Quite versatile range. With the aid of diopters I've even used it as a macro lens! Cheap, can be used in conjunction with other Nikon bodies, unlike the G series. Filter size makes it easy to get a variety of filters on a budget.

Plastic mount overall, and corner softness, especially at the widest end. However, the sharpness comes up when you need it and where you need it, and the softness others complain about can be compensated when shooting at f8.

This is an unfairly trashed glass! Sure, it's not the best, but from that to call it crap is just a big load of pretentiousness. Most shooters run down their lens kits, forgetting that a while ago, their lens kit was a 50/1.8 glass. With this one... yes, it has a plastic mount and it does cause vignetting, but it's a legitimate workhorse, the focal length range is the most useful there is, and, when combined with reasonably fast film, the results are decent. In other words, a workhorse, not a thoroughbred. I was thinking about "upgrading" it... when I remembered all I've done with it, and changed my mind. I'll keep it AND get myself another zoom too; this one has been the happy companion for my F80, and they're bound to spend quite a bit more time together, because this lens can be tough as nails at times. I've hit it (accidentally) a couple of times (once against a chair, and then later, against a wall, both times mounted) without any further consequence.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Sigma big zoom (70-300 f4-5.6 DL) Nikon AF 50/1.8

colour saturation and rendering, contrast, sharpness, light

It's all plastic !!

You get what you pay for. Bottom line. Somebody who expects solid material and craftsmanship also has to pay for it. But this does not mean that this lens is not capable of measuring up in terms of picture quality. The results are the SAME of what I would expect from a 500.00 Dollar lens and I give praise to Nikon's great lens quality. Try to compare this lens to the Minolta 28-80 AF lens and you see lightyears of difference in quality. I am now looking into the 35-70 mm AF D lens but this is only because of the f2.8, nothing else. The 28-80 lens will be my ilent backup lens for a long time to come.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta 28-80.

Good colour balance (at ideal light conditions) , fast AF

Leaves you baffled when once in a while you get really nasty results , when you were hoping otherwise.

It is just an average lens which obviously gives average results. I have been using it for over 3 years and I must admit for ideal light conditions and for a beginner it not a bad deal.

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 17-35 EX (Simply superb)

light weight, aperature ring unlike G series, sharp.

plastic mount will wear. But that will take some time. Not the fastest lens, but ok for general photography.

A few comments on this lens in general. I aquired it with a nikon f80, but had no need for it. It was passed on to my girlfriend. However, I have used it on several occasions. For the price you would pay for this lens, I would highly recommend it to any beginner or someone looking for a af zoom at a good price. I hear many people complaining about the plastic build of the lens, and the cheap design, but what they fail to comment on is the actual performance of the lens. I have found it to be sharp and have a good degree of contrast and rendition. Of course the plastic build is not as good as the more expensive nikkors, but if this lens is compared to its equivalents made by minolta, canon, sigmas etc, you will find that it creates superior images. For the price, it is great. Thats really what counts.

Customer Service

never needed it serviced. In response to a comment I read earlier that someone had broken two of these lenses because of the plastic mount. This lens has been used heavily and has held up fine for the last year and a half and shows no sign of quitting.

Similar Products Used:

too many to count really.

it takes pictures [albiet slightly soft ones...] light weight

build quality image quality build quality

as my first foray into slr phtography, i got this lens bundled with a nikon f60 [n60] and a 70-300 f4-5.6. the build quality is... bad. very very bad. i broke two of them, while they were mounted, in my bag. that's never happened before or since. when i broke the second one and had to resort to using the 70-300 full-time, i learnt the meaning of image quality. with the 28-80, the images are just plain soft and lack contrast. nikon have since discontinued this lens yay! and i now have a sigma 28-105 f4-5.6.

Customer Service

they replaced two of them without fuss, and have since discontinued it.

Similar Products Used:

sigma 28-105 f4-5.6 nikon af 70-300 f4-5.6 olympus 28 f2 olympus 50 f1.8

Cost, sharp, light

None found

This is a descent lens for the money. It’s sharp and focuses fast. I have made enlargements up to 11x14 from it with great results. It’s not the 28-70 AFS but it doesn’t cost $1500 either. I have used it on a F4s and N70

Customer Service

None needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 35-70

- The images are sharp and color rendition is good. - The 28-80mm range is good for just about most situations.

- Slow auto focus - Because it is a slow lens, flash and or high speed film is often needed. Except on the brightest of days, using Velvia 50 is not an really option.

No, this lens in not bad at all. In fact, considering the fact that you get it almost for free (the body sans lens, is not that much cheaper) makes it a very good proposition. I challenge reviewers who complain about this lens to do a "blind" test comparing 6x4 pictures taken with this lens at 50mm and stopped down to f/11 with ones taken with the Nikon 50mm 1.8 at the same setting. You'll be surprised... In short, if you are a beginner who is't sure: don't worry, this lens is good and will allow you to progress. Later on you can make up your own mind.

Customer Service

De Beuckelaer in Belgium do a good and cheap job. Very happy with them.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 28mm 2.8 Nikon 50mm 1.8 Olyumpus (Zuiko) 38mm 1.8

The lens was purchased along with my N80 from B&H. The lens was very cheap, but even as an amaeture I was not impressed with it. Not something that I would keep around long. Might want to consider other alternatives such as the 50mm 1.8 D which is about the same price, or if there's extra cash try 85mm 1.8, or 105mm 2.5 lens. These lens are more worth the money and is at reasonable price. BTW, the n80 is a great camera. No complaints.

CHEAP, quality optics, multi-coated elements, good speed for an amateur zoom, good range when compared with 35mm~80mm Nikkor, faster focus when compared with 35mm~80mm Nikkor, easier to manual focus when compared to the 35mm~80mm Nikkor.

Plastic EVERYWHERE, usual flaws with amateur zoom lenses, but not too bad overall.

The AF Zoom-Nikkor 28mm~80mm f/3.5-f/5.6D is actually a better lens than everybody says it is. It is obviously targeted towards the amateur, but is sold with most autofocus Nikon SLRs. It is very sharp for what it is, and flare is not too bad. A little on the light side though, due to it's plastic construction. Really, this is perhaps the only lens most amateurs need to start off with.

Customer Service

Never needed it. It would cost less to purchase an identical lens.

Similar Products Used:

AF Zoom-Nikkor 35mm~80mm f/4.0-5.6D, Tamron 28mm~80mm f/3.5-f/5.6D, Minolta 35mm~70mm f/3.5-f/5.6

For $99 you can''t expect more from OEM. If you can''t spend more, check out Sigma lenses. Sigma is very good and more bang for the buck than Nikon.

Quality MADE IN CHINA , nasty plastic mounting ring,less than expected image sharpness from Nikon.

I bought this lens with my N80 body, and was not impressed with it at all. I could not understand why picture quality was the same as with my P&S Canon you could buy used online for 30 bucks, so I returned it, and ordered NikonZoom28-105 instead. This was my first serious camera purchase so I did not realize I have to spend above $300 to get an enthusiast quality optics.

Customer Service

Not Used

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 (much better but at 3x the price)