Nikon 24-70mm F/2.8G ED AF-S

The 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S is Nikon’s standard-range zoom. It’s optimized for edge-to-edge sharpness on full-frame cameras and is the predecessor to the . Key features include:

• Edge-to-edge sharpness

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

• 15-inch minimum focusing distance

• DX and FX compatible

Advanced Optical Design. The Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S contains two extra low-dispersion elements and Nikon’s Nano Crystal Coating with a Silent Wave Motor for high-speed autofocusing. It has a 15-inch minimum focusing distance.

I considered this one great when it was released, but others have narrowed the gap quite a bit since then. It is sharp, the autofocus is quick, and flare control and chromatic aberration are well …

I considered this one great when it was released, but others have narrowed the gap quite a bit since then. It is sharp, the autofocus is quick, and flare control and chromatic aberration are well controlled. It’s a bread-and-butter lens that no one is ever unhappy with. However, it’s pricey for what you get and the Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 VC offers image quality that’s close at a much better price and with vibration control to boot.

Not so much for those renting, but for those purchasing, one thing really irritates me: the zoom ring. The inner and outer barrels seem to catch on each other and the zoom mechanism becomes rough in older copies. It’s a little thing, but in a lens of this price its a little thing that bothers me. For those considering purchase, Tamron service and warranty is far superior to Nikon’s.
May, 2013