Zoom lens with Macro ability with a cheap price tag then 60mm, 105mm or used 70-180mm. A bonus when used on DSLR - now you have a 105mm 2.8 which is great for portrait shoot.

A bit heavy, and the push-pull is reverse (compare with push-pull of the 80-200 2.8D) so need to take some time to get used to it.

I brought this lens used because I read about the "close-up" mode @ 35mm that gives 1:4 macro range. And use it on Nikon DSLR will becames a 1:2 close up due to the 1.5 crop factor. I'm sure enjoy the macro capacity of this lens! This lens is sharp and build like a tank (quite heavy, as most of the parts are builded with metal). What I am amaze is that this lens give sharp image even when I use it with a 2X teleconvert (Kenko Pro 300). AF speed is quite decent on D70. These is no vignette nor light fall-off at all stop. If you want the best for macro, you can get yourself a 60mm or 105mm macro (but no zoom + high price), or get a used 70-180mm macro (even higher price + slow AF + no longer in production). With the price you paid nowaday you can't beat the price / performance ratio of this lens!

Similar Products Used:

Nikon AF 50mm 1.8 Various Nikon zoom that has macro ability, including 70-200 VR.

picture quality is amazing for a zoom. build quaility is very good 62mm filter

rotating front element

during film days, I found this focal lenght a little useless. Since I bought the D70, I love it. Having a FOV of 52-105mm at f/2.8 is really nice for portraits, upper body on events and parties. colors, contrast, saturation (and sharpness) are quiete impressive for a zoom. So I sold my 35/2, 50 1.4 and 60 Micro. Comparing it to the AF-S 28-70 the older one is only half the price, size and weight. It's also using way cheaper 62 filters. The only draw back is the rotating front element. It's pretty good at f/2.8 already (way better then the sigma/tamrons) and gains even more quality at f/4 and f/5.6. For me, this a true winner. The 17-55DX is tempting as a replacement for my 18-70 and this 35-70, but it's still more expensive and the 17-55DX is to big for me to replace the walkaround 18-70. Instead of the original hood I use the HN-24, the crops makes it possible. I bought the Tamron 28-75 2.8 DI to replace it, but it came out that the Tamron is (way) weaker wide open at the wide and long end. The Sigma 28-75 2.8 EX was to slow and loud AF and bulky even compared to this old day design of the Nikkor. I found the D-Version a tack better compared to the non-D wide open.

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the non-D version (sold) Tamron 28-75 2.8 DI (sold) Sigma 28-70 2.8 EX (returned)

Sharp, fast, good bokeh

Not as sharp as a prime

Bought it for D70 since it has better bokeh than normal prime and more versatile. As a portrait lens it is very good. The sharpness wide open is good but not perfect. At shorter end there are some soft spots at the corners of DSLR cropped frame where some radial softening is readily visible. The MTF data supports this observation. So shooting landscapes wide open should be avoided. Stopped down to F4.5 it becomes very good.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

18-35 AF-S 24-85 50 F1.8 70-210

robust very sharp all over good color rendition hardly any distortion noticed if at all from 35

a little heavy but not bad AF a little slow might be limited in range for some people

This is one of those classic lenses that just seem to be good and better than many newer lenses, It doesnt just feel professional but also offers professional top class images . The images are well balanced between good contrast and sharpness, as for sharness , its a little soft at 2.8 sharp at 4 and top between5.6-16. Color is slightly on the warm side . Unlike many of todays zooms in which the iages are distorted and soft at the wide end , this one offers excellent results from its shortest to the full length ,which mean that its a full 35-70 zoom giving resutls close to my primes 85/1.8 and 50/1.8 which today I'd use only when I want to go at 4 southward. I wouldnt use it for fast sports as the AF is a little slow but good for anything else. Its slightly on the hefty side but sits so perfectly in the hand and the build is very sturdy. well its like a tank I bought it second hand but in mint condition , the push pull is a pleasure to use,I think that for digital its even more useful than for slr as it actually becomes a nortma to tele, whereas in slr its more like zoming around the normal 50 +- making it a little limited in range.

Customer Service

never needed

Similar Products Used:

85.1.8 50/1.8 12-24 sigma

Good design and weight, optically as good as it gets. 62mm lens mount.

Lens changes focus when zoomed, making it a poor lens for manual focus! The front barrel rotates, making the lenes a poor choice for professional portraiture as a matte box lens ussing vignettes. I await a lens to replace this one for these reasons.

This lens is very good optically and built very well. Being a 2x zoom, it yeilds good color, sharpness, and has no distortion.

Customer Service

Nikon just does'nt listen.

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Nothing similar, just appreciate Hasselblad quality,design, and handling. It's a shame that the new 35mm SLR's aren't as fast and easy to use as medium format.

Push/pull zoom - it is actually easier to use then turning a ring, it is smooth with a short throw. Sharpness throughout range. I don't hesitiate to shoot wide open and at either extreme of zoom range. It performs beautifully. Solid metal construction throughout. Close focus, I use with 6T closeup lens for beautful macro shots.

