Nikon 24-70mm F/2.8E ED AF-S VR

The Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8E ED AF-S VR is a fast-aperture, pro-grade normal-range zoom and long-awaited update to the . Key features include:

• Four-stop vibration reduction

• Fast, nearly silent autofocus and full-time manual focus

• Electromagnetic aperture

• Excellent depth-of-field control

Fast Normal-Range Zoom. The 24-70mm focal length is the bread and butter for many types of photography due to the wide to portrait-length range it covers. The fast f/2.8 aperture offers both depth-of-field control and flexibility for shooting in low light.

Silent Wave Autofocus Motor. The Silent Wave Motor provides quick, quiet, and precise autofocus performance for both still and video shooting. The internal focusing design retains the overall lens length during operation while contributing to a lighter overall weight. Full-time manual focus override is as simple as rotating the focus ring at any time.

Vibration Reduction. By far the biggest addition, this in-lens stabilization system offers up to 4 stops of correction to help combat camera shake.

Electromagnetic Aperture. Provides greater exposure control stability, which is especially beneficial when working with fast continuous shooting rates.

Updated Optics. The optical formula has been revised from its predecessor’s design. This includes a single unique aspherical extra-low dispersion element, three aspherical elements, one high refractive index element, and two extra-low dispersion glass elements that combine to minimize aberrations, distortion, coma, and flare.

You’ve come here looking for the 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom that offers superb image quality from edge-to-edge and throughout the zoom range. If you believe such a thing exists, then you probably collect u…

You’ve come here looking for the 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom that offers superb image quality from edge-to-edge and throughout the zoom range. If you believe such a thing exists, then you probably collect unicorns and Bigfoot tracks, too. This is a very, very good 24-70mm lens. It’s more different, rather than better, than it’s .

First, it has VR. If you think VR isn’t useful on a lens of this focal length, you haven’t tried VR on a lens of this focal length. It’s a really nice thing to have. So that’s better. Second, it has improved performance away from center at all focal lengths, a smoother look, and arguably nicer bokeh. Third, it’s not quite as sharp right in the center as the older Nikon 24-70 f/2.8 G. So it’s different and overall probably better. For many people it won’t be worth the price difference compared to the older version or third-party alternatives. For some people it definitely will be.