Cameras Ranked

14–24 Nikon Nikkor Z 14-24mm F2.8 S vs 14–30 Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S

Nikon Nikkor Z 14-24mm F2.8 S vs Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S: our pick for most people is the Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S. Pick the Nikon Nikkor Z 14-24mm F2.8 S if you shoot in low light or want a blurrier background (widest aperture: f/2.8 vs f/4). Pick the Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S if you carry it all day or travel light, you want more reach at the long end, or you want cheaper filters (weight: 650 g vs 485 g; focal length: 14-24 mm vs 14-30 mm; filter thread: 112 mm vs 82 mm).

To one scale. Nikon Nikkor Z 14-24mm F2.8 S: length 124.5 mm, diameter 88.5 mm, filter thread 112 mm; Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S: length 85 mm, diameter 89 mm, filter thread 82 mm.124.5 mmNikon 14–24650 g85 mmNikon 14–30485 g
Both to one scale, from each maker's length and diameter, the filter thread in yellow. The rings are drawn, not measured.
To one scale. Nikon Nikkor Z 14-24mm F2.8 S: length 124.5 mm, diameter 88.5 mm, filter thread 112 mm; Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S: length 85 mm, diameter 89 mm, filter thread 82 mm.124.5 mmNikon 14–24650 g85 mmNikon 14–30485 g
Both to one scale, from each maker's length and diameter, the filter thread in yellow. The rings are drawn, not measured.

The pick, in points

Lead for a pick: 1

Nikon 14–24

3points

Wins on widest aperture.

Nikon 14–30

4.5points

Wins on weight, focal length (longest) and filter thread.

Each real difference scores its importance for the side that wins it; a lead under 1 is “it depends”. How the weights work

The Nikon 14–30 on its ownThe Nikon 14–24 on its ownAll Nikon Z lenses

Where they differ

4 of 16 specs

Each bar is the gap as a share of the smaller value, on one scale from 0 to 100%; an arrow end is a gap past 100%. The dashed tick marks where a gap starts to count.

  1. Widest aperture

    Importance 3

    Nikon 14–24f/2.81Nikon 14–30f/42

    1.2 apart (42.9%), to the Nikon 14–24

    3points

  2. Weight

    Importance 2

    Nikon 14–24650 g3Nikon 14–30485 g4

    165 g apart (34%), to the Nikon 14–30

    2points

  3. Focal length (longest)

    Importance 2

    Nikon 14–2424 mmNikon 14–3030 mm2

    6 mm apart (25%), to the Nikon 14–30

    2points

  4. Filter thread

    Importance 0.5

    Nikon 14–24112 mm3Nikon 14–3082 mm4

    30 mm apart (36.6%), to the Nikon 14–30

    0.5points

Also different, no weight reads them6

  1. Length

    Nikon 14–24124.5 mm3Nikon 14–3085 mm4

    39.5 mm apart (46.5%)

    Not weighted

  2. Diameter

    Nikon 14–2488.5 mm3Nikon 14–3089 mm4

    0.5 mm apart (0.6%)

    Not weighted

  3. Maximum magnification, wide end

    Nikon 14–240.13x3Nikon 14–300.16x4

    0.03 apart (23.1%)

    Not weighted

  4. Elements

    Nikon 14–24163Nikon 14–30144

    2 apart (14.3%)

    Not weighted

  5. Groups

    Nikon 14–24113Nikon 14–30124

    1 apart (9.1%)

    Not weighted

  6. Aperture blades

    Nikon 14–2493Nikon 14–3074

    2 apart (28.6%)

    Not weighted

Side by side, to scale

Focal length on one log scale

Focal length on one log scale: Nikon Nikkor Z 14-24mm F2.8 S: 14 to 24 mm; Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S: 14 to 30 mm.Nikon 14–24Nikon 14–30+6 mm10162435
The focal lengths each maker states.

