An Excellent Fast, Sharp Mid-Range Zoom
Written: Sep 26 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very Sharp, Fast, Rugged and Convenient To Use
Cons: Separate Zoom and Focusing Rings Might Befuddle Manual Focus Lovers
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| gregory-v's Full Review: Nikon AF Nikkor 35-70mm f/2.8D Lens |
Having started in photography back when zoom lenses were limited in their range and quality, I used single focal-length lenses for many years until I felt the zoom quality vs. convenience ratio rose to a standard close to prime lenses. (The one exception being the legendary but long-since discontinued 75-150mm f3.5 Series E zoom...)
I have used the f2.8 35-70mm lens professionally since 1995. It easily meets my expectations. I have found it to be exceptionally sharp, producing images that look great in a magazine or on a wall. It has excellent contrast and renders colors with the "snap" I have come to expect from the higher-quality Nikon lenses.
While the lens is somewhat heavier than similar variable-aperture lenses it is still considerably lighter than carrying 35, 50 and 85mm single focal-length lenses, plus not having to change lenses means you won't miss that once-in-a-lifetime shot. The f2.8 aperture provides brighter viewing through the camera's viewfinder and allows the photographer to produce photos in lower light than is possible with a variable-aperture lens. In my experience f2.8 is the minimum acceptable aperture on any lens. A fixed aperture lens is also preferable if you use studio or non-dedicated flash units where the changing aperture as you zoom is not communicated to the flash.
I tend to use both manual and auto-focus, depending on the subject and circumstances. I have found the 35-70mm zoom to focus very quickly when using auto-focus. Manual focus is a tad more problematic since it has separate rings for zooming and focusing and the rather narrow focusing ring is only acceptable at best. But the focus dampening produces a "feel" that is much better than other Nikon lenses in its price range. Only you can decide if a "two-touch" zoom is right for you; if you use manual focus rarely or not at all then it shouldn't be an issue.
Some people say that the 35-75mm zoom range is limited and somewhat "old fashioned." But in most cases a wider zoom range translates into a variable-aperture lens with usually lesser optical standards or, in the case of Nikon's 28-70mm f2.8 lens, a much higher price tag. And while 70mm is definitely on the short side for a portrait focal length, it does a much better than acceptable job when used for this purpose. If you are planning on doing a lot of portraits then you should consider using a single focal-length lens in the 85-135mm range.
I like to use this lens when I am covering fast-moving situations or when I just don't want to carry much gear. I often team the 35-70mm with a 20-35mm f2.8 zoom; I recently photographed an alternative country fair complete with live music and a samba parade and my entire kit was an N90 with MB-10 vertical grip, SB-26 flash and the 20-35mm and 35-70mm lenses. It all fit into a Lowepro Sideline Shooter fanny pack, one of the smaller and slimmer fanny packs available. If I anticipate needing a longer lens or doing many portraits then I add an 80-200mm f2.8 zoom or either an 85mm 1.8 or 135mm f2 lens.
This lens does have macro focusing capability at 35mm. But since it is only available at the shortest focal length (like most zooms with macro focusing...) it is of limited usefulness. Macro focusing at a 105mm or longer focal length allows you to put some distance between you and the subject and makes isolating the subject against a less distracting background easier. Serious macro photographers should consider using a single focal-length lens with built-in extension or using inexpensive extension tubes with a high-quality prime lens.
As always, I highly recommend using a skylight or UV filter and lens shade with any lens. A filter is easier and much cheaper to replace than the glass in a lens and the shade really does cut down on light that can cause flare (especially important for a zoom) and also provides some protection of its own.
Bottom line: this is a great zoom lens. It has excellent optics and is rugged enough for pro use. If you choose this lens you won't be sorry you did somewhere down the line.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
gregory-v
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Reviews written: 11
Trusted by: 3 members
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