Nikon 24mm f/3.5D ED Perspective Control-E NIKKOR Aspherical Lens - U.S.A. Warranty

2019-01-13T19:00:00

This is the only lens I have ever bought used, but it was in pristine condition. I bought this lens primarily to take one picture, but have found a lot of use for it once I owned it. It is not a "point and shoot lens," but it has been a fun lens to learn to use. My picture of La Sagrada Familia will have to wait until I return to Barcelona, but this lens is very useful in changing the focal point for a landscape shot, and for bringing more into the photograph than my other lenses can. If you invest in a tilt-shift lens, plan to spend some time learning it before you go out to shoot (except for prime shots - it is a great prime lens). I have enjoyed learning a lens that has challenged me. When I return to Barcelona, I will be ready to take my dream shot. I have hundreds of shots of La Familia Sagrada, but none taken with my dream lens as of yet.

drjim

Originally posted at

2015-08-11T21:00:00

I got it to correct verticals on buildings. I also use a view camera so I understand what the lens movements do to the image. view camera knowledge is very handy when using this lens. You don't have all of the controls that you have with a view camera, nor do you have range of control that a view camera has. But its a lot easier to set up and it is a very sharp lens. It is also a full manual lens, no auto focus, or auto exposure. I wish that Nikon had a wider PC lens, maybe a 16mm or so

SAM R.

2015-04-26T20:00:00

I definitely have a love/hate relationship with this lens. The love part is great. Very sharp lens, relatively wide range of movements, very solid construction. The CA (chromatic aberrations) are also very well controlled. It just feels significant in your hand as it should be as this is most decidedly a professional lens. Now for the hate part. First off, the knob to adjust the shift of the lens is ok, the locking knob for the same movement is way too small, making it very difficult for me to lock the movement in place. It's actually easy to over tighten this control and consequently strip the locking knob. This actually happened to me and it took Nikon 4 months for them to repair it. They indicated to me that I had actually caused the damage myself - go figure. They finally gave me a new lens and it hasn't given me much trouble so far. That was 5 months ago. Second, when the camera orientation is changed for a vertical shot, it suddenly becomes very easy for the tilt mechanism to slide downwards toward the ground unless FIRMLY locked. Again, over tightening this control could present problems as well. All in all, a very good, solid lens, which definitely requires a tripod and knowledge of view camera movements to get the most out of it. If used as a straight 24mm wide angle lens, it is possible to hand hold this beast of a lens. Contrary to popular belief, this lens works flawlessly on the D700. You just need to be a little cautious when rotating the lens. Still waiting for Nikon to come out with a 16mm or 18mm version of this lens.

Marcsmacs

Originally posted at

2011-12-04T19:00:00

It's been only a few months, but this lens had already become my favorite wide-angle for landscapes and cityscapes in tandem with my D3. The perspective control is allowing me to do things I was not able to previously, not only correcting perspective, but also being able to shoot near-far compositions with good dof at moderate apertures. The combination of low noise @ high ISO on my D3 and moderate aperture allows me to shoot high shutter speed HDR's under less than optimal conditions outdoors (windy!) and still render excellent subject detail. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because the set screws to hold the shift and tilt settings are not large or robust enough to hold the shift and tilt settings under all conditions (walking around etc.). This shouldn't be considering the cost of this lens. Other than that, this is an excellent lens.

JoeC

Originally posted at

2011-10-16T20:00:00

I waited a long time before I plunked down the 2k for this lens. I shoot a lot of architectural images and this lens has been on my wish list for quite a while. I have not been disappointed by the wonderful images that it has delivered. I don't mind it being all manual either - it makes me think about what I'm about to do. However, the little tiny thumb-screws used to unlock and tilt/shift the lens are way too small. I'm a big guy with big hands. This is just frustrating to deal with. I would think that Nikon could have come up with a better solution.

Don

Originally posted at

2011-09-03T21:00:00

One of the best wide angle lenses I have ever owned. I don't need the tilt at 24mm, and I wish they could relocate the button to unlock the rotation of the lens.

DAN B.

