Nikon 24-120/f4 - good buy?

[Cagey75]

The common denominator here on this forum is the people that give off the most stink and agro on threads tend to say they know everything about gear but have absolutely **** poor images.. The offenders know who they are as they realise they're not that good at taking pictures so they dribble over the technical mumbo jumbo on review sites.. Also the crap talkers that say they've used every lens under the sun when the closest they've got to them is a review site.......

That is about as childish, unhelpful and nasty as Soda farl would post. Hello SF account #2 NI eh?

Who are you referring to exactly anyway? have the balls to say. If you're pointing that at me, no idea why, I've never seen you on this forum before funnily enough ... which is why I think you're one and the same - Soda farl is the only person, ever, to have a pop at my images. Coincidence much?? I get nothing but praise otherwise and have won awards, I think I'll take that over some bitter child on a forum throwing toys about. I also never once said I own every lens ever. I could list every lens I've owned ever very quickly. Have you owned every lens going? What is your point here exactly?

I've never seen so many defensive people on one forum ever, this is without doubt the worst place for it. Anyone with an opinion gets attacked and shouted down, like a bunch of little playground bullies who need back up and second accounts to make their points. I said what I thought, which had NOTHING to do with anyone, it was for the OP. I gave them other suggestions, sensible ones. I was a damn sight more helpful than most of the people who jumped in on the thread, to defend a lum of glass like I had mortally wounded a family member of theirs. I'm free to my opinion, thank you very much. I don't really need it corrected or abused every bloody post I make here. The usual suspects [the 3 or 4 who seems to think they own this place, everyone else knows who they are] .

Just because you don't own something, does not mean you cannot have an opinion. Borrowing a lens for 5 minutes certainly doesn't give you any more right. Online reviewers who do extensive testing have rarely if ever let me down.


Leave you to it, because there's no talking sense to some.

 

[TonyNI]

That is about as childish, unhelpful and nasty as Soda farl would post. Hello SF account #2

Who are you referring to exactly? have the balls to say so. If you're pointing that at me, no idea why, I've never seen you on this forum before funnily enough ... which is why I think you're one and the same - Soda farl is the only person, ever, to have a pop at my images. Coincidence much?? I get nothing but praise otherwise and have won awards, I think I'll take that over some bitter child on a forum throwing toys about. I also never once said I own every lens ever. I could list every lens I've owned ever very quickly. Have you owned every lens going? What is your point here exactly?

I've never seen so many defensive people on one forum ever, this is without doubt the worst place for it. Anyone with an opinion gets attacked and shouted down, like a bunch of little playground bullies who need back up and second accounts to make their points. I said what I thought, I gave the OP other suggestions, I was a damn sight more helpful than most of the people who jumped in on the thread, the usual suspects [the 3 or 4 who seems to think they own this place, everyone else knows who they are] .

Just because you don't own something, does not mean you cannot have an opinion. Borrowing a lens for 5 minutes certainly doesn't give you any more right. Online reviewers who do extensive testing have rarely if ever let me down.


Leave you to it, because there's no talking sense to some.

LOLz

Sorry Ansel

 

[Cagey75]

Instead of taking the bait with you and the other bitter [for some reason] NI chappy, I've reported you and I suspect you either have a dual account, or you know one another well, as you post exactly the same. ANd all i see you doing is stirring it

 

[fracster]

I think now would be a good time to go and watch the telly or something...........

 

[Laudrup]

That is about as childish, unhelpful and nasty as Soda farl would post. Hello SF account #2 NI eh?

Who are you referring to exactly anyway? have the balls to say. If you're pointing that at me, no idea why, I've never seen you on this forum before funnily enough ... which is why I think you're one and the same - Soda farl is the only person, ever, to have a pop at my images. Coincidence much?? I get nothing but praise otherwise and have won awards, I think I'll take that over some bitter child on a forum throwing toys about. I also never once said I own every lens ever. I could list every lens I've owned ever very quickly. Have you owned every lens going? What is your point here exactly?

