Confirmed. Only happens when you change the render distance from main menu. When you change it while a world is loaded, it will not crash!
Still in 14w29b
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz77EXGnHRQ
added a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz77EXGnHRQ
Confirmed. Only happens when you change the render distance from main menu. When you change it while a world is loaded, it will not crash!