Summary: I have to admit, I never understood why Nikon discontinued this lens. It's actually pretty darn good when used with proper technique. There is distortion at 24mm and 85mm but overall, I've been able to take amazing pictures with this lens. I used this lens briefly with my Nikon D80 and found it to be useful for specific shots, but the range wasn't useful for me. Another drawback was that the focus and zoom rings are "reversed". The lens hood is really really stiff to the point that applying it to the lens and taking it off feels like the hood is about to snap or break. Next to my kit lens - 18-55mm Nikkor, the build of this lens would be the only real downfall I could point out. The quality of pics I've taken with this lens in such a short time rival the ones I've taken with my cherished 18-70mm Nikkor. Definitely worth the price I paid for.
Strengths: Image quality. Little or no CA. ED Glass is a plus
Weaknesses: Very cheap build quality, lens hood is a pain to apply onto or take off the lens, and yes.... variable aperture. It seems that asking for a constant aperture at all focal lengths is too much to ask for without asking for an arm and a leg pricewise (thanks Nikon).
Summary: I really lucked out the day I got this lens. It replaced the cheap 28-80D kit lens that came with my F80... and I couldn't be more satisfied.
Now, it's not perfect: plasticky, throws a weird, warm cast on images (as seen through the VF, not on film), and the distortion at 24mm bars it from architectural photography. I like this lens a lot, and its focal range has come in handy on a variety of situations.
It's a bit slow... but the Silent Wave compensates vastly for this one and any other fault. Never have I seen any lens focus so quicky and so quietly! No whirrs and wheels sounding...
Strengths: AF-S really quiet and fast. Image quality is superb. I've had it for a bit over a year and I
m very satisfied with this aspects of the lens.
Weaknesses: Slow... not a very tough, professional finish (the hood may break easily, I fear) but then, my F80 body is made out of policarbonate and has withstood some hardships, so can probably this lens.
Similar Products Used: Sigma 70-300 DL, Nikon 28-80D f3.5-5.6, Tokina AF 193 19-35f3.5-4.5 (still in use)
Summary: This Nikkor 24-85 ED is a very good lens for the money(i bought it used) i think then it might be a little bit of lemon ; the sample i got.
well,although its very good indeed.Colour is super.Its fast and in work conjunction with my Nikon D1 H and other fast cams..this one shines.Its better than many lenses.! the AFS is super .!
The balance of colour ,saturation is as i said very ED like,fine and detailed.
I compared this one to other types.Nikon 28-70 2,8...Nikon 28-85 and Tokina 28-70
I believe this is no. 2 or 3 after the aboves,funny enough i find this one a little flat regarding contrast?! but i think this is normal in the samples ;contrast is missng?or sample variation??hmm i dono.Anyway i still think its the best lens you can get today ,with flash and inside for PJ work ,portraits,and work you need quietness ; it is a PRO lens.Its in the same league as canon 24-85 and 28-80 L and very very close to canon 28-70 L.
..so all in all..--very close To a nikon 28-70 for a little money IF you buy a good sample!?
Distortion could be better BUT it is still ok for the money.
BUY IT
Strengths: all..its fast fast fast,.AFS-
good colour .ok sharp.good saturation
Summary: l bought this len to replace my Nikkor 28-105mm because a friend of me, recommand it to me. The front lens does'nt turn on focus or whene you zoom it. So it's just great whene using polar filter. And l just order my first digital body (Nikon D200) and this lens with my Nikkor 20mm, will be just fine for me.
Strengths: Color, shapness, front element does'nt rotate, Good lens hood with it. Compact, fast and very quiet.
Weaknesses: Plastique made but for the price, it's a very good deal. 67mm for filter. I would like 62mm or 77mm.
Summary: I bought this lens with my F100 to replace the mediocre plastic 28-80mm I had.
The very first thing I did with this lens was to compare it to my 24mm (at f4 and f8), my 50mm (at f4 and f8), and my 70-300mm (at f5.6 and f8). While my prime lenses were slightly sharper than this lens, the results at 70mm blew me away. I used to be rather happy with my 70-300mm... till I tried this lens. The colors were more natural and more saturated. Most of all, the pictures were much sharper.
My major disapointement was to find out that the lens has a strong vignetting problem at 24mm with the Cokin P system. Even though I have a slim UV filter and use a Cokin holder that was cut down to allow only one square filter to be placed. To make the matter worse, I used a 72mm adapter ring that I fastened to the 67 mm UV filter, thus bringing the filter holder 1-2 mm closer to the lens.... to no avail.
I have the same system on my 24 mm prime and I do not get vignetting (only a slight tint in the top corners when I set the lens at f2.8).
As a result, I do not use this lens at less than 28mm if I need to use a polarizer. Whenever I shoot at 24mm, I always screw in my prime lens. More hassles but it's worth it.
Is this lens worth it? Absolutely. It's the best deal around, with a very fast and quiet AF system. But it's definitely not going to replace my 24mm. I cannot recommend this lens for its wide-angle capabilities.
Strengths: - Color rendition
- Very fast AF
- Sharpness
Weaknesses: - Vignetting with the Cokin system at 24mm(!)
- 67mm filter: I had to struggle to find an appropriate UV filter and the corresponding Cokin adapter ring.
- Difficult to zoom when the hood covers the zoom ring
Similar Products Used: 28-80mm F3.5-5.6 D (yuck)
70-300mm F4-5.6 D ED (nice for the money)
24mm F2.8 (fantastic!)
50mm F1.8 (great)
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