I've never seen so many defensive people on one forum ever, this is without doubt the worst place for it. Anyone with an opinion gets attacked and shouted down, like a bunch of little playground bullies who need back up and second accounts to make their points. I said what I thought, which had NOTHING to do with anyone, it was for the OP. I gave them other suggestions, sensible ones. I was a damn sight more helpful than most of the people who jumped in on the thread, to defend a lum of glass like I had mortally wounded a family member of theirs. I'm free to my opinion, thank you very much. I don't really need it corrected or abused every bloody post I make here. The usual suspects [the 3 or 4 who seems to think they own this place, everyone else knows who they are] .

Just because you don't own something, does not mean you cannot have an opinion. Borrowing a lens for 5 minutes certainly doesn't give you any more right. Online reviewers who do extensive testing have rarely if ever let me down.


Leave you to it, because there's no talking sense to some.

What's good for the goose.....

 

[TonyNI]

Instead of taking the bait with you and the other bitter [for some reason] NI chappy, I've reported you and I suspect you either have a dual account, or you know one another well, as you post exactly the same. ANd all i see you doing is stirring it

Whatever mate. Oh no Im shaking in my boots! I just love coming to this forum to see your nonsensical posts / replies. Their is an awful lot of genuinely nice people on the forum but if I was banned for life it wouldnt annoy me in the slightest as idiots like you will always be here

 

[Soda Farl]

That is about as childish, unhelpful and nasty as Soda farl would post. Hello SF account #2 NI eh?

Who are you referring to exactly anyway? have the balls to say. If you're pointing that at me, no idea why, I've never seen you on this forum before funnily enough ... which is why I think you're one and the same - Soda farl is the only person, ever, to have a pop at my images. Coincidence much?? I get nothing but praise otherwise and have won awards, I think I'll take that over some bitter child on a forum throwing toys about. I also never once said I own every lens ever. I could list every lens I've owned ever very quickly. Have you owned every lens going? What is your point here exactly?

I've never seen so many defensive people on one forum ever, this is without doubt the worst place for it. Anyone with an opinion gets attacked and shouted down, like a bunch of little playground bullies who need back up and second accounts to make their points. I said what I thought, which had NOTHING to do with anyone, it was for the OP. I gave them other suggestions, sensible ones. I was a damn sight more helpful than most of the people who jumped in on the thread, to defend a lum of glass like I had mortally wounded a family member of theirs. I'm free to my opinion, thank you very much. I don't really need it corrected or abused every bloody post I make here. The usual suspects [the 3 or 4 who seems to think they own this place, everyone else knows who they are] .

Just because you don't own something, does not mean you cannot have an opinion. Borrowing a lens for 5 minutes certainly doesn't give you any more right. Online reviewers who do extensive testing have rarely if ever let me down.


Leave you to it, because there's no talking sense to some.

Me and Tony are no longer friends he has even deleted me from his facebook

 

[lodious]

Just because you don't own something, does not mean you cannot have an opinion.

Didn't you accuse someone of 'not owning' a D800 in the D800 thread, who turned out to have one when you didn't ?

You represent pretty much all that is bad about internet forums, opinionated, but without experience, regurgitating snippets you've picked up from other peoples opinions and passing them off as your own. Your obnoxious and the same time you link to your business, do you think about what impression you give to potential clients?

Your so desperate to pollinate the internet with the nectar of your opinions you don't even read the threads properly before you post. Do you think the community is waiting for your next pearl of wisdom?

 

[Cobra]

We are getting fed up with RTM's about this tag-teaming that's going on at the moment.
Play nice or play elsewhere.

 

[Gary Coyle]

Borrowing a lens for 5 minutes certainly doesn't give you any more right.

