Nikon 24-85mm 2.8-4?

[DCerezo]

Is this lens worth buying? Is it a good budget alternative to the 24-70mm 2.8? Does anyone on the forum have this lens? I'm really interested in using it to shoot events until I can earn enough coin to pick up the 24-70. Any advice would be helpful as there isn't much advice or reviews on the web. Thanks in advance.

 

[Nikanon]

Is this lens worth buying? Is it a good budget alternative to the 24-70mm 2.8? Does anyone on the forum have this lens? I'm really interested in using it to shoot events until I can earn enough coin to pick up the 24-70. Any advice would be helpful as there isn't much advice or reviews on the web. Thanks in advance.

Nice review.

Nikkor AF 24-85mm f/2.8-4 D IF - Review / Test Report

 

[DCerezo]

Is this lens worth buying? Is it a good budget alternative to the 24-70mm 2.8? Does anyone on the forum have this lens? I'm really interested in using it to shoot events until I can earn enough coin to pick up the 24-70. Any advice would be helpful as there isn't much advice or reviews on the web. Thanks in advance.

Nice review.

Nikkor AF 24-85mm f/2.8-4 D IF - Review / Test Report

I read this before, it's not a review... It's an overview. I want to know how the IQ is TTL...

 

[David444]

Did you go to the next page that shows the results of the test? It's complete with MTF charts.

Nikkor AF 24-85mm f/2.8-4 D IF - Review / Test Report - Analysis

Anyway I purchased the 24-85mm f/2.8-4 when I almost made the switch to Nikon. I found it to be a good performer on a D300 with IQ close to that of some of my Canon glass. I would say it's worth buying, if you get a good deal on it you wont lose much money when you go to sell it.

 

[goodguy]

I just bought the 24-85 3.5-4.5 VR.
I know its not exactly the lens you are asking about, this is the lens that replaced it.
I dont thin their is a huge price difference between them in the used market and I was also considering your lens.
I decided to go with this more modern one, the VR is actually VR II which is the second generation vibration reduction system and while its a bit slower overall I read this lens is better.
So far I found all my pictures coming out from this lens to be crisp and sharp.
Its especially good on crop sensor cameras.

I would advise you also to consider this lens.

 

[Rafterman]

I tested out a used one on my D7000 at my local camera shop about a month ago. They were asking $350 and it was in pretty decent shape. I never took it outside the store for test shots, but it produced some sharp images for me inside with the available light. It has a macro mode from 35-85mm, which the newer 24-85 VR doesn't, in case that's a feature you'd benefit from. I too have read that the newer version, though slower, is sharper and a better overall lens.

Here's some more info about the older lens on Ken Rockwell's website: Nikon 24-85mm f/2.8-4D AF Nikkor Test Review © 2004 KenRockwell.com

PLEASE, take that review with a grain of salt, because it is known that he'll sometimes badmouth good gear, yet often sing the praises of equipment he didn't even really test. I provided that link just so you could get some more info about the lens itself.

I'd also recommend you take a look at the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 lens as well. It's just $475 brand new, and about $300-350 used if you look around. It's been around 10-years, but everyone loves it. Don't rule out the 16-85mm DX VR lens either. That thing is SHARP and can be bought used for around $400-500.

 

[DCerezo]

Does the 16-85mm vignette a lot?

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Is this lens worth buying? Is it a good budget alternative to the 24-70mm 2.8? Does anyone on the forum have this lens? I'm really interested in using it to shoot events until I can earn enough coin to pick up the 24-70. Any advice would be helpful as there isn't much advice or reviews on the web. Thanks in advance.

Depends on what you're willing to sacrifice. Out the gate the budget buy it will only shoot f 2.8 on one side, and its lacking the nano coating, and lacking build quality.

 

[Rafterman]

Does the 16-85mm vignette a lot?

As close to zero as I think you're gonna get: Nikon 16-85mm Review

(again, just using his site as a reference because of the falloff test)

I tested that lens at my local shop as well and it was crisp. The VR is great too. They wanted $500 used, which is a bit steep for me, considering you can get it brand spanking new at Amazon for $550.

 

[KmH]

The AF 24-85 mm f/2.8-4D is a great lens, not just good, for the price.

Being an AF lens the focus mechanism is driven by the auto focus motor and screw-drive system in the camera body.
Nikon's 'compact' entry-level DSLR's don't have that auto focus motor and screw-drive system. (D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3100, D3200, D5000, D5100, D5200)

 

[DCerezo]

Does the 16-85mm vignette a lot?

As close to zero as I think you're gonna get: Nikon 16-85mm Review

(again, just using his site as a reference because of the falloff test)

I tested that lens at my local shop as well and it was crisp. The VR is great too. They wanted $500 used, which is a bit steep for me, considering you can get it brand spanking new at Amazon for $550.

I was only concerned cause I'm shooting on a D600.

 

[Rafterman]

I was only concerned cause I'm shooting on a D600.

In that case then, you don't want the 16-85mm. It's a DX lens only. I didn't know what camera body you were using. Go with the 24-85mm instead.

 

[DCerezo]

The AF 24-85 mm f/2.8-4D is a great lens, not just good, for the price.

Being an AF lens the focus mechanism is driven by the auto focus motor and screw-drive system in the camera body.
Nikon's 'compact' entry-level DSLR's don't have that auto focus motor and screw-drive system. (D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3100, D3200, D5000, D5100, D5200)

Have you owned it? If you say yes, my mind is made up and I will get it. It should hold me over until I can shell out the coin for the 24-70...

 

[Rafterman]

Have you owned it? If you say yes, my mind is made up and I will get it. It should hold me over until I can shell out the coin for the 24-70...

Here's what KmH said to me in a older thread of mine where I was asking for recommendations on a portrait/macro lens. It has a couple helpful links...

I would suggest looking hard at the Nikon 24-85mm f/2.8-4.0D IF AF Zoom Nikkor Lens.

The lens has a 1:2 Macro capability from 35 mm to 85 mm, and extremely fast screw-drive AF .
FM Reviews - Nikon 24-85mm f/2.8-4D IF AF
Nikkor AF 24-85mm f/2.8-4 D IF - Review / Test Report

 

[KmH]

The AF 24-85 mm f/2.8-4D is a great lens, not just good, for the price.

Being an AF lens the focus mechanism is driven by the auto focus motor and screw-drive system in the camera body.
Nikon's 'compact' entry-level DSLR's don't have that auto focus motor and screw-drive system. (D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3100, D3200, D5000, D5100, D5200)

Have you owned it? If you say yes, my mind is made up and I will get it. It should hold me over until I can shell out the coin for the 24-70...

Yes, I owned the lens. It was usually on my 'walk around' camera body. I also used it a lot for product photography, group portraits, and closer in sports action shots.

Update your profile. I mentioned the 'compact' Nikon's based on the gear you list there.

My suite of 'budget' Nikon zoom lenses was:
Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED IF Autofocus DX Nikkor Zoom Lens
Nikon 24-85mm f/2.8-4.0D IF AF Zoom Nikkor Lens.
Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Nikon 200-400mm f/4G AF-S SWM SIC ED IF VR II Nikkor Super Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras