Nikon AF-S Zoom Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED is two of the more recent additions to Nikon's FX, or full frame, lens lineup. The lens was first announced in mid 2007 and currently sells for ~US$1,600 (as of February 2009). The hefty price tag obviously reflects the fact that this is the widest and fastest full frame lens in Nikon's arsenal. Still, at US$1,600, this lens is clearly targeted at professional users then amateurs.
The optical construction of the lens consists of 14 elements in 11 groups, including 2 ED (Extra low Dispersion) glass elements. The build quality of the lens is superb, as can be expected from a lens with a Pro grading and such a hefty price tag. The barrel is made of lightweight metal and is dust and moisture protected The zoom and focusing rings are rubberized and rotate smoothly. Nikon designates the lens as IF (Internal Focusing), meaning that the lens barrel does not extend during zooming/docusing, mainteining its constant length. However, the inner cams of the lens move during zooming - if you observe the front glass elementof the lens, you will notice that it extends back and forth during zooming. Speaking of the front element - its humongous, protruding out of the barrel. The lens has a built-in lens shade, which provides some protection to the front element, but skips on a front filter threading, and does not even provide a drop in slot for gelatin filters.
Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED is a monstrous, for a wide angle zoom, lens - it weighs 1kg (35.3oz) and measures 98 x 131.5mm (3.8 x 5.2in). Obviously dragging such a brick around on field trips would be of a hassle, and plenty of photographers seem to complain about this issue. The lens implements a Silent Wave AF Motor (AF-S) for speedy and silent auto focusing, but also supports full time manual focusing, which can be controlled by an A/M switch found on the side of the barrel. The lens carries a G designation, which in Nikon terms means that the lens has an electronic aperture control and does not incorporate a dedicated aperture ring. The maximum aperture is f/22. The lens focuses down to 28cm (0.9ft) at 24mm finish.
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED is basically massive - this is by far the largest and heaviest piece of wide-angle zoom glass tested to date. The front element is bulging out of the barrel, giving the lens the looks of a fisheye lens and also leaving the glass unprotected - there is no front filter thread and there is no rear gelatin filter slot, so fundamentally there is no way to use any screw-in or drop-in filter with this lens. 'No problem' - you might think, 'I'll use Cokin process with a barrel adapter!'. Wishful thinking. The front element protrudes far, to the level of the shallow built-in lens hood, so even if you manage to attach a Cokin barrel holder to the front of the hood, you will get severe vignetting at 14mm and a disagreeable light leak (through the shallow parts of the petal-shaped lens hood) at 24mm. So the bottom line is that you would must live without filters if you plan to use this lens.On Field Tests!
There is no DOF scale on the barrel, so you only receive a focus metering scale behind a clear plastic window on the side of the barrel. But frankly speaking, it is doubtful you will need a DOF scale with such a wide lens - the focusing ring rotates from the closeup to the infinity in about 90 degrees, with the scale going from 28cm to 1m in more or less even intervals, but then jumping straight to infinity. With such coarse focusing distance it would be difficult to focus the lens by hand precisely. And the lens has a massive depth of field - you will get everything from the tips of your shoes to the clouds in the sky at 14mm. Most focusing errors will be mased anyway. And besides, the AF process is rapid and accurate...
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