Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED

The AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm 4G is a lens manufactured by Nikon for use on Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras. It provides an angle of view on a DX format camera similar to that of an 18-35mm lens on a 135 film format camera.

Introduction
Nikon announced the lens on 18 February 2003 as the first lens specifically designed for the Nikon DX format.

This lens was replaced by the AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED announced on April 14, 2009.

Target market
At the time the lens was introduced, Nikon did not make a zoom lens which would provide an ultra-wide-angle view on a DX format camera. Due to the crop factor of the DX format, wide-angle zoom lenses such as the 18-35mm provided an angle of view equivalent to a 27-52.5mm lens; more typical of a normal zoom.

The purpose of the 12-24mm was to fill this gap in the ultra-wide- to wide-angle range that would otherwise require users to purchase relatively expensive prime lenses such as the 13mm, 15mm and 18mm Nikkors.

Features

 * 12-24mm focal length (approximately equivalent to an 18-35mm lens used on a 135 film format camera)
 * Compact silent-wave autofocus motor with full-time manual override
 * Nikon F-mount lens exclusively for use with Nikon DX format DSLRs
 * Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements to reduce chromatic aberration
 * Aspherical elements to reduce distortion
 * Super integrated coating (SIC) to reduce flare and ghosts
 * Internal focusing (IF)

Construction

 * eleven lens elements in seven groups
 * three aspherical elements
 * two ED glass elements