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

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

Post 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.

Image

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

Post 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...

Image :arrow: Image

Image :arrow: Image

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)
Image

For travel and landscape...

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

Post 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...
Image

And every frame nice in focus...

frame "ALG_8781"(Z6/iso 3600/ F6.3/ 1/2000 sec) :
Image

And a crop of the AF area (Z6/iso 3600/ F6.3/ 1/2000 sec)
Image

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NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3: for close up photography

Post 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:
Image

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 ©.
Image

A bee fly. The scene as you see in NikonViewNX-i:
Image

And a 100% crop resized to 1000px longest side. (Z7/iso 2500/ F9/ 1/3200 sec)
Image


and one more from this afternoon...

The scene as you see in NikonViewNX-i:
Image

And a 100% crop resized to 1000px longest side.
Image

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NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3: AF accuracy/locking

Post by Stany Buyle »

In my garden I have tree which might be quite confusing for AF acquisition...
Image

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...

Image

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
Image

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
Image

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 ©.)
Image
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You can support this website...

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

Post 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)
Image

A 100% crop: (no post processing (with exception of ©) or extra sharpening applied .:
Image

Thanks for looking and kindest regards,
Stany
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NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3-small bird with 100% crops

Post 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:
Image

And a 100% crop -no post processing (with exception of ©) or extra sharpening applied.
Image

The scene with AF point as you see in Nikon View NX-i:
Image

And a 100% crop -no post processing (with exception of ©) or extra sharpening applied.
Image
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NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3-long distance subject- crop

Post 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:
Image

the cropped area:
Image

and the 100% crop-no post processing (with exception of ©) or extra sharpening applied .:
Image
kindest regards,

Stany
I like better one good shot in a day than 10 bad ones in a second...
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camera settings and Capture NX-D settings for sample picture

Post 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:
Image

A 100% crop SOOC:
Image

A 100% crop after application of sharpening 1 in Nikon Capture NX-D
Image
kindest regards,

Stany
I like better one good shot in a day than 10 bad ones in a second...
http://www.fotografie.cafe
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Re: NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 user review

Post 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:
Image

And a 100% crop:
Image

The scene:
Image

And a 100% crop:
Image

The scene:
Image

And a 100% crop:
Image

Kindest regards and have a great weekend!

Stany
kindest regards,

Stany
I like better one good shot in a day than 10 bad ones in a second...
http://www.fotografie.cafe
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NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 user review-CONSLUSION

Post by Stany Buyle »

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

Very well done Nikon! Congratulations. :D
kindest regards,

Stany
I like better one good shot in a day than 10 bad ones in a second...
http://www.fotografie.cafe
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Nikon apology for postponement of the Z 24-200 release date

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

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Now with my own copy of this lens...

Post 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...

Image

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

Image

Image

And a 100% crop of the above picture:
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A bee...picture resized to 1000 px longest side
Image

And a 100% crop of the above picture:
Image

And a kingfisher with the 24-200 on my Z7:

The scene and the crop area:
Image

and a 100% crop:
Image

Kindest regards,
Stany
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Hooverfly with NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3

Post by Stany Buyle »

Did I write already that Nikon Z cameras work extremely well for birds and insects in flight?... ;)
Image


And a 100% crop
Image
kindest regards,

Stany
I like better one good shot in a day than 10 bad ones in a second...
http://www.fotografie.cafe
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Re: NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 user review

Post by Stany Buyle »

:arrow: Dragonflies with Z7 and 24-200

Good afternoon everybody!

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

Image

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

Image

Another 100% crop:
Image
kindest regards,

Stany
I like better one good shot in a day than 10 bad ones in a second...
http://www.fotografie.cafe
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