Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S Review

The Nikon Z series has been making waves in the mirrorless camera market, and the release of the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens has only heightened the excitement.

This versatile wide-angle zoom lens is designed for landscape, architecture, and travel photographers and offers exceptional performance and a compact design.

In this article, we’ll examine the lens’s features, performance, and suitability for various shooting scenarios.

$1,146.95
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January 19, 2024 10:48 am
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Last update was on: January 19, 2024 10:48 am

Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S Overview

The Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S is a wide-angle zoom lens designed specifically for Nikon’s Z-mount mirrorless cameras.

It covers a versatile 14-30mm focal range and features a constant f/4 maximum aperture, making it ideal for various shooting situations. The lens also boasts a compact design and is fully weather-sealed for protection against the elements.

Key Features

Wide-angle Zoom Range

The 14-30mm focal range provides photographers with a versatile wide-angle zoom, perfect for capturing expansive landscapes, intricate architectural details, and dynamic travel scenes.

Constant f/4 Aperture

With a constant f/4 aperture throughout the zoom range, the lens delivers consistent performance in varying lighting conditions. This feature is particularly useful for videographers, ensuring consistent exposure while zooming.

Optical Design

The lens features an advanced optical design, including four Extra-low Dispersion (ED) elements and four aspherical elements. This design helps to minimize chromatic aberrations, distortion, and other optical issues while maintaining high image quality.

Nano Crystal Coat and ARNEO Coat

The Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S features Nikon’s Nano Crystal Coat and ARNEO Coat technologies to combat flare and ghosting. These coatings effectively reduce reflections, ensuring clearer images even in challenging lighting conditions.

Stepping Motor Autofocus System

The lens’s stepping motor autofocus system provides fast, quiet, and accurate performance, making it suitable for stills and video applications.

Customizable Control Ring

A customizable control ring on the lens allows users to adjust aperture, ISO, or exposure compensation easily, providing greater control over camera settings.

Weather-Sealed Construction

The lens’s robust weather-sealed design protects it from dust, moisture, and temperature fluctuations, ensuring reliable performance in various conditions.

Performance

Sharpness

The Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S delivers impressive sharpness across the entire zoom range, with excellent center sharpness even at its widest aperture. Edge-to-edge sharpness is commendable, particularly when stopped down to f/5.6 or f/8.

Distortion

Despite its wide-angle nature, the lens exhibits minimal distortion. Any minor barrel distortion at 14mm is easily corrected in post-processing or in-camera corrections.

Vignetting

Vignetting is well-controlled, with only slight darkening of corners at the widest aperture. Stopping down to f/5.6 or smaller largely eliminates any noticeable vignetting.

Chromatic Aberration

Thanks to its advanced optical design, the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S handles chromatic aberrations exceptionally well. Lateral chromatic aberration is minimal, and any instances can be easily corrected in post-processing.

Usage Scenarios

Landscape Photography

The lens’s wide-angle focal range and excellent sharpness make it a top choice for landscape photographers. Its compact size and weather-sealed design make it a reliable option for outdoor shooting.

Architecture Photography

With minimal distortion and excellent edge-to-edge sharpness, the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S is well-suited for capturing intricate architectural details.

Travel Photography

The versatility of the 14-30mm focal range, combined with its compact design and weather-sealing, makes this lens an ideal companion for travel photography, covering a variety of scenes and subjects.

Comparison with Other Lenses

The Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S competes with other wide-angle zoom lenses, such as the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM and the Sony FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS.

While these lenses offer faster apertures, the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S maintains a smaller, lighter form factor and a more affordable price point, making it an attractive option for those prioritizing portability and value.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Versatile wide-angle zoom range
  • Excellent sharpness and minimal distortion
  • Constant f/4 aperture
  • Compact and weather-sealed design
  • Customizable control ring

Cons:

  • Slower maximum aperture compared to some competitors
  • Minor vignetting at the widest aperture

Conclusion

$1,146.95
in stock
January 19, 2024 10:48 am
Amazon Amazon.com
Last update was on: January 19, 2024 10:48 am

The Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S is an outstanding wide-angle zoom lens with excellent performance, a versatile focal range, and a compact design. With minimal distortion, impressive sharpness, and weather-sealing, this lens is an excellent addition to any Nikon Z-series camera owner’s kit. While it may not have the fastest aperture compared to some competitors, its overall performance and value make it a strong contender in the wide-angle zoom market.

FAQs

Is the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S compatible with both Nikon Z full-frame and APS-C cameras?

Yes, the lens is designed for Nikon’s Z-mount system and is compatible with full-frame and APS-C Z-mount cameras.

Can I use filters on the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S?

Yes, the lens has a standard 82mm filter thread, allowing you to use various filters such as UV, polarizing, or ND filters.

How does the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S perform in low-light situations?

The constant f/4 aperture is decent for low-light situations, but faster wide-angle lenses like the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM or the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM may provide better low-light performance. However, the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S still performs well in most low-light conditions, especially when combined with the high ISO capabilities of modern Nikon Z-series cameras.

Is the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S suitable for astrophotography?

The lens is suitable for astrophotography due to its wide-angle focal range and sharpness. While faster lenses may provide better light-gathering capabilities, the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S can still deliver great results with proper technique and camera settings.

How does the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S compare to the Nikon F-mount wide-angle zoom lenses?

The Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S has been specifically designed for the Nikon Z-mount system, taking advantage of the shorter flange distance and larger mount diameter. This results in improved optical performance and a more compact design than equivalent F-mount lenses. Additionally, the Z-mount lenses are compatible with Nikon’s latest mirrorless cameras, offering faster and more accurate autofocus performance.

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