Nikon AF-S DX Zoom NIKKOR 12 24mm F 4G IF ED Review | 54 Data compared

The Nikkor AF-S 12-24mm f/4 G ED DX lens delivers excellent overall resolution and image quality, establishing itself as a top performer in the ultra-wide-angle category during this review. Tested on a Nikon D200, its primary strengths include sharp, notable definition at 12mm even wide open at f/4.5, alongside outstanding sharpness at the 18mm and 24mm focal lengths. The lens also boasts excellent color reproduction and exhibits highly controlled chromatic aberrations at 18mm and 24mm, particularly in the corners where it outperforms its rivals. Conversely, the lens suffers from clear optical drawbacks at its widest settings. The main disadvantages are visible, light chromatic aberrations at 12mm that appear across the frame, extending from the corners into the central viewing circle. Additionally, geometric distortion is a weakness; at 12mm, the vertical "y" axis distortion is unusually high at -2.27%, while positive distortion becomes quite pronounced at 24mm compared to competing products. Vignetting is acceptable but unexceptional, showing a 55% average intensity drop at f/4.5.

The Fotografía Flash review awards the Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED lens a 4.5 out of 5 rating, praising it as a highly reliable super-wide-angle tool optimized for APS-C (DX) sensor cameras. Its 12-24mm focal range (equivalent to 18-36mm on full-frame) is noted as ideal for landscape, interior, and architectural photography. The reviewer highlights several major advantages, including exceptional sharpness across the center and corners, a fast and quiet Silent Wave Motor (SWM) autofocus system, and a lightweight, well-balanced physical profile. Furthermore, its internal focusing mechanism ensures the 77mm filter thread does not rotate, facilitating easy use of polarizing filters. On the downside, the review's primary criticism is the complete lack of image stabilization, a flaw it shares with its more affordable competitor, the Sigma 10-20mm. The lens features a constant maximum aperture of f/4, which makes it a full stop less bright than the Sigma competitor. Optically, the reviewer notes predictable wide-angle defects, such as noticeable barrel distortion at 12mm that transitions into slight pincushion distortion at 24mm, as well as minor vignetting when shooting wide open....

This review of the Nikkor AF-S 12-24 mm f/4 G ED DX lens highlights its physical build, ergonomic design, and mechanical performance when tested on a Nikon D200 camera. The writer notes that the lens features a very fine engraved surface with a satin black finish consistent with recent G-series products. Mechanically, the zoom and manual focus rings are reversed from traditional positions but are designed with practical widths and depths. However, the rotation mechanism feels somewhat stiff, lacking the smoothness found in rival Canon L-series lenses. Several specific pros and cons are detailed throughout the analysis. On the positive side (pros), the autofocus system is exceptionally fast and completely silent, ranking as the quietest among its peers. It also maintains rapid focusing speeds in low-light environments, though the camera body's assist lamp may be required at times. On the negative side (cons), the exterior finish is considered less resilient to physical wear compared to the competing Tokina 12-24mm f/4 lens. Additionally, the reviewer criticizes the complete omission of a physical aperture ring, explaining that it restricts the lens to...