And if thats a comment aimed at me (im the only person who has posted about borrowing this lens) then you seriously need to think before you make any comments as i actually borrowed the lens for just short of 14 weeks and shot over 10,000 images with it.

 

[TonyNI]

Me and Tony are no longer friends he has even deleted me from his facebook

Facebook shakeup mk 2 lol. Not just you bai! making facebook abit more personal as I don't like the work convergence lol

 

[SarahLee]

<Sigh> There are some days when I feel more and more like I'm in the middle of a playground.

There are at least four posters in this thread whose names we're sick and tired of seeing pop up in RTMs.
I think you know who you are, so final warning to play nicely before some time on the naughty step starts being dished out.

EDIT : On a slow connection and cross posted with Cobra, but at least that deals with anyone who may have missed the warning first time around.

 

[Soda Farl]

And if thats a comment aimed at me (im the only person who has posted about borrowing this lens) then you seriously need to think before you make any comments as i actually borrowed the lens for just short of 14 weeks and shot over 10,000 images with it.

I mentioned using my friends copy Gary I dare say it was probably aimed at me. Not to worry.

 

[Martyn...]

You mean they don't say the sun shines out of their arse lol

Lens reviews don't take into account the camera. A lens ok on a 40d might not be as good on a 50d etc

Personally I don't take lens reviews as gospel but where there is smoke there is fire.

No I mean they were way off beam, but fair point about different bodies having an effect on results.

Most reviews are one persons opinions, and we all have those.

 

[Laudrup]

Lloyd Chambers is good for Zeiss.

 

[POAH]

No I mean they were way off beam, but fair point about different bodies having an effect on results.

Most reviews are one persons opinions, and we all have those.

photozone is mainly a technical review so the numbers are there for you to see. IIRC the zeiss lenses do well on the APS-C but are a bit crap on FF canon/nikon which is pretty much what all reviews I've read say.

 

[Martyn...]

photozone is mainly a technical review so the numbers are there for you to see. IIRC the zeiss lenses do well on the APS-C but are a bit crap on FF canon/nikon which is pretty much what all reviews I've read say.

As I said we all have our opinions

 

[Laudrup]

photozone is mainly a technical review so the numbers are there for you to see. IIRC the zeiss lenses do well on the APS-C but are a bit crap on FF canon/nikon which is pretty much what all reviews I've read say.

Not on Lloyd Chambers site it doesn't. The pop of the Zeiss can't be calculated on photozone, it's an ok site, but not nearly in depth enough and rating lenses by stars is like something Ken Rockwell would do.

 

[POAH]

Not on Lloyd Chambers site it doesn't. The pop of the Zeiss can't be calculated on photozone, it's an ok site, but not nearly in depth enough and rating lenses by stars is like something Ken Rockwell would do.

Lenses do not pop lol

 

[Phil Young]

Lenses do not pop lol

Obviously you haven't tried injecting compressed gas into it before!!!!

Lenses are lenses, I'm sure if Zeiss had a magic formula for producing a "pop" other manufactorers would figure it out.

I don't undsrstand, I was looking at some tests that showed one 50mm I think it was, really soft wide open. Didn't look to me like a lens I'd be spending a lot of money on!?

 

[Laudrup]

The Zeiss ones do.

 

[Laudrup]

Obviously you haven't tried injecting compressed gas into it before!!!!

Lenses are lenses, I'm sure if Zeiss had a magic formula for producing a "pop" other manufactorers would figure it out.

I don't undsrstand, I was looking at some tests that showed one 50mm I think it was, really soft wide open. Didn't look to me like a lens I'd be spending a lot of money on!?

The Nikon/Canon lack that high micro contrast that make the Zeiss pop, they could make them like Leica or Zeiss, but you couldn't churn out 5 million lenses every 6 months doing it that way. It's good to have the more high performance niche there when you need it. With the advent of sensors like the D800 has there's an opportunity there for the Zeiss/Leicas of this world to move into it.

