I shoot at wide angles mostly, with 35mm being the farthest. I love the way wide angle forces you to think, to slow down, to really study the world around you. There is also the intimacy of it, with having to get super close to the subject to fill the frame. Any Summilux is a fun time, but an 18mm equiv lens with a 1.7 is my next lens. Widest I have at the moment is the M Zuiko 12mm F2, a spectacular lens, but I find myself needing more in the frame. Loved the video and your thoughts about your journey, sounds like you had a very interesting time!

If you ever decide to update this review, please include the Olympus/OMS 14-150mm f4-5.6. It has exceptional sharpness from end to end, much better then the Olympus/OMS 40-150mm f4-5.6 that you tested, but the same size.

At long last a video with a script. I'm getting (sick and) tired of videos made by illiterate enthusiasts who would not pass the elementary school exams and struggle with using more than 200-word vocabulary.

You are absolutely right. It's a nice lens, it has a few flaws, but the biggest one is that it hates close range. And that's a major drawback. Close distance shots are dramatically bad.

Greetings Jon, I've recently picked up a Nikon Z50 from a friend and I'm looking to get into a mix of general videography and filmmaking. I don't do that much photography but i tend to take a couple of pictures here and there. Is this a good lens for client video work and hobby filmmaking? There's currently one going for $180 at my local store. I'm still hesitating whether to pick it up or not due to the limitations that you mentioned, for instance the Z50 doesn't have any IBIS and nor does the 40mm, so I'm guessing I'm going to be using a gimbal more often? Regarding the magenta problem, can it be mediated using a flat profile? does it interfere with color grading? Thanks! EDIT: I forgot to mention that the Z50 is a crop sensor, i didn't take that into account so i'm guessting i won't be getting the 35/40mm full frame equivalent of the crop sensor? In this case should i go with the 28mm f2.8?

Damn i thought i was listening to a jklenes review. You sound almost exactly like that guy.

Very interesting, thanks for testing ansd sharing

I got the laowa 7.5 😅 yep is challenging, but when you use it for horizontal portraits is nice

I’m coming from a 7D and just picked up the EM-1 mk1 with a 20 mm f1.7 pancake motorized lens that is too slow for moving objects. Would you say it is at least as good or better with an appropriate lens maybe the 14 to 40 mm 2.8 pro?

Fantastic video. Thanks

Manuel focus in dark impossible

I kind of tabled this lens when o got it also and left it as a car kit with my Z50. I revisited the lens when I purchased a ZF and i have to say that I do like the rendering of it although S line contrast, colors and sharpness is better. It falls into my ZF bag typically with the 28mm F/2.8 and the Voigtlander 50mm F/1.0 Z.

Curious to how you think it compares to the 28mm f/2.8

Liam Neeson is testing lens for us~~

500 bucks is not a big price to pay to sell a used lens. You are unlikely to sell Tamron without a huge discount.

Great test thank you! I now feel better about owning the Z 28 SE with my Z fc.

Hi, I also have the Nikon Z8 and the Tamron 150-500z mount lens. And I thought I was losing my mind. Originally, I thought it was issues with my tripod and bought a new tripod. I am shooting still images and every time I shoot at 500 mm with a 30 second exposure a constantly get blurred images. Has anyone been able to find a remedy to this?

Could it be your copy that has the AF noise? Mine doesn’t at all and I’ve been using it for interview video recordings.

My keep lens on the z30. Compact and light Also very sharp

I couldn't make the Tamron 150-600 G1 autofocus work with my Z30 using the FTZ II.

Your videos are great! Using them a lot to help me decide on purchasing. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise!

Jon, am sorry for the spelling error in your name via my earlier post. Please excuse my error. Regards.

Hi John, Have been extensively checking online & I find from the various comments that there is a Firmware issue regarding Tamron lenses coupled with ALL Z MOUNT NIKONS. People with Z50, Z5, Z6 ii, & Z7 have complained of the same issue that you have stated in your video of the Tamron 150-500 coupled with the Z8. Some have complained of grey fringing when they have used the Tamron 35-150 with their Z7. Another gentleman has complained of the Z50 coupled with the Tamron 100-400. I had placed an order for the Tamron 100-400 just yesterday & casually decided in the night to see the comments of other photographers using the Z8 when I came across the aforesaid comments of the Z Mount Users. Thanks for your Review. By the way, I have cancelled the order for the Tamron 100-400 lens. I'll stick to buying the Nikon Z Mount 100-400 lens as & when I can collect the dough. Have a great day, John. Till Tamron corrects this anomaly with a Software Update, Nikon Z Mount Owners should avoid Tamron lenses.

just orderd one yesterday on eBay. £170 for the E-M1 Classic is a steal. Ordered a 45mm and 25mm lenses with it. Entire collection was less than £400, lol....

Thanks for the video, very insightful! I am new to Nikon and I just got the Z5 with this lens for casual/travel photography. I find it good enough for the price but it’s obviously a lens that prioritises the form factor over performance and for that it’s great. I have the ‘special edition’ as it was the only one in stock in the shop. Do you know if it’s optically different from the regular edition or is it just the same lens with different aesthetics?

but 3rd party lens instead. This type of kit lens is never too good anyway.

Jon found this review by accident. Love your comprehensive and authoritative approach. Now subscribing.

