An Old Design takes on the tough guys!
Written: Aug 10 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Pro build and optics
Cons: Old school focus and zoom mechanics. Somewhat heavy.
The Bottom Line: There is no other zoom from Nikon like this at anywhere near the price. It's a "sleeper lens" and has been for years. Most people keep them forever.
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| sailingshot's Full Review: Nikon AF Nikkor 35-70mm f/2.8D Lens |
The Nikon 35-70 2.D is an older design zoom lens of mostly metal construction. It will meter and focus on Nikon DSLRs but NOT the D40 series. It will also work nicely on 35mm film bodies. This is one of the best values in lenses around, so read on!
The Lens:
This actually feels heavier than the 17-35mm to me, though it's actually a bit lighter. At around a pound it's certainly not a lightweight lens.
The size of the lens is larger than some might expect, fully extended it's about the same size as the 70-300VR! Shown here upper left in by A kit case:
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/Thomas35s5/NikonKit.jpg
Build quality is superb. In fact I find it's old school construction among the best around. Everything is tight and solid. The push-pull zoom is silky smooth and I'm able to make FL transitions FAST. Focus speed is fine, but this is not an AF-S lens. On my D80 I did not feel the need for AF-S. The front element rotates as focus is not internal. There is no VR, AF-S and so. In spite of being brand new, the 35-70 looks like an old lens and with it's cold metal exterior, it feels like one to. Focus accuracy has been dead-on using my D80.
The Lens Hood:
The HB-1 is NOT included with this lens, but is worth having. It's a wide design with a bayonet mount. In this case, while it can be reversed for storage, it's not a small nesting package and many will prefer to store the hood elsewhere.
Macro mode:
Press a little silver button and rotate the zoom collar and PRESTO, you're in macro mode. Now I read mixed reviews of this feature, but I'm going to debunk them. The macro mode works GREAT! It's around 1:4 and very usable, quite sharp and I was really impressed. My first shot of a Spiderman toy. The face is under 1/2 an inch tall.
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/Thomas35s5/spidey.jpg
So I'll go right ahead and give this feature a thumbs up. Will I sell my Tamron 90? Nope, but the macro mode is just fine for flowers, big bugs and so on.
Focal Range:
Some dismiss this lens because of the focal range. But a lot of those people will walk around with a 35mm F/2 all day. I had the 35 and this lens is about as good at 35mm or perhaps better. So why not have the range to 70mm and macro to boot? I rarely spend much time below 35mm anyway. If your style is more on the wide end, then this lens does not make sense against the 17-25 and 17-55DX.
Obvious Battle:
At more than double the price, the 28-70 2.8 is the logical choice here. While it does not beat the optics of the 35-70, it is a much more modern lens with IF and AF-S. For some pro's it's worth paying for and no one should argue with that. The 28-70's optics are every bit as good, better or a little worse, depending on your sample, but both lenses are pro-grade and yield amazing results in experienced hands. The extra wide end of the 28-70 is also of value for many. The only clear advantage (besides price) of the 35-70 would be it's underrated macro mode.
Optical Performance:
Simply superb. Wide open at 35mm there is some smearing softness at the edges. You really have to look for it hard. Color, contrast/pop is quite good and bokeh is pleasing. Sharpness is on that great plane where USM (sharpening) is a matter of taste rather than a requirement. In fact, in spite of being called a portrait zoom by some, others may find the 35-70 a tad too sharp and seek to soften images a bit.
Final Recommendations:
Since I plan to buy another 20-35 or 17-35, this lens made more sense than the 28-70. It's also a super bargain considering I paid 450 for it. I've seen them new for 500.00 at places like B&H. If budget is a consideration, this lens is among the few pro quality zooms in this price range that you can still buy new. It's really a spectacular deal.
Hope this review was useful for someone....cheers!
Capt RB
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
sailingshot
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Reviews written: 94
Trusted by: 2 members
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