 

[HoppyUK]

Nikon has a list of recommended lenses it suggests will do justice to the D800. It's quite a short list, but includes the 24-120 http://d800.org/nikon-d800-and-d800e-recommended-lenses/

 

[merv]

Hi Tommy thought WW3 was about to break out here! Yes have 24-70 but on walkabouts it is often a bit short. Good in poor light with f2.8. Scott Kelby worldwide walkabout this weekend so thought 24-120 would be useful. Yes duplication is an issue. Been is PC 3 times in last week and neither of you there! Slackers. merv

 

[Soda Farl]

Hi Tommy thought WW3 was about to break out here! Yes have 24-70 but on walkabouts it is often a bit short. Good in poor light with f2.8. Scott Kelby worldwide walkabout this weekend so thought 24-120 would be useful. Yes duplication is an issue. Been is PC 3 times in last week and neither of you there! Slackers. merv

Was on my hols Merv. So did you get the D4?

 

[The23rdman]

Nikon has a list of recommended lenses it suggests will do justice to the D800. It's quite a short list, but includes the 24-120 http://d800.org/nikon-d800-and-d800e-recommended-lenses/

In other words, buy our expensive lenses.

 

[POAH]

The Nikon/Canon lack that high micro contrast that make the Zeiss pop, they could make them like Leica or Zeiss, but you couldn't churn out 5 million lenses every 6 months doing it that way. It's good to have the more high performance niche there when you need it. /QUOTE]

Except they don't. Comparisons of canon, zeiss, Nikon and sigma 50mm & 85mm lenses show the Zeiss lenses to be lacking contrast and have a dreamy effect wide open. I don't deny that some Zeiss lenses are very good but not all are.

 

[HoppyUK]

The Nikon/Canon lack that high micro contrast that make the Zeiss pop, they could make them like Leica or Zeiss, but you couldn't churn out 5 million lenses every 6 months doing it that way. It's good to have the more high performance niche there when you need it. With the advent of sensors like the D800 has there's an opportunity there for the Zeiss/Leicas of this world to move into it.

If by micro-contrast you mean MTF levels at high resolution, that's not what produces 'pop'. That is high contrast at lower resolution levels around 10-15 lpmm rather than at 30-50 lpmm that you can't even see without pixel peeping. However, if you have high micro-contrast then it's a fair bet that you'll also have high contrast at all resolution levels.

The Nikon/Canon lack that high micro contrast that make the Zeiss pop, they could make them like Leica or Zeiss, but you couldn't churn out 5 million lenses every 6 months doing it that way. It's good to have the more high performance niche there when you need it. /QUOTE]

Except they don't. Comparisons of canon, zeiss, Nikon and sigma 50mm & 85mm lenses show the Zeiss lenses to be lacking contrast and have a dreamy effect wide open. I don't deny that some Zeiss lenses are very good but not all are.

Sounds like a reasonable summary to me. But Zeiss also makes very good spectacle lenses, perhaps that's what I'm needing to see more.

 

[POAH]

I've it Pentax lenses in my glasses lol

 

[Cagey75]

Didn't you accuse someone of 'not owning' a D800 in the D800 thread, who turned out to have one when you didn't ?

Eh no I did not. I do have a D800, I never accused anyone of not having one. You are clearly thinking of someone else.

I don't take to bullying, I stand up for myself, how is that a bad thing? Well, I'm sure you wouldn't allow yourself be pushed around either

 

[Gary Coyle]

Eh no I did not. I do have a D800, I never accused anyone of not having one. You are clearly thinking of someone else.

I don't take to bullying, I stand up for myself, how is that a bad thing? Well, I'm sure you wouldn't allow yourself be pushed around either

I wasn't letting ignoramuses have the last shout, and I hope the Mods can see what is what. It was I called their attention to it. I left this thread alone until now because I wasn't getting pulled back into their nonsense. But, there's always another about who hasn't a clue [you] and backs the wrong side. I would hate for new members to come across these know-it-alls They really should learn to just leave other people's opinions alone.