It’s the photographer who has the limitations and not the lens😂

Thanks for the detailed review and the comparison with the 28mm. I have the 28mm f/2.8 on my Z50 and was getting itchy lens buying fingers. This has cured me somewhat :)

That’s a really informative video, thank you. I’m on the verge of moving from a D610 to mirrorless, and have an occasional use for close up environmental portraits and was looking at the 40mm. Like you, I’ve been coming across conflicting accounts, for which you’ve given a clear and reasonable, evidenced explanation, thank you. I think I’ll be passing on the 40 f/2 and will just come at that area in a different way with the longer primes that are on my list. I’ve watched a few of your videos and really like your style and your acknowledgement of confirmation bias - unique in all the reviews and comments I’ve seen. Cheers!

Thanks for this great critical and honest review 👍 As someone who’s interested in potentially switching from Canon to Nikon, your views and insights are very valuable to me 🙏

Great, straight to the point review! 🤗

Hello sir, i have z6 ii, prime S lenses and z fc. I want a light kit z fc and 2 lenses to carry everyday with me. I have sigma 56 1.4 and I am torn between 24 1.7 and 28 2.8. I am afraid that would not be satisfied with the picture quality(sharpness, ghosting and flaring). Sigma 56 1.4 is on par in almost every situations with nikon S lenses. May you help me with advice, in my city there is no local store, so I everything i bought is based on charts and reviews...🙏🏻

Enjoyed your video. Appreciate especially the section on you sharing on your journey to making this ultra wide view work for you. By the way, noticed that in recent videos you also use the Nikon crop sensor camera. In your opinion, it is worth to scratch the itch to migrate from olympus micro 4/3 to Nikon crop sensor? (As weight and size comparable in my opinion). Thank you.

As someone has already mentioned you can't really get a 24-70 f/4 S for the price of the 28mm f/2.8 S, used or otherwise. I'm currently seeing a difference of $200 for used from reputable dealers. I have the 14-30 S. I have the 24-70 S. I love them both but even though they are small for what they are, they are often too big for casual carry. And my 70-200 f/2.8 certainly is. So how do you go super small and super light? Well, Nikon gives you those options with the 40 f/2, the 28 f/2.8 and the 26 f/2.8 (which unlike the other two is not cheap at all). I don't think it is practical to compare them with fast high end expensive primes. I don't even think it is practical to compare them to fast cheap Chinese primes. None of these are small and light. And I think that is the take home story here. Anyone expecting sub $300, small, lightweight primes to perform in the same way as large expensive primes is not being realistic. Small and light can be an extremely important aspects of a lens and that is going to come at a cost. Especially when you add 'cheap' to that formula. The adage about tripods comes to mind: Cheap. Light. Strong. You get to pick two of those. I already have the 40mm f2. I have no delusions about it. I have three S level lenses to compare it to. But I find it to be one of my favorite lenses. Likewise, at the next opportunity I will pick up a used 28 f2.8. I expect similar utility from it. These lenses turn a Z7 nearly into a compact camera. THAT is their magic.

Thanks for these informative reviews. Skipping the hype and citing the shortcomings in a direct manner.

I am a bit late watching this but if you are just processing the ORFs using the JPEG settings at the time of capture, and passing them straight through OMW without editing, and exporting a JPEG, why not just shoot JPEG+RAW in the first place and import the JPEGs to LR. What am I missing?

I bought this lens almost as soon as I went mirrorless with a Z7. It is small, cheap and fast. And there really isn't anything comparable that is also small, cheap and fast. I'm not sure what more really needs to be said. It stays on my Z7 most of the time because when it is on there I'm much more likely to pick it up and take it with me compared to my larger S lenses. I'm not a pixel peeper or a measure-bater so the perceived weaknesses of this lens have never been an issue for me. I have had no focus issues. Given its readily apparent limitations (cheap, light, simple design) I find this to be one of my favorite lenses. For potential buyers: Don't overthink it. Find a used one, get it, use it , enjoy it and remember if it were small, fast and perfect you probably wouldn't be able to afford it.

Excellent video. Gets right to the heart of the issues which need to be considered when contemplating buying this lens. I am looking to expand my kit, but I have 3 Nikon zoom lenses which cover the range from 14mm to 400mm. The 1-stop difference between f4 and f2.8 is not a good tradeoff for loss in image quality. I had been considering both this lens, and the 40mm f2, and as a result of your videos decided not to spend my money on either of them. If I am going to stick prime lens in the middle of my available zoom range, I want it to be blazingly sharp and fast.

Great video! I find it gets stuck on the base plate similar to the v1 strap. Do you have any suggestions for that?

Which lens should I buy,Nikon 200-500 mm f5.6 f mount lens or Tamron 150-500 mm f6.3

should compare panny 50-200 vs Oly 40-150 f2.8 pro +mc14, that will be a better comparison, but of course the Oly pro lens are lot more heavy and also with a heavier plus the extensor weight too.

I own the PL 50-200, and love it. Most of the images I take just seem to make sense with that lens.

I feel like to series G 24 and 28 mm 1.8 the adapter yet have I feel isn’t a wrong idea!. Saludos 🇲🇽

Which cam and lens using for this video

Great review, but the biggest reveal was that strap loop on the Peak Design sling! This is going to make my life so much easier xD

Did i just watch Liam Neeson reviewing a Camera Clip?

very informative. Thank you

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I'm a newcomer to the Nikon system, and this video helped me decide on my next prime lens. Best regards from Sao Paulo, Brazil!

Had this lens. Thought it was junk and sold it. Bought the Viltrox 28mm 1.8, and love it.