How is this Nikon lense?

[keblerelf11]

Has anyone used this particular Nikon Lense

Nikon Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto AF Zoom Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Autofocus Lens

What were your thoughts on it Did you like it Were the pictures sharp Any issues with it It fits the range that I am looking in, actually a little more, but that might let me get rid of two of my lesser lenses rather then one to offset the cost.

[Winnie]

It gets reasonable reviews on FredMiranda. Never used one personally but then I also haven't heard people raving about it either.

Alex

[badpickev]

early version were not as good as the latter ones. i would check it against the 18-135 and the sigma 18-125. its plus against the other two is it has VR.

http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showcat.php/cat/13

[keblerelf11]

Ah, that is a handy review there. I am looking for sharpness more then anything. The VR part was just a bonus. If it is not sharp except for stopped way down, that is not what I am looking for I don't think. As the day has gone on I have seen very mixed results on this lense as a whole. Thanks badpickev

[badpickev]

yes i think the 18-135 is a very handy lens. to bad they did not add VR to it. i have the sigma 18-125 and am thinking of upgrade when i get the opportunity. you also have to remember on a dslr its a 36-180, which is not all that wide. you can also read a lot of reviews and opinions on the lens forum at dpreview.

[rootrider]

it's a mediocre lens with a decent zoom range and vr.. priced accordingly.

[cyclohexane]

Have you seen Thom's review? http://bythom.com/24120ens.htm

Moose Peterson likes it: http://www.moosepeterson.com/gear/24-120vr.html

[rootrider]

dunno if you were talking to me..
I've read all of Thom's reviews

It's just like I said.. he rates it at 3 out of 5 for performance and handling. That's mediocre . Granted, the VR lens is a lot better than the old 24-120.

I've shot a little bit with the 24-120 VR.. and considered buying it for the VR and range as a nicely priced walk around lens, but I really don't need more range than my 18-70 provides. Besides.. having 70 - 120mm at f/5.3 or smaller kills the whole thing for me

[badpickev]

Originally Posted by rootrider

but I really don't need

now i know i quoted a snippet and its way out of context, sort of.

this is really what the OP has to determine. if the lens with VR fills "his need" better than what was offered.

[keblerelf11]

Well, that is a good question. I don't necessarily need VR, but it would be handy to have when you just can't always have your tripod/monopod with you. But everything I have read about this lens is scaring me away from it really. So now I am kind of migrating towards the Tamron 28-75-mm f2.8 lens. Doesn't quite have the same reach, but I can live it. Thanks everyone for your help.

[badpickev]

if you can get to a shop that allows you to test it. really that way you will know for sure.

i have the tamron and my big complaint is the crop factor. its like a 42-112.5. so i am looking at he the tokina 16-50 f2.8 when its out in feb, to get back low.

[keblerelf11]

I am pretty content with my Nikon Kit lens of 18-55mm. For how much I use it, it serves its purpose well. That is the only reason the Tamron is looking appealing to me right now. That way I would have a nice coverage of all focal lengths thru 300mm.

[badpickev]

well its a good lens pretty close to the nikon version. i like it a lot. i shot this with it. S2 and tamron.

[keblerelf11]

Ah, how the tides can change at lunch time. I went to a local camera store in the small downtonw area around here, and he had a Nikon 18-70mm kit lense that he took out of a package to sell a D70s. he said he didn't know what to do with it, and I offered to buy it. $200. He let me open it, and it was still completely sealed and packaged. So after some thinking about it, I went ahead and got that one. I still want the tamron 28-75 for the constant 2.8, but I should be able to wait a while, and maybe something else will tickle my fancy. From everything I have read this will be a fine addition to my lens line up, and it will allow me to get rid of two lenses I currently have. So it was a 1 for two deal that saved me about $170. Can't beat that. There still is a place in this world for the mom and pop shops. Oh, and you can't beat his framing and matting, cheaper then anywhere I have ever checked, and he is very good at it.

[cyclohexane]

dunno if you were talking to me..
I've read all of Thom's reviews

Nope, I wasn't, but... =)

[badpickev]

kit lens for 200? good deal i dont think they sell that cheap used.

[keblerelf11]

I thought it was a good deal. He just kept saying he couldn't sell it as a new lens because it was in the kit box. I haven't seen the original box, but it looks like he could have sold it as a new lense and no one would have known the difference. Maybe I just got lucky. Usually all the stuff there is premium priced.

[cyclohexane]

It might not be eligible for the five-year warranty since it was removed from the kit and sold seperately, though I'm pretty sure it has it's own warranty card; mine did. Did you get a warranty card? The D70 (don't know about D70s) was one of the last cameras that came with a warranty card for the camera itself, so I'd assume the dealer took out the lens's warranty card (and gave it to you) if he didn't sell the lens to the customer.

That said, the warranty might still be invalid, as the warranty card has nothing to do with whether you get warranty service. Nikon keeps track of all serial numbers, and relies on dealer reporting of sales plus a copy of the customer's receipt (provided by you) to verify warranty status.

[rootrider]

Originally Posted by cyclohexane

Nope, I wasn't, but... =)

meh.. I couldn't tell

To the OP: sweet deal on the 18-70... it's a nice lens, especially for $200

[keblerelf11]

Cyclo, the warranty is going to be a 1 year deal through him. He had a form for me to fill out, and I just need to keep that and my receipt and for a year, I have him as a crtuch. It is basically a replacement contract. It breaks, he orders me a new one. I could live with that for the price. It is not the 5 year warranty of Nikon, but I will make do with it.