Nikon AF Nikkor 35-70mm f/2.8D Review

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December 26, 2008

The Nikon AF Nikkor 35-70mm f/2.8D was the first of Nikon's pro AF mid-range zoom lenses. The lens is of the one touch type, meaning you zoom with a push/pull movement. The lens also has a "macro" (should really be called close focus and not macro) setting which gives you a maximum magnification of 1:7.7/1:4. This lens has had numerous positive remarks since it debuted in 1987, so it's only fair that I review it in 2008 and compare it to it's newer replacement.

Specifications

Positives

• Second hand price, cheap alternative to the newer lenses.
• Size. Quite a bit smaller then it's newer replacements.
• Sharp. It delivers impressive sharpness even wide open, though corners are a bit soft wide open.
• Contrast, even wide open contrast is fairly good.

Drawbacks

• No DOF(depth of field) markings.
• AF speed, could be better.
• Light fall-off/Vignetting. Wide open there is a small amount of vignetting visible, not so bad it's a big problem though.
• Rotating front. Not very fun if you use Pola or grad filters.
• Flare, flare can be quite nasty if you have the sun just outside the corners of the lens.

Verdict

I know a lot of people complain about the coverage of this lens(especially on the DX format), I have to agree that for my use this lens is not as wide as I want either(even on a FX camera). It does however work pretty well in the whole range, better to have it perform well in the whole range then to have a wider focal length that doesn't perform well at all. The optical quality of the lens is rather good, almost at the top of the list. Corners are a bit soft wide open, but nothing that I can't live with or work around. My main complaint about this lens is the rotating front element and the focus speed. On the good side is the weight and size of the lens, and of course the Sharpness wide open. Peak performance of the lens is f/5.6-f/11 where the lens delivers stunning results. It can't really be compared to it's newer replacements though, especially the new AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G which is in a class of it's own.

Features
Performance
Build
Value

Alternatives

Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G IF-ED From: $1,649.95 USD

Nikon AF 24-85mm f/2.8-4.0D IF From: $679.95 USD

Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF VR From: $529.95 USD

Sigma AF 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Price from: $569.00 USD

Sigma AF 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG. Price: $349.00 USD

Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Price: $459.00 USD

*Prices and rebates are subject to change. Listed price is from March 7, 2010

Sample Pictures

Images have been imported to photoshop CS3 through Capture NX 2 thus leaving the original image settings as shot, I. E white balance, sharpening, etc .etc. Full resolution sample images are in RGB color mode. Check out my copyright page for information about usage of these images.