Bob,
That image of Leo Casino is dynamite..what a slice of life, and the colors! Well done, look forward to seeing more.
I was looking forward to getting my mittens on that lens until I caught wind of the high MSRP…so now I will hope to pick up some one’s trade in as they shell out for the upgrade!
Best, Jeremy
Bob
7 Mar 2010Jeremy: I know what you mean. The sticker shock might keep me in DX-land. That, and my athritic spine! Bob
Jeff Tucker
14 Mar 2010Its March 14th 2010 and it’s still not available, any idea when Nikon will release this lens?
Bob
14 Mar 2010Hi Jeff: Unfortunately, no. They don’t tell me anything once the job is done. I’m just as much in the dark as everybody else. I’m sure it’ll be soon as the 16-35 is widely available. Bob
Brian Carey
9 Apr 2010Excellent shot Bob!
Jack van Heugten
10 Apr 2010Hi Bob, thanks for all your shots and information.
Can’t this apparently wonderful lens be used on a DX camera?
I mean, is it just not possible, or is it a waste of money…?
Best,
Jack
Bob
10 Apr 2010Jack: For DX, it’s a waste of money. If you are a DX shooter and you want something in this range, buy the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 and you’ll be a happy camper, and $2000 or so richer. BK
Jack van Heugten
10 Apr 2010Well thanks Bob, it’s an eyeopener to me… but could you also tell me why exactly it would be a waste of money…?
Appreciated your quick answer a lot.
Best regards,
jack
Bob
10 Apr 2010Because you don’t need an FX lens if you’re shooting a DX body, so why pay extra for it when there’s something similar out there specificially for DX that is reasonable and performs well. BK
Geoff
30 Apr 2010A very usefull report. Being an FX user both these lenses look very usefull. Thanks.
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Jen Pruett
10 Jun 2010Amazing photography, great work Jen
Kelli
11 Jun 2010I wave been on a waitlist for this lens & just received the call that it has arrived but am now nervous after reading a review from digiloyd that said the lens is a mess w/AF issues-Do you have any insight regarding this problem & do you think it is safe for me to go ahead & buy it now?
Thanks for any insight you can give me regarding this lens.
K
Bob
12 Jun 2010Hi Kelli: I had no issues with it during the two weeks that I used it. Bob
solomon
19 Jun 2010nice pic indeed keep it Bob
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