14-24mm lens

<p>I am going to be using a 14-24mm, 2.8 Nikon zoom lens for the first time next week on a D-70 body, shooting some exterior architectural shots of residential scale buildings set in a wooded landscape. Many of the shots will be zoomed out looking at the full scale of the buildings, as much as will fit within the frame, but some will also be more detail oriented shots. I've never used this lens before but I've been told that it will work very well. It will be the only lens I will have at my disposal. Does anybody have any more substantial input that they can give me. Is this the best lens for this situation? Any tips regarding its use?<br>

Thanks</p>

<p><strong>but some will also be more detail oriented shots.</strong><br>

Hmm for detail shots, 24mm on a D70 isn't very long, it's actually quite wide (24*1.5 ~ fov of a 36mm lens on full frame) - unless you can get close (you can, right? From your description...), shouldn't you be looking at a longer lens, perhaps like a 55-200, 70-300 in order to isolate specific features? Was shooting a reflection off a facade several weeks ago, I was using my crop camera and with my focal length at about 200mm (200*1.5 ~ 300) - the building was probably a hundred odd meters away. Didn't want to play in traffic. Love that zoom. Also, as it was at sunset, thankfully my lens had vr to help stabilize the slow shutter :)<br>

Also, if 14mm wide on your D70 ain't wide enough, do a test to see if its possible to stitch multiple frames using that lens. Do it before going on set!<br>

Alvin</p>

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<p>I've never used this lens before but I've been told that it will work very well. It will be the only lens I will have at my disposal. Does anybody have any more substantial input that they can give me. Is this the best lens for this situation?</p>

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<p>If the 14-24 is indeed the only lens you'll have at your disposal, why even worry aobut whether it is the "best" lens for the situation?</p>

<p>14mm is reasonably wide on a DX body such as the D70. It should be capable of giving you excellent architecture images. The rest of it is toally up to the person behind the camera.</p>

<p>For "residential scale buildings" which I asume means 2, posisibly 3 stories, the lens should work well. I bought the lens when I had a D200 and found it very useful in shooting in urban areas, and it's even better on my D700. My only caution, if you've not used a wide lens before, is to pay particular attention to the position of the lens in relation to the building. The front of the lens needs to be as close to parallel to the building as possible to minimize perspective distortion. Avoid shooting up at a building if possible. There is software useful in correcting perspective error. PT Lens is quite good and has a free trial offer from its website.</p>

<p>I think 14-24 is an overkill for D70, you are paying for quality in the corners and edges that you will never see on DX, why not get the new 10-24 which is wider and $1000 cheaper, you can use this change to upgrade to a D300 which will give you much better high ISO performance needed for interior shots. </p>

<p>One word of caution about the 12-24. The built-in hood isn't very good, especially at the 24mm end, and you can easily get the odd little rainbow spot of flare in the centre of the image if there's a light source anywhere near to the top edge of the frame. These small flare spots are almost impossible to see from the viewfinder or LCD.<br>

Use a piece of black card as a "flag" to shield the lens from any light falling on the front element - keeping the flag out of frame of course.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00Tfhv">http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00Tfhv</a></p>

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<p>I own the 14-24mm f/2.8 and it is great lens. But, I am not so sure for architectural studies that it is the best choice.. This lens will bow straight lines. You may want to look at 24-70mm. I also own the Nikkor 12-24mm f/4 which seem to have less of a distortion issue.</p>

<p>WAY overkill for a D70 and not the best lens. 14mm is not NEARLY as wide on DX as 10/11/12 - xx. Indeed when I use my Tokina 11-16, I find myself at the 11-13 range most of the time. (Plus, I can use filters if I need to, like a grad ND filter --polarizers are often useless this wide.)</p>

<p>It's a great lens for FX, not the right one for DX, but if you have it to try, go for it. If I had FX, I'd rather have the 17-35, though.</p>