Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S Sample Images: A Lens I Look Forward to Shooting With

This is one of my favorite lenses. For all their technical prowess, it’s not a given that I’m going to like the Z-mount version better than its AF-S version. Sure, they’re newer, often lighter, have more bells and whistles, and are often optically excellent. But there’s more to being a favorite than specs on paper — there’s something about the way it handles and shoots.

I had the AF-S version for several years (actually two copies of it), and you can see sample images from that one as well. But I never really quite gelled with it. As much as I liked the ultra-wide 14mm perspective — and I am partial to a wide-angle — the lens somehow felt bigger and was heavier, and while I was usually happy with the results, it wasn’t really a lens I looked forward to breaking out.¹

This one is different. This is a lens I look forward to shooting with. And while that might sound precious, having tools you enjoy using does really make a difference to how you approach a shoot . . . at least for me.

I’ve also used the 14-30mm f/4 S, and you can see some of the photos I’ve taken with it as well as my hands-on review. That’s a good lens. A very good lens, in fact. But in choosing between them, I’ll take the 14-24mm every time.

I’ll post a more detailed hands-on review separately, but here’s a larger selection of sample images to go along with that review.

Sample images

I shot all of these with this lens on a Nikon Z8.

Nikon Z 14-24mm f2.8 S vs AF-S 14-24mm f2.8G ED

The headline difference is size and weight. The Z version comes in at 650g against 1,000g for the AF-S, and it’s shorter too, at about 124.5mm. The other big change is filters: the front element is close to flat, so with the HB-97 hood fitted you can screw 112mm filters onto the front, and there’s a slot at the rear of the lens for gel filters. The AF-S has a bulbous front element sitting behind a built-in petal hood, which ruled out front filters entirely — and on a Z body it also needs the FTZ adapter, which adds length and weight back on.

Feature	Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S	Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED
Mount Type	Nikon Z Mount	Nikon F-Bayonet
Focal Length Range	14–24mm	14–24mm
Zoom Ratio	1.7x	1.7x
Maximum Aperture	f/2.8	f/2.8
Minimum Aperture	f/22	f/22
Format	FX	FX/35mm
Maximum Angle of View (DX)	90°	90°
Minimum Angle of View (DX)	61°	61°
Maximum Angle of View (FX)	114°	114°
Minimum Angle of View (FX)	84°	84°
Maximum Reproduction Ratio	0.13x	0.15x
Lens Elements	16	14
Lens Groups	11	11
Compatible Format(s)	FX, DX	FX, DX, FX in DX Crop Mode, 35mm Film
Diaphragm Blades	9	9
Distance Information	Yes	Yes
Nano Crystal Coat	Yes	Yes
Arneo Coat	Yes	No
Fluorine Coat	Yes	No
ED Glass Elements	4	2
Aspherical Elements	3	3
Super Integrated Coating	Yes	Yes
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
AF-S (Silent Wave Motor)	No	Yes
Internal Focusing	Yes	Yes
Minimum Focus Distance	0.92 ft. (0.28 m)	0.9 ft. (0.28 m)
Focus Mode	Autofocus, Manual	Auto, Manual, Manual/Auto
G-type	Not applicable	Yes
Filter Size	112mm (front screw-in), rear gel slot	No front filter thread
Dimensions (Diameter x Length)	3.5 in. (88.5mm) × 5 in. (124.5mm)	3.8 in. (98mm) × 5.2 in. (131.5mm)
Weight	23 oz. (650 g)	35.3 oz. (1000 g)
Lens Type	Zoom	Zoom

You’ll notice several types of coating applied to this lens. Here’s what each of them is designed to do:

Nano Crystal Coat

• Purpose: Reduces ghosting and flare caused by light entering the lens at an angle.
• How: Uses ultra-fine, nano-sized particles to minimize internal reflections, especially effective for backlit shots.

Arneo Coat

• Purpose: Complements Nano Crystal Coat by reducing ghosting and flare from vertical (straight-on) light.
• How: Provides a layer designed to handle direct light sources, improving contrast and clarity.

Super Integrated Coating (SIC)

• Purpose: Enhances overall light transmission and color accuracy.
• How: A multi-layer coating applied to all lens elements to reduce general reflections and boost contrast.

Fluorine Coat

• Purpose: Protects the front and/or rear lens elements from dirt, water, oil, and smudges.
• How: Creates a slick, hydrophobic surface that’s easier to clean without damaging the lens.

Price & availability

This is not a budget lens, by any means. It’s a rock-solid, reliable workhorse that is highly versatile and high-performance. And it’s priced accordingly, aimed at the pro market — it launched at an MSRP of $2,399.95, and it has stayed at that end of the market ever since.

Notes & References:

1. When you look at the specs on paper, the AF-S version is longer, but a good portion of that is the built-in lens hood. So it’s comparing one lens (the AF-S) with a lens hood and the other without. As you can see in the photo near the top of this page, in which I’ve got the lens hood for the Z version attached, in an apples-to-apples comparison, the Z version is actually longer. As for weight, the Z version is clearly light, and it’s also much better balanced. [↩︎]