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NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 user review

Posted: Sat 21 Mar 2020 21:41
by Stany Buyle
NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 user review - introduction
Since Nikon stepped a year and a half ago into mirrorless with the release of the Z6 and Z7 with only 2 available lenses and further relying on their outstanding FTZ adapter, they try to close the gap with the former ML market leaders asap...
And they seem to succeed.
A major achievement in their overtaking race was the release of firmware 3.0, which turned the initial, -sometimes unjustified-, overly criticized Z'AF performance into a very reliable and fast autofocusing camera with a total redesigned tracking mode.
Even though the FTZ adapter is doing a wonderful job, the cry for (much) more native Z glass was loud, And also there Nikon responds with regular releases of new Z glass with nothing less than exceptional optical performance.

Through a contact of mine, I have the opportunity to test thoroughly both the Z 70-200 F2.8 S and the Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR .... I test both lenses on my Z6 & Z7.
You can read my findings with the Z 70-200 f2.8 VR
Shere.

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NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR user review - early impressions

Posted: Sat 21 Mar 2020 22:13
by Stany Buyle
When I first mounted the NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR on one of my Z bodies I immediately compared with the fabulous NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S.
When I turned the aperture, at 70 mm the Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR already shows F6.0 vs F4 (over the whole range from 24 until70mm) for the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S. Bummer...
It makes me believe that this allround lens suits better on the Z6 than on the Z7 while the Z6 has exceptional high iso performance, perfectly useable even at iso 25600 for high-quality travel memories...

The NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR is a lightweight travel companion, focusing silent, fast and accurate, even in lower light. Nice.

The NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR has a focal range that suits perfectly for travel photography. 24 mm at the wide end is way better than 28mm...

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It can deliver VERY sharp images, even wide open and, until now, I could not find any optical weaknesses.
The Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR is a great all-rounder...
For fun and fast reaction to capture the moment...

(Z6/iso 2500/ F6.3/ 1/2000 sec)
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For travel and landscape...

(Z7/iso 640/ F6.3/ 1/640 sec)
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And more...
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NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 user review - AF-C and tracking

Posted: Sat 21 Mar 2020 22:34
by Stany Buyle
NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VRon Z6 for moderate fast action: My puppies running towards me.

5 frames as you see the in Nikon ViewNX-i...
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And every frame nice in focus...

frame "ALG_8781"(Z6/iso 3600/ F6.3/ 1/2000 sec) :
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And a crop of the AF area (Z6/iso 3600/ F6.3/ 1/2000 sec)
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NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3: for close up photography

Posted: Sat 21 Mar 2020 22:35
by Stany Buyle
The NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR works very well for close up photography, and in good light, extremely well on the Z7.

:idea: NR is set to "OFF" in my camera settings. I have reasons to do so.

The scene as you see in NikonViewNX-i:
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And a 100% crop resized to 1000px longest side. (Z7/iso 1250/ F9/ 1/3200 sec), no post processing or extra sharpening applied with exception of ©.
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A bee fly. The scene as you see in NikonViewNX-i:
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And a 100% crop resized to 1000px longest side. (Z7/iso 2500/ F9/ 1/3200 sec)
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and one more from this afternoon...

The scene as you see in NikonViewNX-i:
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And a 100% crop resized to 1000px longest side.
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NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3: AF accuracy/locking

Posted: Sat 21 Mar 2020 22:36
by Stany Buyle
In my garden I have tree which might be quite confusing for AF acquisition...
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In between other pictures I took two frames: (I show the frames to avoid the BS of some trolls who might claim that I choose the best ones... ;), ànd you can see the AF point indication...

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Here underneath the 100% crops of the AF area. My Z7 was locking on these without the slightest hunting or doubt, and the result is as I want it to be.

For frame AL7_1639: The scene and AF point is you see in Nikon View NX-i
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A 100% crop of the AF are in picture AL7_1639: (Z7/iso 720/ F6.3/ 1/1250 sec)(no post processing or extra sharpening applied with exception of ©.)
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For frame AL7_1640: The scene and AF point is you see in Nikon View NX-i
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And a 100% crop of the AF are in picture AL7_1640:(Z7/iso 720/ F6.3/ 1/1250 sec)(no post processing or extra sharpening applied with exception of ©.)
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You can support this website...

Posted: Sat 21 Mar 2020 23:27
by ritaB

NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 user review -SHARPNESS

Posted: Sun 22 Mar 2020 00:04
by Stany Buyle
NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 user review - SHARPNESS

I am very impressed with the native sharpness this allround lens provides.