Slightly heavy - due to all metal construction - you can't have everything. Front rotates on focus. Not an inconvience for me because I rarely use polarizors on my digital camera.

I can't add much to all the other fine reviews. I shoot digital SLR with 1.5x cropping factor and this lens becomes 52-105mm. Perfect all around and portrait lens. It's the lens that is attached to my camera most often. I first bought it because it was rated to be as sharp as primes and a Nikon classic. I thought the push/pull zoom and limited zoom range were faults but I actually like the push/pull on this lens and the range is not really limiting at all. This lens truly deserves to be a classic.

Customer Service

not needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 80-200 2.8 Sigma "EX" lenses

Sharpness at all focal lengths - particularly wide open which I use a lot for theatre photography. Contrast is perfect. Used with a D100 it means you have an effective focal length of around 52-105 f2.8 and a wonderful lens for portraiture.

Sometimes prone to flare, but easily cured by just being aware of what's happening in the view finder. Can sound a bit clunky compared to AFS - but who cares when the images are as consistently excellent as this?

A fantastic lens. Utterly stunning sharpness, amazing colour rendition, this never fails to impress. If ultra high speed focussing is not essential or the extra 7mmm given by the 28-70, then buy this, live a long and happy life and love your photographs.

Customer Service

Not needed

Sharp sharp sharp Pro colour rendition Good focal lenght Good manual handling(also the f2,8..version) Strong and good built for pro work

A little heavy (but it goes with the pro) Otherwise none!

This is a wonderfull versatile sharp lens with beautifull colour rendition !...very good indeed! a really pro lens which gives You High Class Pictures !I must recomand it to anyone who need this lenght of zoom,its so good, so one might think of a prime lens! well,the must wonderfull is that i use the old manual version 37-70 mm F3,5(72mm)as well..its even better! !its predator has more colour more sharp..in a class of its own. But if you need an AF lens go for the new one(f2,8) as you cant get the old one,which is very seldom to see in the used market. All in all A Nikkor lens(ses)of its own!

Customer Service

Never needed it.

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Nikkor 28-70 . Nikkor 35-70 diff versions,Nikkor 28-85.Seimar 35-70. Nikkor 35-70(f3,5)Old manual version-The best of all!!!******

Solid contruction Razor sharp Constant f2,8 Excelente contrast and colour

Heavy

If you have to have only one lense for your Nikon camera then go fo this one! It never stop to ameze me: razor sharp(as a best prime lense), contrasty with excelente colour balance and saturation! You can not get better then this!

Customer Service

Very good

Similar Products Used:

Nikor 80-200/2,8D AF (another excelente zoom lense from Nikon)

- Solid construction - Excellent 'Sharp' Nikon optics - 'Pro-class' results at f/4-f/11 throughout entire focal range - Balances well on a F70 or F90X - Fantastic value for the money spent

- Push-pull Zoom (personally not a fan of this, with possible zoom creep over time.. etc) - lens hood easily falls off

I was inclined to write this review as i have owned this lens for some time now and can attest to its overall performance. I have tried and tested other lenses over the same focal range, yet I still believe that this lens from Nikon is without a doubt one of the best lenses for the money out there. The 35-70 f/2.8 AFD Nikkor produces sharp and contrasty images at all focal lengths and is truly a 'Pro-class' lens. It is excellent wide open throughout the entire zoom range. Although I believe the best results are achieved when apertures between f/4 to f/11 are used. The centre and edge sharpness at these apertures and all focal lengths are truly first class! Its focal length, some believe may be somewhat limited, but I have found it to be much more useful than say a fixed 50mm lens when doing wedding photography and some small framing adjustments are needed and you cannot 'foot-step' or don't have the time to change your distance to the subject. I have also tested the Nikon 28-70 AFS F/2.8 AFD 'beast', and have found the results from this lens to be no different to the images I have taken with my 35-70. The 35-70 has less focal reach, yes, but it weighs a hell of a lot less than the 28-70, and costs a lot less to boot!!! The Nikkor 35-70 f/2.8 AFD lens fits well within my current kit ... slotting neatly between my Nikkor 18-35 F/3.5-4.5 AFD (which is excellent when stopped down at all focal lengths - great for outdoor photgraphy) ... and my Nikon 80-200 F/2.8 AFD IF (absolutely brilliant at all apertures/f.lengths..) and when I don't need the speed at the longer end I have found the older 75-300 AF (non-D lens) Nikkor to be a brilliant lens, which is more than capable of producing 'Pro' images on par with the 80-200 f/2.8 at certain apertures throughout the entire range (the newer 70-300 AFD 'ED' lens, which I have owned, I found was nowhere near as good optically as the lens it was supposed to replace) Overall, I recommend the Nikkor 35-70 F/2.8 AFD lens highly if you are looking for a high quality 'standard range' zoom. It is the best in its class, and it offers excellent value for money. Colour, contrast, and image quality overall are on par with the best.

Customer Service

- Not needed as yet !

Similar Products Used:

- The Tokina 28-80 ATX F/2.8 Pro (I had a bad experience with this lens. Tried 3 samples.. all results the same !!! Absolute crap when used wide open, even up to f5.6 at all focal lengths it produced