Conclusion

There’s a huge amount to like about the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens, and we can see it being extremely popular with Nikon Z owners. The fact that the comparable lenses from the existing Nikon F mount line-up are so much larger makes it even more appealing - saving users from having to use a huge and bulky lens via an adapter with either a Z6 or a Z7.

Having a maximum aperture of f/4 helps to keep it small and light enough to make for a great travel companion lens. It would be great to use on travel trips and for landscape photographers who don’t want to lug around heavy kit - especially considering the filter thread means you can attach a filter directly without the need for bulky or cumbersome adapters.

That said, there will be those who crave a wider aperture. The good news is that an f/2.8 lens is coming - if you consistently shoot in low light, holding fire until that becomes available might be advisable. Otherwise, for travel and landscape photographers, f/4 becomes less of a problem.

In terms of image quality - the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens produces some extremely sharp results, and it’s great to have the flexibility of both super wide and a more normal 30mm focal length. Typical problems such as flare and chromatic aberrations are kept well in check, but vignetting is fairly obvious when shooting at wide open. It’s not a deal breaker, since you can use lens correction, or choose a narrower aperture, if it creates a problem.

This lens is by no means a cheap optic. Indeed, the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S is the most expensive Nikkor Z lens to date. However, for your money, you get something small, compact, flexible and well-suited to a number of different subjects. If you’re in any way interested in wide-angle photography, whether that be landscapes, architecture or anything else, it’s well worth the investment and comes highly recommended.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	4.5
Features	4.5
Ease-of-use	5
Image quality	4.5
Value for money	4