A sample( of course one of my dogs... :lol: :

the scene + AF point as you see in Nikon View NX-i ( On Z7/iso 360/F6.6/1/1250sec)
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A 100% crop: (no post processing (with exception of ©) or extra sharpening applied .:
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Thanks for looking and kindest regards,
Stany

NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3-small bird with 100% crops

Posted: Mon 23 Mar 2020 21:04
by Stany Buyle
From today, captured handheld and wide open (F6.3) a small bird in my gardenfrom approx 10 mtrs  with the Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3.
Pictures were taken in a shadow area so iso is 2200 & 2500, which results is strong softening because of in-camera noise reduction.
I did a similar test at the same time today with the 70-200 F2.8 and the results were much better because of the aperture difference. F2.8 vs F6.3 gave a big difference in the auto iso number. ( iso 2200 & iso 2500 vs iso 160 & iso 220...
Tomorrow I will try to make similar pictures in bright sunlight so ikso will be 400 or below that. I expect excellent results.

The scene with AF point as you see in Nikon View NX-i:
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And a 100% crop -no post processing (with exception of ©) or extra sharpening applied.
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The scene with AF point as you see in Nikon View NX-i:
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And a 100% crop -no post processing (with exception of ©) or extra sharpening applied.
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NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3-long distance subject- crop

Posted: Tue 24 Mar 2020 19:55
by Stany Buyle
This morning I tested how what sharpness the NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 provides in a real life situation, captured handheld and in good light.

The scene with exif:
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the cropped area:
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and the 100% crop-no post processing (with exception of ©) or extra sharpening applied .:
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camera settings and Capture NX-D settings for sample picture

Posted: Wed 25 Mar 2020 11:07
by Stany Buyle
My camera settings and Capture NX-D settings for sample pictures and NEF to jpeg conversion

My in-camera setting is VIVID when I do nature and close up or macro photography.

I make NEF conversion exclusively with Nikon NX-D.
I use PS only for adding © to my images.

The only image processing I do sometimes is Quick sharpening 1 in Nikon Capture NX-D

here underneath an example with crop of an image made yesterday with Z7 and the 24-200. Image taken handheld.

The scene with AF point:
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A 100% crop SOOC:
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A 100% crop after application of sharpening 1 in Nikon Capture NX-D
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Re: NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 user review

Posted: Sat 28 Mar 2020 15:36
by Stany Buyle
Good afternoon!

3 images from today: Z 24-200 on Z7 @200mm, heavily cropped, SOOC, NR off. -no post processing (with exception of ©) or extra sharpening applied.

Weather was cloudy and a lot of wind.

The scene:
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And a 100% crop:
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The scene:
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And a 100% crop:
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The scene:
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And a 100% crop:
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Kindest regards and have a great weekend!

Stany

NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 user review-CONSLUSION

Posted: Sat 28 Mar 2020 15:37
by Stany Buyle
NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 user review - conclusion

Very well done Nikon! Congratulations. :D

Nikon apology for postponement of the Z 24-200 release date

Posted: Thu 16 Apr 2020 12:59
by admin

Re: NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 user review

Posted: Fri 19 Jun 2020 17:21
by admin

Now with my own copy of this lens...

Posted: Fri 26 Jun 2020 20:43
by Stany Buyle
Good afternoon!

After 3 months with a 24-200 Z sample lens from Nikon I thought I knew what to expect once when I get my own copy, but no, results exceed my expectations. My commercial copy is even sharper. When using the 24-200Z sample lens I found it significantly better than my former 28-300 (even though I liked my 28-300 VR very much for what it was made for...), but this one simply blows the 28-300 away. Probably it's a combination of the high sharpness of the Z lenses and the advantages related to sharpness ML gives over dslr...

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A bird in the sky with Z7, picture resized to 1000 px longest side
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And a crop, resized to 1000 px longest side

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And a 100% crop of the above picture:
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A bee...picture resized to 1000 px longest side
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And a 100% crop of the above picture:
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And a kingfisher with the 24-200 on my Z7:

The scene and the crop area:
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and a 100% crop:
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Kindest regards,
Stany

Hooverfly with NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3

Posted: Sat 27 Jun 2020 14:24
by Stany Buyle
Did I write already that Nikon Z cameras work extremely well for birds and insects in flight?... ;)
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And a 100% crop
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Re: NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 user review

Posted: Mon 13 Jul 2020 17:39
by Stany Buyle
:arrow: Dragonflies with Z7 and 24-200

Good afternoon everybody!

Some dragonflies with Z7 & 24-200, taken handhold.

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The sharpness this super zoom provides is simply amazing...
A 100% crop of the above image:
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Another 100% crop:
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