Nikon India has recently announced the launch of its latest
offering, the NIKKOR Z DX 24mm f/1.7 lens. While the company claims it embodies
creative flexibility, effortless operability, and excellent optical
performance, critics remain skeptical about its true capabilities.
The NIKKOR Z DX 24mm f/1.7 is Nikon’s first APS-C size/DX
prime lens in the NIKKOR Z line-up. Marketed as a tool to inspire creative
freedom, this lens promises impressive stills and high-quality videos. Nikon
emphasizes the lens’s compact and lightweight body, which is meant to make it a
convenient companion for photographers and videographers on the go. However,
doubts arise about whether this lens lives up to the company’s claims.
Sajjan Kumar, MD, Nikon India, expressed his enthusiasm for
the product, stating, “The NIKKOR Z DX 24mm f/1.7 makes for the perfect
daily companion for photographers and videographers to keep in their bag and
bring around for photo walks or their travels.” However, critics question
whether this lens truly delivers the promised performance.
The lens boasts a maximum aperture of f/1.7 and a short
minimum focus distance of 0.18m, which Nikon claims allows users to capture
stunning environmental portraits with dreamy bokeh. The adoption of stepping
motors aims to reduce drive sounds and provide a natural shift in focus
positions and brightness levels for both stills and videos. While Nikon
emphasizes the lens’s ability to capture beautiful photos during low-light
situations, doubts linger about the lens’s true performance under challenging
conditions.
The NIKKOR Z DX 24mm f/1.7 supposedly offers versatility,
allowing users to capture various scenes, including food photography, striking
portraits, and dynamic landscapes. Its 24mm focal length and short minimum
focus distance of 0.18m are said to enable users to photograph everyday
subjects up close, emphasizing the subject while blurring the background.
However, critics question whether this lens truly delivers the desired results
in terms of image quality and clarity.
Nikon also highlights the lens’s suitability for video
recording, claiming it offers smooth and quiet operation, ensuring minimal
disruption from operational sounds. The lens’s focus-breathing compensation
aims to provide a natural shift in focus position and brightness level,
creating smooth and stable videos. Critics, however, are skeptical about the
lens’s ability to deliver on these promises, raising concerns about its true
performance and reliability.
While Nikon touts the compact and lightweight design of the
NIKKOR Z DX 24mm f/1.7, weighing approximately 135g, skeptics question whether
this compact size compromises its overall performance and durability.
Furthermore, the lens’s price of INR 25,495/- may deter potential buyers,
considering the doubts surrounding its capabilities.
The NIKKOR Z DX 24mm f/1.7 lens is set to be available from
mid-June 2023. Whether it lives up to Nikon’s claims remains to be seen, as
photographers and videographers eagerly await hands-on reviews and real-world
testing.