2011-06-28T20:00:00

I've owned the 85 PC Micro for several years and have used it in a variety of settings. I recently acquired the 24 PC and it is a stellar performer. Having used 4 X 5 view cameras for almost thirty years it is a pleasure to have similar movements and yet to get instant feedback. I use the lens on both a D700 and a D300S. The lens is sharp with high contrast and the close focus distance enables some unusual landscapes.

Earthlight P.

Originally posted at

2011-05-28T20:00:00

How many times have you purchased a lens and had second thoughts? It has taken me a few years to finally convince myself to buy the Nikon 24mm PC-E. I am very happy with the lens. Using a D700 I read that the lens when rotated will strike the camera body - which it does. However, I just rotate the lens the other direction, placing the larger knob underneath if I need to shift up. Technically this is a fantastic lens and when coupled with a D700 or D3/x your aperture readout is automatic. This is a manual focus lens and requires you to start in the "Default" position to acquire your meter reading before shifting or tilting - It takes just a little practice (retraining yourself). I catch myself having to reset the lens to default sometimes because I forget to get the meter reading first. For those who visit and use your manual settings of your camera you can almost guess the shutter/aperture after seeing the results in your display if you forget; but it is best to get the reading before you do the tilt or shift the lens for your base and go from that. This is a very fun and useful lens, I now realize why it is so sought after by those who shoot landscapes and architect. Level your camera, and shift the lens up (not your camera) to include more sky or down to include more ground, no more tilting your camera and seeing weird converging lines with trees or buildings that fall back from the center. You can also swing the lens left or right to create effects blurring the edges while keeping the center in sharp focus + you can rotate the lens in increments which causes the shift and swing to rotate as well, creating some amazing effects. The lens takes a couple of days to get used to so I spent the entire weekend with this attached to my camera trying to fully explore the new jewel. I mostly do nature photography and have thus far enjoyed the clear, crisp and colorful photos this lens has captured. Some small quirks; The tensioning knobs are kind of small with the shift tensioner requiring more force to lock down the lens once set. The lens does not work "perfectly" with a D700 but I knew that and it just a matter of rotating the lens in the other direction. Pros: Built to Nikon Standards - Solid through and through. Sharp and contrasty. Fairly easy to use - takes a few days to train yourself. Great Results with pleasing images.

dmbNIK

Originally posted at

2011-04-14T20:00:00

I bought this lens to work on a documentary and architecture project. With it, I've discovered a new way to shoot, showing off the greatness of spaces surrounding me or the subjects. Lately, I've been using it to also shoot objects close up. The shapness is amazing!

Christian

Originally posted at

2011-04-14T20:00:00

I am always happy with the way this lens renders a subject. My only grief is that Nikon doesn't offer the 14mm in a PC lens or I'd buy it too. This lens is contrasty and sharp with great color. It's fun to use and gives great results.

Nikon p.

Originally posted at

2011-04-13T20:00:00

This is a great lens and so sharp and accurate it's a dream come true. We waited for this lens and it lived up to all expectations..

F5 S.

Originally posted at

2010-08-18T21:00:00

For conditions where you can take the time to set up the tilt and perform the manual focus, this is a fantastic lens. I have found all sorts of applications to take images that could not be achieved with a regular lens. Yes, it's expensive, but wow! It allows me to get images that many photographers cannot achieve, even with software. Using does take some practice. However, there is a neat iPhone app available that can be used to help get the settings in the ball park prior to looking through the lens. That is quite helpful. Do be careful with the rotating release lever, as it is close to the lens release lever!

STEVE S.

2010-08-16T20:00:00

Very little distortion, vignetting and lateral color fringes. Using Lightroom and Photoshop I developed scripts to batch correct the very little distortion their is on this lens ( just about +0.5 ), color fringes and vignetting also are corrected very easily since their is none at center point ( no shift/tilt ). As for tilt and shift movements, when they are applied, I leave a comment on pictures with rise/fall and left/right shift to correct them accordingly. So what's left to say is that this lens is perfect for architecture. The drag and feel of all the adjustments (focus, aperture, rise and tilt) is just perfect. Someone did their homework. Everything is easy to move and it stays put. Controls do feel like they could be bigger, but if you consider replacements are available from Nikon then this is no problem. They did consider the fact that not everybody owns a D3 ( for clearance ).