Specifications

SpecificationsNikon Nikkor Z 14-24mm F2.8 SNikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S
Focal length14-24 mm114-30 mm2
Widest aperturef/2.81f/42
Maximum magnification0.13x30.16x4
Weight650 g3485 g4
Length124.5 mm385 mm4
Diameter88.5 mm389 mm4
Filter thread112 mm382 mm4
Elements163144
Groups113124
Aperture blades9374
HoodNot statedHB-864

Same on both

  • Closest focus 0.28 m3
  • Stabilization No
  • Mount Nikon Z3
  • Covers Full frame
  • Type Zoom

Full specifications, side by side†

Show all 10 rows
Full specifications, side by sideNikon 14–243Nikon 14–304
Focal lengthFocal length: 14-24 mmFocal length range: 14-30 mm
Maximum aperturef/2.8f/4
Minimum aperturef/22f/22
Angle of view114° - 84° (FX format)114° - 72° (FX format)
Angle of view90° - 61° (DX format)90° - 50° (DX format)
Minimum focus distance0.28 m/0.92 ft0.28 m/0.92 ft
Maximum reproduction ratio0.13x0.16x
Diaphragm bladesDiaphragm blades: 9 (rounded diaphragm opening)Diaphragm blade count: 7 (rounded diaphragm opening)
Filter-attachment size112 mm (P = 0.75 mm)82 mm (P = 0.75 mm)
WeightWeight: Approximately 650 g/1 lb 7 ozLens weight: Approximately 485 g/1 lb 1.2 oz
Rows only one maker lists: 3

Also on the Nikon Nikkor Z 14-24mm F2.8 S spec page3

Lens construction16 elements in 11 groups (4 ED glass, 3 aspherical lens elements, Nano Crystal Coat or ARNEO Coat, fluorine-coated front lens element)
Supplied accessoriesLC-Z1424 Lens Cap (front cap), LC-K104 Lens Cap (front cap), LF-N1 Lens Cap (rear cap), HB-96 Lens Hood, HB-97 Lens Hood, CL-C2 Lens Case

Also on the Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S spec page4

Lens element configuration14 elements in 12 groups (4 ED glass, 4 aspherical lens elements, Nano Crystal Coat, fluorine-coated front lens element)

How the pick works

  1. Widest aperture3

    Lower wins once they are 0.3 apart.

  2. Weight2

    Lower wins from a 12% gap.

  3. Focal length (longest)2

    Higher wins from a 15% gap.

  4. Focal length (widest)2

    Lower wins once they are 2 mm apart.

  5. Optical stabilization1

    Having it wins.

  6. Closest focus, wide end1

    Lower wins from a 15% gap. Compared only between lenses of the same focal length (widest).

  7. Filter thread0.5

    Lower wins once they are 5 mm apart.

  8. Lead for a pick1

Our pick or our take adds up the importance of each real difference, with these importances and thresholds: a gap smaller than its row's threshold is too close to call and counts as the same. They are our editorial choice, not a measurement, the same on every page, and they never read prices, sales or who sells it.

Paid placements0

How we rank, in full

Sources

  1. Wikidata: Nikon Nikkor Z 14-24mm F2.8 S, checked Oct 9, 2026 (CC0 1.0)
  2. Wikidata: Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S, checked Oct 9, 2026 (CC0 1.0)
  3. Nikon product specifications: Nikon Nikkor Z 14-24mm F2.8 S, checked Oct 6, 2026
  4. Nikon product specifications: Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S, checked Oct 6, 2026

Worked out by code, not stated by a source

  • Focal length and widest aperture as the lens's own name states them.
  • Read from the lens name: each maker marks the sensor size a lens covers (Sony FE/E, Canon RF/RF-S, Nikon DX, Tamron Di III/Di III-A, Sigma DG/DC); every Fujifilm X lens is APS-C and every Micro Four Thirds lens is Four Thirds.
  • Read from the lens name: Sony marks optically stabilized lenses OSS, Canon IS, Nikon VR, Fujifilm OIS, Panasonic O.I.S., Tamron VC and Sigma OS; a lens from these makers without the mark has no optical stabilization.
  • Prime or zoom, read from the focal length in the lens name.

Each value is checked automatically against the source it links, on the date shown. How we build these pages

† The makers' own tables, row by row, with labels in our plain words (translated where the maker's page isn't in English); each row's numbers are checked against the page it links.

What we don't know yet

  • Hood for the Nikon Nikkor Z 14-24mm F2.8 S: our sources don't state it yet.

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