The Nikkor 14-24mm wide angle zoom lens is, without a doubt, the finest zoom lens in Nikon's arsenal of high quality lenses. To begin with, this lens is built like a tank. It comes complete with a full metal body that is designed to withstand the most grueling of conditions and an optical front element that looks like something straight out of a Sci-fi movie. Wide angle lenses, due to the nature of their construction, have a distinct tendency to impart ghosting and light flare that results when light is reflected internally. To counter this tendency, Nikkor uses their proprietary Nano-crystal coating along with their "super integrated lens coating" to both reduce ghosting and to give the highest quality color rendition possible. This coating is truly remarkable in its ability to impart amazingly life-like color rendition and is immediately noticeable the first time you shoot with it.

Nikkor has incorporated in this lens their "Extra-low dispersion" glass elements (ED) as well as aspherical, large diameter PGM elements to reduce and eliminate chromatic aberrations. Together with an "Internal Focusing" (IR) and "Silent Wave" motor technology, you get a quick and quiet lens that does not breath like many lesser wide angle zooms.

Like most high end lenses, the 14-24mm lens sports a fairly large maximum aperture of 2.8 that is constant throughout its zooming range. While not being the largest of available apertures, the 14-24mm holds its own in low light situations.

Despite being a truly laudable lens, there are a few drawbacks that have to be mentioned. To begin with, this lens weighs in at a hefty 2.2 lbs and is not for the weak handed photographer. And due to the nature of its large front element, it does not accept standard size filters that are so popular with landscape photographers. One can find several filter manufacturers that make special filter adapters for this lens. However, I must warn you, they come with a fairly hefty price tag. So those landscape photographers who absolutely need filters, there are solutions available.

All in all, the 14-24mm f/2.8 is a special lens that has so endeared itself to the photographic community that is has been named one of the three so-called "trilogy" lenses. The trilogy lens set is comprised of this lens, the 24-70mm, and the 70-200mm lenses and represents the ideal zoom lens set for both the professional and avid enthusiast photographers. With the notable exception of the weight and the limitation of filters, this is the perfect wide angle zoom lens for nearly all your wide-angle needs.