Desphils

Originally posted at

2010-08-01T20:00:00

This is a great daily workhorse for architectural assignments, and a must have lens. Terrific optics & lots of shift latitude. On a D3X with heavy tripod and pre-released mirror mode the results are stunning. That said, I prefer the old 28 & 35mm pc design, as the mechanical features of this unit slow me down. The shift lock often slips and clunks the adjustment fully to the negative end, which I'd never use anyway. The old design allowed me to rotate either direction from a vertical format for a quick combination adjustment of rise & "shift". I'd buy a Nikkor 18mm or wider pc if offered.

Misterpix

Originally posted at

2010-07-29T20:00:00

This is an excellent lens overall. Used with NX2, it controls fringing very well. The manual isn't very helpful - if you've never used a view camera you may want to do some research on the web to help with tilt/shift adjustments. I'm enjoying the control that I missed when I gave up my view camera. My only gripes are these: *The locks are hard to tighten adequately, especially with the small knobs. (Nikon will put on larger knobs for a fee). *Landscape photographers will want the tilt/shift and the rise/fall on the same plane. Nikon charges $125 to do this. However, the modification is a simple one and can be undone easily; there is a video on the web that shows this step-by-step.

Zehrh

Originally posted at

2010-07-29T20:00:00

I do a lot of architecture and high end realty. I use the 24mm PC a lot, in all conditions. Although I love the lens for its optical quality, mechanically I have problems with it, especially working outside in the cold in Montreal often with gloves on. The shift and tilt knobs are too small. In the different temp. conditions, the shift lock sometimes jams completely. I now find its difficult to keep the shift locked, it slips sometimes while focusing. I use the tilt mainly with very small increments around zero and its difficult to control accurately. Other manufacturers have done a better job mechanically in-spite of the obviously challenging size constraints.

Ralph

Originally posted at

2010-07-29T20:00:00

This lens delivers the high quality I expect from Nikon. Very sharp, excellent contrast and color. Negatives: the control knobs are a little difficult to access when the lens is rotated and there are some positions that are not available on my D700 due to the prism position. All in all I prefer the functionality of the old 35 PC and 28 PC that I still use, though the glass is clearly as good or better on these new PCE lenses.

chasman

Originally posted at

2009-02-19T19:00:00

As a newbie digital SLR refugee from a past life of large format sheet film landscape work this lens was to me a 'must have' item rather than the latest super zoom or exotic telephoto etc. The build quality has created some controversy, but my sample is free from the unfortunate reports of "tilt creep" that have been cropping up on some of these new Nikon PCE designs. There are however significant design weaknesses: firstly the locking knobs for tilt and shift are tiny, flimsy and poorly placed very hard to operate and generally irritating; second - the axes of tilt and shift are not possible to adjust - ie you cannot use both in the same plane without a factory modification. Nonetheless if you have a need for this lens ( you know who you are) these are not deal breakers - but at the sticker price one would expect more. Clearance of the prism casing is fairly tight on the D700 on full rise. Check your body compatibility before purchase on this issue. On the plus side, the large image circle delivers (the expected) excellent edge/corner sharpness at 2.8 and 4.0 although full shift causes marked corner vignetting on the shifted side - best to keep pano type shifts to +/- 8 0r 9 mm rather than rack it out to 11.5. My impression is that the 24 PCE is considerably sharper at the edges than my 17-35 f 2.8 at the same focal length. SInce the available tilt range is more than is necessary for most typical landscape work, I have not noticed any restrictions on image quality with using this movement. If you are at home with view camera movements whether in the field or studio this lens will reward you with at least partial relief from parallel plane prison while the irritating minor design flaws will probably lead you to a love-hate relationship with the new PCE design but Hey - Life is compromise :)

Jonathan T.

2008-07-01T21:00:00

No coma,no flare,edge to edge sharpness even wide open,with accurate color rendition and contrast,on top of its abilities to shift,and swing.Very easy to manual focus.WILL BE A CLASSIC LENS.

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