Compact, good range for one lens outfit.

Mediocre optical performance - especialy disapointing at 105mm seting. Manual focus ring underdamped. Huge HB-18 Nikon lenshood is of size and convenience of Mexican sombrero hat.

Bearing this price tag and Nikon's name it should be better. I'm dissapointed especialy with low contrast/sharpnes at 105 setting - portret shots I took look "muddy". Decided to buy Tokina - superior lens for only $100 more.

Customer Service

Not tried.

Similar Products Used:

Vivitar 28-105 3.5-5.6
Vivitar S1 35-85 2.8
Sigma 28-105 2.8-4
Tokina 28-70 ATX2.6-2.8

sharp
colours/contrasts
macro functionality

none

This is an excellent all rounder, far better than the cheaper G type lens that was bundled with my F65. Produces superb sharpness throughout the range, macro minimum focus length is actually shorter than specified.

Customer Service

none reqd

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 28-80G

Macro feature , in addition to a fairly useful zoom ratio.

Vignettes at 28mm-35mm with skylight filter(Tiffen), manual f-stop use impaired, not nearly as sharp as a prime lens

Not impressed with this lens. I'll use it in a pinch, or for an event shoot, but I generally shy away form it otherwise. It is not a professional caliber lens, although adequate for snap shots and such. I shoot either in manual or with aperature priority, and the lens design makes it difficult to reach the f-stop. :(
This lens reminds me why I like primes. I bought this lens to see if I would like zooms more than I used to, I now regret having done so.The advantages of having many different focal lenghts in one lens, does not outweigh the weaknesses of this lens.Slow, difficult manual use, huge lens hood, and less sharp than a well made prime. For professional use, it pays to buy the pro lenes. For zooms that means spending the coin on the high end nikkor zooms.
Recently, I have bought the 50mm 1.8 and 35mm 2.0 AF primes- I could not be more happy.Amazingly sharp, compact and fast. I guess primes suit my style more than zooms in this focal length range.
I do find the macro feature to be very useful, and thus the primary reason I have not sold this lens.

Customer Service

not needed

Similar Products Used:

Old Tamron 80-200mm zoom

Quite sharp - Especially at f5.6, f8
Quality feel
Internal Focusing
Aspherical Lens
9 Blade diaphragm
Really short manual focus ring travel
f4.5 is not as bad as f5.6
Good macro capability
GREAT to travel with!

See summary

Anyone that has a weakness listed with this lens should send it in for servicing right away. I'm a very seasoned photo hobbyist and I know my equipment. I purchased this lens (W/polarizer) when it first came out b/c I didn’t know if I would like my then newly purchased Nikon N70 and I had to go on a long trip to Thailand. Nearly every picture (300 shots) was tack sharp with great contrast. What I’m saying is that my lens was manufactured perfectly and yours should be too. Every Nikon 28-105 could be as sharp and easy to handle as mine, Don’t accept anything less!
If I owned all the glass back then that I own now, I would have taken them all with me. This lens proved to me that all that extra weight is not necessary when you are on vacation.
I know have an N80 and this lens balances well with both cameras.
If you have vignetting change your filter and don’t use two at a time!

Customer Service

Haven't used them for a long time but they were good back them. I live about a half hour from Nikon USA.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon AF:16mm Fisheye, 24mm, 50mm, 105mm Macro and Tamron 90mm Macro(very sharp)

-Sharp
-Great contrast
-1:2 macro

-Vignetting at about 28-35mm when more than 1 screw on filter is used.
-Could be faster

I bought this lens to replace my stock 28-80 lens just before my wedding cruise. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! The shots of my trip were extremely sharp throughout the entire focal range and very contrasty in comparison. The only problem I discovered was serious vignetting between 28mm-35mm with both the screw on uv filter and circular polarizer attached. I eliminated this problem by using one at a time with no noticable vignetting. I believe that a glass slide filter system (eg. Cokin) will eliminate this problem and allow for multiple filters to be used. I have yet to buy it for this lens. The 28-105 Nikkor covered about 95% of my travel shots and performed perfectly; that is why I give this lens 5 stars. For multipurpose shots this is the lens to get.

Customer Service

not required

Similar Products Used:

None

*Good optical performance.
*Good design (although not perfect).
*Macro capability.

