Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsSecond to none.
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2015
As a real estate and architectural photographer, I literally make a living with the use of wide-angle lenses. And, the 14-24 is up there as the finest wide angle zoom lens I've used, with only the Zeiss 15mm Distagon prime being on par with the 14-24.
Picture quality is outstanding. There is minor barrel distortion when used at the 14mm end, and minor vignetting when used wide open at 2.8. However, the barrel distortion quickly dissipates as you zoom in some...and vignetting is gone by f/4. Corner to corner, the images are extremely crisp (as opposed to its little brother, the 16-35mm lens, which is horrible at the wide end) throughout the entire zoom range. There is very minor light falloff to the corners at the wider end when also used at 2.8, but it's hardly noticeable to all but the most strict pixel peepers.
Color distribution and contrast is well managed...I have never noticed significant color fringing (chromatic aberration) at any f stop, even in wide dynamic range environments. And, this lens does a remarkable job handling scenes with wide dynamic range in general...for landscape photographers, that's an extremely important trait, as this lens renders bright horizons/skies with darker foregrounds extremely well. In these situations, the image isn't oversaturated with colors that are harsh to look at. Instead, it tries very hard to render the image how you want to see it. It's rare that I have to do much desaturation of an image with this lens.
It's somewhat heavy, but easily hand-holdable if you so choose. For a comparison, physically its sort of a little version of the 200mm f/2. It's a bit bulky, but not long, so the camera doesn't suffer from significant (and annoying) front-tippage. As a result, its nice and balanced when used on a tripod.
The biggest drawback to this lens is its inability to hold a filter in the traditional, screw-on way. Instead you have to opt for an aftermarket filter holder like the Lee SW150, which is a contraption that mounts to the front of the lens, making it possible to hold 6" X 6" filters. The Lee filter is not cheap, so if you intend to use this lens with filters, be prepared to invest a lot more than just the cost of the lens up front.
That said, using this lens with the SW150 proves to be easy, and very rewarding. This lens absolutely shines for long exposure photography in landscapes and waterscapes. I've shot many a waterfall, rivers, beaches, and farmland in long exposure with the SW150 and neutral density filters, and it all works to perfection, consistently and accurately. On the 14mm ultra-wide angle end of this lens, the depth of the image literally pulls the viewer into the scene, a beautiful trait for landscape shots. On the longer end, the distortion levels out and you get an outstanding, wide-normal perspective that is exceptionally well balanced from corner to corner.
Autofocus is quick and practically silent...you can hardly tell its working, which is the highest praise I can give an autofocus mechanism. Manually focusing is simple and enjoyable. The focus ring turns smoothly and affords the photographer the ability to precisely nail the focus point, without any "drift" of the ring after you release your grip. The focus ring stays firmly in place if you re-compose after focusing.
The construction of the lens is top notch. It feels as if it's hewn from a magnificent chunk of composite granite. It's solid and rugged...easily able to survive a clumsy drop or two, and holds up just fine in poor weather condition.
To sum it all up, you will never find a better wide angle zoom lens on the market, anywhere. If you can afford it, don't even think about it...just buy it. You will have no regrets.
