Nikon 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 Macro Zoom-Nikkor AI-S

I needed an inexpensive zoom for a kid's sports project. I bought this one on eBay thinking it was a throw-away, one I wouldn't care it it were damaged or lost. After using it for 16 months I thought to sell it...but couldn't bring myself to part with it. Not the sharpest, not the fastest, not the biggest lens in the kit - but maybe the owning a good quality lens you can take chances with is important. I bought a lens hood for it and added a cross-star filter to soften my people pix...I think I'll keep this one. I have the f2.8 version too, but this one lives on my film camera. Overall it's a "handy" lens that makes no promises it can't deliver.

Small, light weight, 52mm filters, wrks well on film or digital. Great price and there are several on eBay for less than $50.

Not as sharp as the 2.8. Not as fast as the 2.8.

Nikon f2.8 35-70

none needed

Decent, unobtrusive zoom lens for MF cameras. Weight app. 250g. Zooming is done by turning a ring, not by shifting. Limited sharpness at full aperture, but good to excellent when stopped down to F5.6 or smaller. Macro function for all focal lengths. Not to be confounded with the similar 35-70mm/F3.5-4.5 dedicated for the FE-10 (probably made by Cosina), which is lower in quality.

Low weight Moderate price Macro function, but cannot replace a true macro lens Good sharpness at F5.6 or smaller, good contrast Almost no distortions

Distance and zoom ring made of plastic Soft at F3.3 No depth of field marks (only table in instructions) Limited range of focal length

MF Nikkor 80-200mm/F4.0 MF Nikkor 35-135mm/F3.5-4.5

Not needed in almost ten years