Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S review

Nikon’s new ultra-wide zoom for the Z6 and Z7 aims for high quality and big viewing angles, but is remarkably small in size

5 Star Rating

Digital Camera World Verdict

The Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S is not the fastest lens, sure, but it's lightweight, small, gives super image quality, and is just the thing that may tempt new mirrorless users over to Nikon's side. Nikon's lens roadmap for the Z series just got interesting.

Pros

  • +

    Superb image quality in all respects

  • +

    Compact, lightweight, retractable design

  • +

    Filters can be attached to front

Cons

  • -

    Modest f/4 aperture rating

  • -

    No in-lens focus distance scale

  • -

    No VR

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    Similar price to f/2.8 Sigma and Tamron wide zooms

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 Apart from the notable exceptions of the forthcoming Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S and Z 58mm f/0.95 Noct, Nikon has been restrained with the aperture ratings of its S-line lenses for the full-frame Z system. The 35mm and 50mm primes are rated at f/1.8 rather than f/1.4, and the first 24-70mm offering as well as this new wide-angle zoom are f/4 rather than f/2.8. 

Some moan that these apertures are pretty meagre for up-market optics although they make good sense, enabling the lenses to be relatively compact and lightweight, and a perfect match for mirrorless Z 6 and Z 7 camera bodies.

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Matthew Richards

Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 

His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia  when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 

In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.