Metal mount version is perfectly adequate, compact and quick for casual use at a very reasonable price. Works well on most Nikon digitals (those that have the screw autofocus: D50 and most mid-level Nikons up). This is a moderate range zoom that is roughly the same size and weight as most primes, perfect for a lazy day at the park and casual picture taking where you don't want to have your monster zoom around your neck like a boat anchor. Fast enough with modern digital cameras in most uses despite the f4 maximum aperture. A wonderful inexpensive backup lens.
Strengths:
Size and ease of use are good, with quality pictures at a very low price. This is essentially a standard to moderate zoom replacement lens. Given the price, this is almost a disposable lens - in the good sense, if you break it, you won't be crying about your $1000 lens. It is light and handles well, focusses quickly (if a bit noisily), and is not obtrusive.
Weaknesses:
This is NOT a pro-level lens. For ultimate sharpness, use a prime. For best performance in a zoom, get the top-end ones. For sheer ruggedness, get a real top-end Nikon. For a fast lens (f2.8 and under), buy a fast lens.
Build quality is mediocre, but not that much worse than most modern lenses (note: the plastic mount version may have worse build quality). If you want to feed your fetish for build quality, get a Leica lens.
On newer autofocus cameras, you may find yourself reaching for the zoom ring, grabbing the focus ring instead, and finding that blocked. Unlike newer lenses, you can't override without breaking the camera.
Similar Products Used:
All kinds of zooms covering wide-to-tele. Most are huge heavy monsters that you get tired of carrying around. The Nikon digital 18-55 is more versatile and you may be able to find for a comparable price used.
Rating Reviewed by: jk (Unregistered User)
(Intermediate)
Review Date September 8, 2003
Overall Rating 2 of 5
Value Rating 2 of 5
Used product for More than 1 year
Visitors rate this review 3.50 of 5,
4 votes
Review 2 of 33
Price Paid:
$0.00
from London On
Summary:
At first I thought this lens was alright. However after my camera failed I used an Olympus point and shoot camera in the same environment. When I got the pictures back the Nikon images were not as sharp, However they had better colour.
I really dont like this lens when I am trying to take a serious shot.
Strengths:
Good for birthday parties, Fun snapshots. It's easy to use and light.
This lens admitteldy takes some very decent photos, especially for the price. But I can't get by the construction. I feel totally ill-at-ease using it. Manual focus is a nightmare, the zoom feels toy-like and there's plastic plastic EVERYWHERE. I've bought a Nikon 28-105 and the 35-80 is being sold.
Strengths:
OK photos for very cheap price
LIGHT weight
Weaknesses:
CHEAP FEEL, CHEAP LOOK, CHEAP ACTION
OK, this may be petty of me, but I can't live with it...and you may not be able to either.
Somewhat limited range for zoom.
Similar Products Used:
Nikon 50 1.8 mf
Nikon 28-105 af
Nikon 70-210 af
Soligar 95-310 mf (nice lens surprisingly)
I got old one with metal mount. Frankly I have to admit to say this lens is very good. Over the years, I have accumulated so called Finest 35mm lens,mostly prime,for minolta(my wife's system),Nikon, Canon. My favorate 35mm prime are 85/1.2 USM, 90/2.8 TSE, 200/1.8 USM,100/2.8 Maxuum macro AFD, 100/2 DC AFD Nikkor, 50/1.4 Maxxum AF, 400/4.5 Maxxum AF,35/1.7 Ultron Voight lander,70~200/2.8 IS USM(yes this is only zoom lens I own), 85/2.8 PC macro Nikkor, 500/4 EOS ISM IS, 85/1.4 A pentax(Not FA version), 85mm/1.4 MM Zeiss. and Finally I just ordered 100/2.8 leica macro. What I am interestin in here is Comparing cheapest consummer zoon lens against fineast prime at same aperture !. Guess what? Shadow detail, color redering was slightly noticible. But sharpness was almost undetectable up to 8 by 10. Dont believe me. well My wife don't. So I tested her 100 of 5 by 7 Pictures half of them pictured by cheap zoom. Well She could pick only 12 that she is sure of it took by the prime. 78 picture she wasn't sure. But the problem is that 12 out of 4 was took by the cheap zoom. Test shot was took on the heavy tripod with mirror lock up and same illumination and same object distance. Well I don't know what to say. You be the judge.
I'm writing this review with respect to amateur quality lenses. The Nikkor 35mm~80mm f/4.0-f/5.6 is an excellent lens in terms of sharpness when compared to, say, a point and shoot lens. It is extremely well priced and you won't have difficulty finding one of these second hand for under $100. Optically, distortion and flare is not overly dramatic. Lightweight, versitile, and affordable, you won't want to kill yourself if you lose or damage this lens!
Strengths:
Well priced, good price/quality ratio, better than point and shoot lenses, multi-coated elements, lightweight.
Weaknesses:
Plastic EVERYWHERE, hard to manually focus due to small focus ring, a tad slow - could have been made as f/3.5-f/4.5 pretty easily, with perhaps a slightly larger barrel - not really suitable for night photos, very badly sealed - dust can get in easily and clog up the gears.
Similar Products Used:
Tamron 28mm~80mm f/3.5-f/5.6D, AF Zoom-Nikkor 28mm~80mm f/3.5-f/5.6D, Minolta 35mm~70mm f/3.5-f/5.6
Customer Service:
Never needed it. It would be perhaps easier, quicker, and cheaper to get another identical lens!
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