*Macro switch.
*Nikon lens hood ("Mexican hat").

*Zoom lenses vs. prime lenses.
Sorry, I can not understand why so many people are still trying to compare two things completely different: zoom and prime lenses.
Let me remember that a zoom lens is a kind of compromise between optical quality and flexibility! So, you never can expect to get the same results from this Nikon against a 28 2.8, 50 1.8 and 85 1.8 from the same manufacturer!
But this does not apply only for this zoom, the rule is for all zoom lenses! If zoom lenses give the same quality results...prime lenses does not already exist!
Let's see, zoom lenses use to give higher distortion levels, poorer definition on the corners, more flare problems...but this Nikon zoom delivers a more than decent results, with good contrast, rich colors and pretty definition.As always, do not shoot wide open, the better f-settings are f8-f11 (as in most zoom lenses!).

And what about your photos?
Are you a pro?
Do you need to enlarge your photos up to..let's say, 1 meter x 1 meter?
Really?
If yes, buy prime lenses and do not buy any zoom lens! But let me remember that you will have to buy at least three prime lenses: a 28 mm, a 50 mm and a 85-105 mm, right?
*The macro question.
Here the situation is the same: remember what you have paid for and you have got a macro facility. You can get good near-to-macro results, but if you need the highest quality...buy a true macro lens! (so, this will be the fourth lens you will have to buy in order to get that excellent quality! Money, money, money...)

Look, this is not a pro lens. It is a medium-range Nikon lens designed for amateurs/advanced amateurs, quite capable and affordable. That's all.

And, please, do not try to compare a Volkswagen Golf against a Ferrari F40, ok?

Enjoy your photography!

Customer Service

Not needed yet.

Similar Products Used:

*Sigma AF 28-105 4-5.6
*Sigma AF 28-70 2.8-4
*Nikon AF 35-70 3.3-4.5
*Nikon AF 50 1.8
*Nikon AF 24 2.8
*Tamron SP 90 2.5 macro
*Tamron SP 70-210 3.5

Range (28-105 covers most of my needs).
Sharpness throughout the range.
Size (fairly compact).

Vignetting at 28mm with no filter and wide open apeture.

I have been generally satisfied with this lens. The zoom range is idea for most settings and the image quality is fairly good (though I'm not sure it's as sharp as the Konica Zooms I've used). There is minor vignetting at 28mm wide open. However, this is rarely a problem in everyday shotting. The lens is not cheap compared to the Nikon 28-80 AF-D. However, I find this to be a noticably sharper lens than the 28-80 and comes with a better zoom range in general. This coupled with my Tamron 70-300 LD covers just about everything I need. The vignetting is the only reason I am not giving the lens a 5 overall rating (wish there was a 4.5 option)

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 28-80.
Tamron 70-300
Various Konica Zooms

The all-purpose lens. It's fast enough for 80% of travel photography needs, its extremely light-weight, and its focal lenths allow for interior and exterior shots.

The only problem I've had was when the macro button on the lens' barrel got stuck.

The travel photographer's perfect lens. Nikon optics, relatively fast lens, good macro capability, and very light weight. If you're looking for a "do everything lens" this is the one.

Customer Service

Nikon's products are outstanding. I've never had a need to contact customer service.

Similar Products Used:

None.

versatile, cheap, IF, 62mm filter

slow, vignetting, light fall off for macro.

Here come the most popular lens of Nikon before millenium :) It can be your first and only lens or it can be the "one lens" for travelling. Don't expect anything of its micro. It might be better if you do it with reversing ring.

Customer Service

excellent

Similar Products Used:

None

Great focal range, micro mode, price and quality of construction.

The focusing ring got to be in certain position to switch back from micro to normal range. Soft edge at micro mode which is typical for non dedicated lens.

The picture quality is better than the 28-70mm it replace and it focus faster on my N90s. The inner lens barral construction is metal (compare to Canon all plastic 28-105) which for the price of $300 is a bargain for Nikon. It also has hybrid aspherical elements in the glass. This is a even better all around lens to the Nikon 24-120mm for its size, price and better quality at all zoom range.

Customer Service

Never need it! That's why I use Nikon.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 28-70AF D f3.5-4.5, 70-210AF f4-5.6, 35-105MF f3.5-4.5, 24mm MF f2.8 and 50mm MF f1.4