sharp and neutral image.
cheap but excellent operating.

pretty slow AF speed

Sometime it runs better than 35-70 2.8.
I like its sharp image and neutral color.

Customer Service

none

Similar Products Used:

none in this class

Sharrrrrp Lense
Price
Fixed F Value

Slow AF Speed
Heavy Weight

Good Lense.
I don't like Nikon's price policy and product control. Now, this lense has been very very rare.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

35-70 1:2.8D
60 Micro 1:2.8D
50 1:1.4D
28-70 1:3.5/4.5D
with F80S

Very, very sharp edge to edge.
Constant f4.
Solid construction.
Excellent optics.

Larger and heavier than current lenses in this focal range. This may or may not be a flaw, dependong on your needs.

I use this lens on an N80 and the focusing is very accurate and fast enough for my needs. I had no problem tracking cars at the ice race this last weekend. If you are considering some of the newer zooms that go out to 300, you may want to take a look at this lens instead. Although the range isn't as large, your pictures will be far sharper with this lens. If you need the extra 300mm, I have used this lens with a low budget (appr $40 used) Kenko 1.5x converter on my N80 and achieved very decent results (AF was quite slow, but metering still functioned and was spot on. Photos lost a small amount of clarity, but were evenly lit and distortion free from edge to edge). Basically, this zoom produces amazing results throughout it's range. The only lens that would be better is the 80-200/2.8, but that costs four times as much. At a price of $200-250 used, you just can not find a better performing lens in this focal range. BUY IT!!!

NOTE: If you decide to purchase one of these, be certain you are getting the constant f4 version and not the variable f4.5-5.6. They look very similar, but the latter is horrible in comparison.

Customer Service

Called Nikon to order the user manual for this lens. Excellent service, received the manual in just a couple of days.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon AF50/1.8
Nikon AF24/2.8
Minolta X700 with third party lenses

Sharp (Good optics)
Constant Aperature
Well built

Relatively slow AF

I purchased this lens not too long ago and I am very pleased with it. I chose this lens over the 70-300 ED lens mainly due to its built, constant aperture, price and sharpness. It is heavier than the 70-300 ED but then again, its sturdiness makes up for that. I didn't bother about the extra 90mm that the 70-300 ED offered as images tend to be a bit soft in the 200-300 range. I have heard that the use of a tripod remedies this though. AF is a slower than most other lenses I have tried due to it's older design but it is very acceptable on my F100. Although it is slow focusing from macro to infinity, adjustments are just as fast as any other lens when the object is in focus, (not including the AF-S lenses). In my opinion, this is the best bet for people who cannot afford the 80-200 f/2.8. For this price, it is great. By the way, I got the HN-24 (screw-on) lens hood for it and it works great in blocking unwanted light. The lack of the 'D' chip is not a real concern for me as I use this lens outdoors and seldom use a fill-flash. Even when I did, exposure was great and accurate. I notice that the 'D' chip is only very useful when performing a fill-flash. Then again, I could be wrong. This lens performs very well for close-up pictures as well. One of the closest focusing lens in this range available.

Customer Service

I called Nikon recently regarding the option to program my F100 to leave the film leader out. Customer service was good and pleasant.

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 28-105 AF
Nikkor 70-300 AF ED
Nikkor 28-80 AF D

Hey, BTW my version is the Nikon Series E, which is optically the same as this AF zoomer.
way better than those variable new D crap.

>surprisingly sharp(tried on color and b/w negs only), and little distortion.

>constant aperture is a plus.

heavy at almost 750 gram. hard to hand hold without some support ie a window grill or lamppost

get the nikon series E 70-210 f/4.0 if you cant find the AF one. You lose metering though.

Customer Service

none

Similar Products Used:

the 70-200 f/4.5-4.6 manaul focus for the FM-10 and FE-10. This is too slow to MF easily.

Constant aperture (an extremely rare characteristics for non-f2.8 zoom nowadays), sharpness, high contrast, good color saturation & balance, images have traditional 'Nikon' taste, solid construction (engineering plastics on outside only).

Impractical focussing ring. Old design by today's standard (e.g. rotating front element, could be shorter and lighter). Center of gravity shift when focussing and/or zooming (non-IF design), aggravated by the weight of the lens.
Slow focussing.

This is a rare gem. It is a pity that Nikon did not make an updated version for it.
Comparing its optical configuration with those of the "legendary" Nikkor AIS 80-200 f4, you will find that they are the same. Personally I consider this is the same lens optically.
My reason is simple. From the manufacturing point of view, when you have an established 80-200 f4 design, what would you do if the marketing people ask for a new 70-210 f4 ? You know that the existing 80-200 f4 is claimed as "legendary"; both the lower and upper ends are just differ by a mere 10mm focal length (both ends on the telephoto sides). A logical way is to copy the 80-200 f4 and made necessary minor adjustments !! Then you will have a new product for minimal development costs !! That is why the Series E 70-210 f4 is so famous for its performance !
But this lens has the closest continuous macro focussing of ALL Nikkor zooms, both old and new !
This lens is among the earliest of all AF lenses made by Nikon. This point surpasses even the 80-200 f4 !
Though there is much plastic on the outside, the internals are predominantly metallic !! A visible example is the distance ring under the transparent viewing window is metallic -- same kind of construction as MF AIS lenses -- which is superfluous in AF lenses.
Also you will see solid metallic components when viewing through the front and back elements.
You will find solid filter threads, same as MF AIS lenses (you have plastic threads in all AF Nikkor nowasdays).
The current Nikon policy seems to force the customers to purchase those lenses they want to sell. Nikon dictates our needs.
Look at Canon : they have a EOS 70-210 f4 L, together with its brighter 80-200 f2.8 L brother. They gives the photographers the choice of a lighter but smaller constant aperture high performance alternative.
I wonder when will Nikon listens and make us one AF 70-210 f4 ED or thereabout ?
While that may not be likely, get this excellent but highly under-rated lens as your standard 70-210 or 80-200 zoom.
The weaknesses are all bearable once you see the capability of this great lens (optical, I mean).

Customer Service

Never used.

Similar Products Used:

Tamron SP 70-210 f3.5; Nikon AIS 80-200 f4;