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Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED

[Zoom] Wide-zoom | Standard-zoom | Tele-zoom | High-zoom
[Fixed-focal] Wide angle | Standard | Telephoto | Macro

The widest focal length of latest standard zoom lenses is 24mm and these zoom lenses take excellent pictures. Then, what's the point of choosing a fixed-focal 24mm lens? On this one, the F1.4 speed says it all. While the perspective of 24mm is not as exaggerated as 21mm, it's deeper than 28mm. With the F1.4 speed, you can shoot with low light and use big bokeh even though it's an ultra wide angle lens. And, with this bokeh, you can also shoot close up portraits. The gradation is wet and dense. And, it's very sharp wide open. The bokeh is smooth and the clarity is very high. Hmm. I'm having a hard time finding a weak point.

( Photography & Text : K )

The bokeh is exceptionally big for a 24mm lens. The angle of view becomes equivalent to useful 35mm on APS-C cameras. The focus peak is amazingly sharp and the bokeh increases smoothly. I shot this image in the evening of early autumn. It wasn't cold although the dense air felt almost like winter. And, this lens captured the mood realistically.

Despite the direct backlight, it's still clear. For a classic lens user, this is too good to be true! But, it's also the rich tonal gradation that contributes to this clarity and airy feel.

This image looks so natural as if it were shot with a high-speed 50mm lens. For an ultra wide angle lens, naturalness of deformation is more important than perspective and this lens has the naturalness. The gap between the sharp focus peak and the bokeh is dramatic and you cannot get a image like this with a 50mm.

Even though this lens has high clarity, it also captures the stagnated air of a scene like this.