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© 2006 KenRockwell.com Lens Test Glossary About these reviews
Nikon 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-D. enlarge. get it here used Introduction This lens is far better than you think. Selling for $500 it covers an enormous range of focal lengths, and works far better that it has any right to. Also see the newer, smaller and less expensive 28-200G. which replaced it. I think this has been discontinued in 2006. The 28-200 AF-D was introduced in March of 1998. See its press release. For digital cameras get the 18 - 200 VR instead. Specifications It takes 72mm filters in its plastic threaded front. Here's the catch: it only focuses to about 6 feet at any focal length. Therefore you just can't get as close as you will want to for many potential images. Performance The lens is sharp, not what you wanted to hear me say. It's just fine. I had problems getting a sharp image at 200mm because the slow f/5.6 aperture made me use long shutter speeds, so I'm unsure if it's the lens or me hand-holding such a light lens at 1/60 of a second. Lo and behold, the focus is very accurate and I had no problem with AF system errors. That's better than many recent zooms. It's pretty sharp all over at other focal lengths. The AF action is relatively slow because there is a lot of reduction in the mechanical gear drive. One full turn of the AF screw focuses the lens from infinity to 30.' Sharpness and light falloff 28mm: 50mm 100-200mm Distortion: 28mm:
Barrel Close-Up Forget it. Minimum focus is about six feet at any focal length. Recommendations I'd try the newer, smaller and less expensive 28-200G first for the general fun applications most people buy this lens. If you want it, go for it! It works quite respectably for just about anything at least 6 feet away. It is also the best made lens you can get for your Nikon. Forget the discount competition (Tamron, Sigma etc.) which are plastic puppy poops. |
