What they think of Nikor 24-85/2,8-4 D?

[Pedro D]

Hi

I am to think about acquiring this lens for the S2, have heard as many opinions and still I am not decidedly satisfied, I ask for who uses this lens or it had it used, what it thinks of this lens, and really it states its opinion adding what it is interesting on the same one.

Many thanks for your opinion!

Pedro D

[airpic]

Hello Pedro

I am using the 24-120 and I am very satisfied with the results.

Regards Christoph

[memobug]

My own 24-120 was mediocre on my D1. I've never bothered trying it on my S2. The 24-85 is a very good value, considering you get AFS and it covers a very useful range. This is the lens that I am likely to take when I run out of the house not knowing exactly what I might be photographing.

I would say it is a "very good value;" focus operation is "excellent," and it is "good" lens to choose for general purpose photography.

Regards,

Matt

[oddgirl]

Are there any other opinions out there about the 24-85 F2.8-4 D IF AF? I know the 24-120 has a bad reputation. I'm very close to buying a 24-85D right now. What's the pro's opinion? (I know there are a lot of you out there.) Is it a decent lens to use as the "old standby" -- the one you keep on your camera for most situations? If not, which lens would you chose (for under $600). I also have a Nikon 18-35. which is great, but a little extra zoom would be nice. Your expertise is most appreciated!

[Marvo]

Hi Pedro and Oddgirl,
I have the 24-85 2.8-4 D!
Wide open mine is reeeaaallly soft, but go down a stop and it all comes together. From f5.6 - f11 it is like a razor and shrper than my old manual focus AI 50mm f1.8 std lens. At f16 it starts to soften slightly and still a bit more at f22. Maybe some people wouldn't/don't find this softening excessive, but it's very visible against the mid aperture range shots. have a look at the images in my post:
http://www.s2pro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=233
By the way, it is slightly sharper than the G series version of this lens at all apertures - I tested both. One sample may vary to another but this has been my experience with what I tried and tested. Overall, I have to be realistic with what is achievable by a zoom lens across all apertures and I'd say I'm pretty happy with the lens and would buy the same again.
Best regards,
Marvo.

[Pedro D]

Hello

I want to thank your commentaries, I think that I was more clarified on the lens, about I begin I wait for one in the end of this month

In this space of time, I obtained to arrange lenses of these loaned, in which I obtained to take off some photos, and I was sufficiently satisfied with this lens in general terms.

If it will have more opinions, will be always comings and is here my gratefulness well.

My intention with this lens, is to try to arrange a intermedia lens, enters a Sigma 15-30 (that still not have)and with my current Nikkor 80-400 VR...

Many thanks to all :)

[Marvo]

Hi Pedro, Marvo here again!
you say you're thinking of a Sigma 15-30mm. Well, I have one of those too.
I tested it against the Nikkor 17-35 and the Sigma 17-35 and found the quality differences between them all small enough to say I'm better off going for the wider angle 15-30. This lens is a little soft round the edges near wide open and a little soft all over when fully stopped down (as all lenses that I've tested seem to be!) but around f8 - f11 it is definitly up to the job of getting everything available from the Fuji CCD sensor and definitely as sharp as the other two lenses I tried in the store.

Happy shooting,:cool:
Marvo.

[memobug]

I had an Engagement session earlier tonight and I decided to use the 24-85 AFS G because I didn't want my 28-70 AFS anywhere near the sand, and this way I wouldn't need to change lenses

No prizewinner here, but since it's the only extensive shoot I have done with that lens so far I thought I would post a pic for you.

http://www.memobug.com/IFC/gallery/Weddings/Amber_Steve/Engagement/sm_Dscf0605_adj.jpg

This, of course, has been resized for the web. The source file is really quite good. The lens was closed down quite a bit for the sunset f/8 - f/11, so I could use off-camera slave flash. Next time I will get a gel on the fill!

Regards,

Matt

[Pedro D]

Hi Marvo and Matt

They forgive me a certain delay of reply to your texts, but I have not had access net during one days.

Marvo:

What you find in the lenses in cause, I have the same formed opinion, I had now the chance to try this weekend the 15-30, and it really is as you say, has its smoothness in wide openings, but when we use diagragmas more closed, it is a lens with sufficient it will even detail, it judges to be a common situation in the all great angular, the exactly most expensive and famous ones in the way, and this does not run away too the rule, gains it advantage really is of 15mm, what really in Fuji S2, the problem of the soft edges, either minimized for its factor of multiplication, and that this symptom is more evident in traditional 35mm.

Memobug:

Very good shot Matt, and tank you for its attention in placing a photo to be able to inside appreciate a little the quality of the lens of the limitations of web, but very is well balanced this image.
Normally which are settings that it uses in camera? and the reading of light in this example, was weighed to the center or matrix?

Already I have some examples with these lenses here, to show to you.
http://www.pbase.com/pmld/gallery_of_tests

However I use to advantage to invite to give you to a visit my galleries of color and black and white. :cool:

Marvo and Matt, tank you, for your atencion again! :)

Photographic greetings!!

[Debby]

Nice shot memo bug! - thanks for the addition info about the gel.
I see now Thats exactly what is needed.
Thats a very dramatic shoreline - actually more scary to
me than romantic. where is that?

LENS: DO YOU MEAN THE G lens? From your post you talk
about asf - which only the G has right?

which is better, the older D, or new G?

thanks

Deb

[amazingthailand]

I have the Nikor 24-120, which I use as my standard lens on my N90s. I am very happy with it. But it is not wide enough for the S2. So I added the Sigma 15-30mm and now I can do real wide angle shots with the S2. I like this lens, but I think it is softer than the 24-120.

Cheers,
Declan

[memobug]

Yes, I mean the 24-85G AFS. The beach shot is at Natural Bridges State Park in California, south of Santa Cruz.

Tonight I shot a wedding today using this lens for all of the bridal portraits and small group formals and a 17-35 2.8 AFS for the candids. I love the AFS. Focus is fast and crisp. I would say it is a the 24-85G is a staple.

http://www.s2pro.com/gallery/data/505/160dscf0850_sm.jpg



Regards,

Matt