Cheap

build quallity

Okay this is a cheap built lens that is prone to flare but the bottom line on a lens is the main thing it is suppose to do "produce an image". I think this lens takes excellent images, test shots using fuji provia were sharp using f8-f11 between 35-70mm.

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Price
Decent performance

Cheap plasticky feel
Don't ever drop it!
No lens hood

This is a wonderful lens and balances well on my N80. If I am gonna be shooting on a bright day and need the flexibility I don't hesitate to use it. For the price you just can't beat it. I don't think an amateur will notice that much difference between pics taken with a prime lens and this zoom. It is very cheaply made and you must treat it with care, I dropped my Minolta 28-80 and it broke, so be careful. Basically stay away from the extreme ends of this lens both in aperture and focal length and you should be satisfied with its performance. I do however think that Nikon is extremely stingy for not including a lens hood. In my opinion Minolta provides more bang for the buck than Nikon or Canon.

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Minolta 28-80

1999 version of the 28-80 zoom (8/8-265 g):
Size, weight, real manual focus ring (compared to 1995-1999 model), good optical quality vs price.

Handle with care.

Satisfied.
"Standard" lens for most Nikon kits sold in Europe (lens came extremely cheap as a combo, which is, in fact, the main reason I got it).
This is (being of course a non-pro lens) primarily an AF-lens.
I guess most, if not all reviews of this lens here are apparantly of the 1995->1999 lens (which was smaller, had a very small focus ring and 7/7 lens combination). I wonder if many of the "Weaknesses" mentioned in this thread also apply for the new 1999 version. In other words, my guess is Nikon improved the lens. Can anyone comment on this ?
Also, a new 28-80 G-Type (lacking aperture ring) lens will very soon replace the D-Type version.
I can recommend it to anyone who will be using it for casual (family, travel) photography.

Customer Service

Not used.

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Pentax and Nikon zooms and prime lenses.

Tack sharp images
Excellent contrast
No lens flare

Plastic feel to focus ring

This lens beats the pants off the Sigma. I shot a whole roll with the sun in the frame and just outside the frame, and not a singal one came out with any contrast loss or lens flare. The lens is excellent.

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Sigma 28-80 f/3.5-5.6

Nice price in kit. Good range, overall okay for the purpose

Optical Quality is lacking.

Here's the deal, I have been using nothing but a 28-80 for almost three years. This year I made a commitment to get a better lens. I ended up picking up a used 80-200 f2.8 for a great price. I subsequently learned about the difference in optics. Good for people who can't afford better, but other than that, spend some cash and get a better lens.

Customer Service

It's in the shop right now.

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Promaster 28-80

Cost close to nothing as part of a kit (my F60 was 50$ more with it). Nice range, good color rendition. Suprisingly little flare.

I'm not a plastic basher, but it feels cheap compared to other Nikkor plastic lenses. Especially the plastic mount that is showing heavy wear after just one year of usage. Also, this lens is VERY soft on the edges. Hard to focus manually (but this is not the purpose of this lens).

This is by far the worst lens I have use in my life in terms of optics. But, as part of a kit, it's worth having it in you bag if you are buying your first camera. For almost no money, you have a lens that lets you experiment in a range from wide to short tele. When you know more about what type of photography you want to do, you can spend big money on a lens without fearing to make a mistake. I believe this is a good lens for when you are using a camera as a P&S (during family partys for example).

I would NOT recommand to anyone to buy this lens on it's own. It is way too soft on the edges. This is Clearly visible even on 4x6. It is just terrible in terms of optical quality. The only good thing about it in terms of optic, it's that it shows very little flare. As a kit for a first time Nikon buyer, it's worth the extra couple of $. This is why I give it 4 stars in terms of value.

Bottom line, this is not a good lens. But it is also the least expensive Nikkor zoom available. If you can afford it, go for the 28-105. Else, get this lens and the 50mm 1.8 and use this setup while waiting to be able to afford what you want.

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None

Lighweight, good entry level for beginners. Great for family point & shoot stuff.

Vignetting at 28mm setting in winter scenes & sky.
Flaring into the sun.

I am disapointed that Nikon would sell this camera with the F80 kit (N80 in the states). My salesman should also have informed me of the "beginner" quality and I would have paid more for the 28-105.

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Cheap price
Moderate focus speed

Barrel has a lot of play in it
Cheap quality

I bought this lens because it was cheap and I needed a cheap lens to go with my N90S for a vacation that was coming up. I only paid $99 for it and I can always sell it on ebay or use it as trade bait for a better lens.

Customer Service

Not needed yet

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Sigma 28-105mm 2.8-4.0

Optical quality (8/8 D-type lens).
Consistent performance.
Great optical performance when closed down (from F5.6).
Somewhat less at 80mm.
Price/performance is fantastic.

Build quality.
Noisy AF.

I got hold of a french Photo magazine where 28-80 zooms were tested. According to the mag
the Nikkor D and G type zooms were not far from each other, at least what optical quality is concerned; but the D lens is a little bit better. Also vignetting was worse for the G type lens (especially at 28mm). The build, believe it or not, was considered better for the G lens. Also the new G lens was
not so noisy while autofocusing. The G lens is cheaper 'at least in France).
Bottom line according to the mag: overall the new G type is the best choice.
I am still looking for a US (or UK) mag to see whether their findings are similar.

Customer Service

Not yet needed.

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Nikon MF lenses on MF bodies.

Sharp and cotrast glass; light and compact; inexpensive; good AF speed; Nikon brand (without any doubts fully compatible with Nikon's SLR)

None (for this lens quality/price category)

I'm talking about new version of Nikon Nikkor 28-80/3.5-5.6 AFD (8 elements in 8 groups not as old one with 7/7 and very narrow focusing ring). The lens is perfect for this class. Picture quality is excellent. The lens very good partner for my N80.It is funny to read previouse review where person with 21+ years experience in photography blamed his salesman the one didn't tell me him what the $350 Nikkor 28-105/3.5-4.5 AFD IF myght be better than his $60 Nikkor 28-80/3.5-4.5 AFD. Surprise! Isn't it? I'm waiting to try NEWEST Nikon's super compact and light 28-80/3.3-5.6 AFD G-type lens (6 elements in 6 groups with hybrid-type aspherical elements). It myght be very interesting.

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Nikon 35-80 (both versions), 28-70/3.5-4.5 AFD, 28-105/35-4.5 AFD IF; Sigma 28-70/3.5-4.5 AF; Tokina 28-70/3.5-4.5 Manual focus, 28-105/3.5-4.5 AFD ...