The 28 - 80mm f/3.5 - 5.6 -- A new Nikon for a new day
Written: Dec 19 '00 (Updated Mar 06 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Solid optical performance
Cons: Has some not-so-Nikon quirks
The Bottom Line: While not characteristically Nikon, this lens provides amazingly high value for its rock bottom price. A super lens for beginner photographers.
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| sweeper's Full Review: Nikon Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto AF Zoom Nikkor 28-... |
It's an odd bird this one is. I've handled quite a few Nikkors in my day from the mushroom shaped 8mm fish-eye to Nikon's massively heavy, mortar sized 600mm f/4.0 telephoto. But this new 28 - 80mm f/3.5 - 5.6 zoom had me scratching my head wondering: "Is this REALLY a Nikon?" After a month long evaluation of this lens, my skepticism turned to moderate curiosity and finally wound up giving away to satisfaction as I put this lens through its paces.
This lens marks a major break in Nikkor lens design philosophy. Apparently the design team was asked to forget tradition and produce an easy to handle, light weight, highly performing mid-range zoom that is ridiculously affordable. Apparently the result was a success but I'm still scratching my head.
Nikon's lenses have always enjoyed a deserved reputation for excellence and are recognized as such even by those who aren't photographers. Much of this arises from Nikon's history and dogged tradition of "over" building its lenses mechanically and assuring lifetime durability. However, from the standpoint of the casual SLR user, the price of such engineering and manufacturing has been high. Perhaps too high.
Meanwhile other lens makers have realized that the majority of SLR users do not place the demands on their equipment as a professional would. Therefore, even as they have improved optical performance, designers have found ways to economize in building their lenses. For the most part, Nikon has resisted this trend. Until now.
The most salient feature on this zoom is the plastic lens flange. This is the first time a non-steel flange has appeared on a Nikkor. Most camera makers already have years of experience using poly-carbonate in the construction of camera bodies and other parts. Canon has gone so far as to use it on the lens mount of its Rebel series SLR bodies. This high-tech plastic is amazingly rugged, durable and proven in high stress applications. Being molded into a finished shape is much cheaper than machining stainless steel stock. It is also much lighter than steel which plays into the weight consciousness of the beginner market. Its intended user may leave this lens on the body permanently so wear is of little concern. At a street price of just over $100, this lens is a bargain. However when sold together with a camera as a "kit", the effective price can be half that. Amazing.
Another big departure from the Nikon norm is the lens' filter size. Nikon tends to build their lenses to accommodate filters in its regular 52mm, 62mm, 72mm sizes. This keeps shooters with a quiver of lenses from having to buy a new set of filters for every different lens. Oddly, this zoom uses a 58mm filter. Long time Nikon users will find this strange but, then, long time Nikon users are NOT the intended market for this lens. Still, those using this as a first lens and moving on to other Nikkors should also prepare to buy more filters.
This lens is nicely mated with Nikon's beginner level SLRs including the no longer available N50, the soon to become unavailable N60, and the new N65. For a regular user of Nikon equipment, the first impression when handling this lens is its light weight. This lens feels lighter than my first mid-range zoom with a narrower focal length of 35 - 70mm. In real terms, its less than eight ounce mass is actually lighter than my prime lenses. A large zoom control makes adjusting the focal length very easy. As with most non-pro Nikkor AF lenses, the focus ring feels under-damped but is easily accessed. The unit I tested seemed to have more, we'll call it, "mechanical tolerance" than what I normally find in a Nikkor. That is with a little coaxing, I could actually bend the entire lens barrel assembly. The bend was oh so subtle but disconcerting nonetheless. Naturally I was afraid of the "centering" quality of the optical path.
The optical formula in this lens is seven elements in seven groups with at least one aspherical element. The aspherical "glass", actually optical quality molded acrylic, helps reduce spherical aberration. The closest focus is 18 inches which is par for this price range. The minimum aperture is f/22.
Handling this lens on an N65 was a joy. As a package the camera and lens was extremely light and non-obtrusive when not in use and hanging on a neck strap. My first subject was a grass volleyball game. I was able to follow action easily at both extremes of the focal range. The zoom ring is a relatively short throw from shortest to longest focal length which is a plus for action photographers. I also took a variety of snapshots where I found this lens very hand-holdable.
To test sharpness, my tripod mounted shots included close ups, indoor shots with and without flash, and long shots. I switched between auto and manual focusing.
A lens' ultimate measure is the sharpness or lack thereof of the slides on the light table. It was here that this lens found redemption. A high power loupe revealed my slides were sharp and contrasty. Performance around f/8 was near pro-quality. At the extremes of the focal ranges, I could detect softening of the images and noticeable barrel distortion (lines curving outward at the image's periphery) but not as much as I expected. While not a choice for full page spreads, this lens is more than adequate for a beginner's needs. To put things in perspective, this lens outperforms zooms from a decade ago that pros were using.
When keeping in mind the target market for this lens, I believe Nikon has succeeded in bringing high performance, albeit with some twists, to the beginner SLR user on a budget. While not mechanically solid as Nikkors of greater cost, optically, the
lens nearly swims, walks and quacks like a Nikon. An odd bird but an imminently compelling bird.
Please Note: The description in Epinions' manufacturer's section incorrectly indicates this lens has the "Silent Wave" motor. In fact, it is auto-focused conventionally.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
sweeper
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Member: David Burckhard
Location: San Jose, CA
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