Nikon 24-120mm VR
Nikon VR 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED. enlarge. I'd get mine here or here. July 2008: I'm activly updating this page for use on the D700 and D3. Check back. IntroductionThis was introduced at PMA in March 2003. It goes for about $540. It's flexible, but not very sharp on the D3 if you look too hard. It's compact, easy to use and works very well. If hadn't just bought a new 24-85 AFS this would be my first choice for a mid range zoom.
Nikon 24-120mm VR. enlarge. SpecificationsName: Nikon calls this the Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED. Optics: 15 elements in 13 groups. Close Focus: 1.6 feet (0.5m). This is not quite as close as the 24-85 AF-S but close enough for all sorts of fun. Filter Thread: 72mm, plastic. WRONG!!!! Big mistake: this is incompatible with standard 77mm filters. I have not tested to see if there is vignetting when used at 24mm with film and a 72 -> 77mm step up ring. This will not be a problem on digital cameras. Weight: 20 oz (575g) and is 3.0" (77mm) around by 3.7" (94mm) long, which is a pretty perfect compact size. Hood: HB-25 plastic bayonet hood, included. Nikon Product Number: 2145, current as of spring 2008. PerformanceIt's among Nikon's softest lenses on my D3. (It's great on an old D1H.) It has a lot of falloff (darker corners) at 120mm on my D3. I have not tried it with film. Distortion (on a DX digital SLR. Distortion will be worse on FX or a 35mm film camera.) 24mm:
strong barrel Maximum aperture: 24mm:
f/3.5 VR: It works well. On my D1H I got OK results at around 1/10 of a second at the tele end and 1/5 of a second at the wide end. AF: AF is excellent and fast. Remember that as an AF-S lens it WILL NOT autofocus with older AF cameras and as a G lens it will not work at all on any manual focus camera. Sharpness: OK, but if you worry about such things, this is among the softest Nikon lenses I've ever used. RecomendationsPersonally I'm very happy with my new 24-85 AFS and so have not bought one of these. If I was buying a new midrange zoom today I'd get this first. I and some others are concerned with some people's unhappiness with sharpness, although the one I used on my D1H were perfect. Thus, just buy from Adorama and send it back if you're unhappy with it; don't wait around for a review from me when you can try it yourself. That's what I do. Honest, I'm a photographer just like you and not a lens tester, so try it yourself and let me know.
More Information: Nikon, Japan and the press release.
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