 

[Cagey75]

You should read back Gary, I gave a proper response to the OP in here, and got jumped all over. Simples. Btw, I wasn't aiming that at you

 

[jpw]

So, in summary then - yes, a good buy.

In fact I think Wex have it as part of their 10% off Nikon lenses promotion, so if you're buying new I'd not hang about.

 

[Gary Coyle]

You should read back Gary, I gave a proper response to the OP in here, and got jumped all over. Simples. Btw, I wasn't aiming that at you, but the NI brothers, think that's obvious.

I know thats where you aimed it, i just found it funny that you would even bother responding, i myself disagree with the mojority of what you've said, im not saying you cant have an opinion but its how you put it across.

You were offered an olive branch in the D800 thread but chose to get all aggressive and threatening instead, let it go mate, i know its difficult but at least try.

Just best to not bother or you'll end up getting in bother with the Mods, just a bit of advice and i hope you take it as sincere

 

[Cagey75]

I'm not sure what you mean about the D800 thread? I've been posting away in there up till yesterday. Haven't been bickering in there whatsoever. But fair enough. Point taken. I'll edit my posts that may stir anything up. Because I'm done with it.

 

[Gary Coyle]

I'm not sure what you mean about the D800 thread? I've been posting away in there up till yesterday. Haven't been bickering in there whatsoever. But fair enough. Point taken. I'll edit my posts that may stir anything up. Because I'm done with it.

Sorry, meant the D700 thread.

 

[Cagey75]

Was that not weeks back?? And I'd call that debating but we're all different.

 

[ryanyboy]

At a wedding about two months ago (while at the brides mum's house pre-service) a guest dropped my 24-70 and buggered it. My back-up was a 50mm prime but I had the bright idea of calling my mate who was able to pick me up a brand 24-70 from a shop nearby. A couple of days later I took the 24-70 back and exchanged it for a 24-120 F4 which I used while the 24-70 was with Nikon being repaired (£500 - ouch!!).

While I used the 24-120 I found that it is a great lens but not quite as good as the 24-70. The 24-70 is just that tad sharper. The VR is great (for things that don't move) and the focal length is very useful. It doesn't focus anywhere near as close as the 24-70 - I find the 24-70 excellent for this, especially when I don't have a macro to hand. The 24-70 is known to be a very susceptible lens to knocks. It doesn't take much to knock the focus out and I think realistically it's probably one of those lenses that needs a service every 6 months or so. If the 24-120 F4 is a bit sturdier then that's great - but I can't say if it is or not.

For now the 24-120 lives in my second camera bag and is there in case misfortune comes my way again. I actually think it's a great back up for the 24-70 and the 70-200. Ok - it's not as long as the 70-200 but at a push I could make it work where I would currently use the 70-200 (portraits and the posed shots where I want the compression). It's obviously wasted as a back-up as I think it's a very good lens in it's own right.

Would I recommend it? Yes whole heartedly. Do I think it's over priced? No more so than 90% of Nikon kit. In fact for the focal length, VR and F4 aperture I'd say it's about right.

HTH

 

[Gary Coyle]

Was that not weeks back?? And I'd call that debating but we're all different.

Ha, ha, it was only locked by the mods 2 days ago

 

[Laudrup]

If by micro-contrast you mean MTF levels at high resolution, that's not what produces 'pop'. That is high contrast at lower resolution levels around 10-15 lpmm rather than at 30-50 lpmm that you can't even see without pixel peeping. However, if you have high micro-contrast then it's a fair bet that you'll also have high contrast at all resolution levels.

Sounds like a reasonable summary to me. But Zeiss also makes very good spectacle lenses, perhaps that's what I'm needing to see more.

I'm not one for MTF charts. The Zeiss look better, that's good enough for me.