Sharpness,superb range of focal length, and quality of construction

Really none for the feature's of this zoom's price and range.

I have tested this lense against the nikkor 28mm-105mm,the tamron 28mm-200mm ,and the nikkor 28mm-200mm somewhat more of the same range and more of a realistic comparision than some of the review's I've read which compare a "zoom" to a "fixed focal length" lense.All shots done on a tripod and with a cable release,metered in manual mode, three different types of shots-scenic,portrait,and low-contrast.The 24mm-120 was clearly the winner, just edging out the 28-105 nikkor.I recommend when testing compare like lense's for an accurate test.Oh and the speed of this lense being slow,if your shooting a landscape outside on a decent day come-on guy's your going to stop it down for depth of field 99% of the time.If your using it for a portrait of friend inside your most likely going to shoot at f8,with a flash, and if you do it deliver's.If you want to shoot an available-light portrait use your fast-tele.Come-on Guy's it's a 24mm-120mm zoom that delivers similar to a 105mmf2.5 nikkor manual-focus and 80mm-200mm 2.8D.
Enjoy Curt

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nikkor 28mm-105mm,80mm-200mm2.8D,tamron 28-200, tamron 200mm-400mmL.D.Many More

range
nikon
contrast

wide open, err...!

I love zooms for their convenience and particularly like the semiwide (24-28) focal lengths. This lens encompases about 99.99% of everything I use. The only, ONLY thing is the somewhat slow speed at 120mm, but the reason why it is bad is because the lens is not super sharp at wide open (120mm). I have enlarged some shots with my Olympus Epic f2.8 lens and they are sharp! (with 90line/mm, it's got to be sharp)- My 24-120 wide open is of course not as sharp as the Epic stopped down. The Nikon lens has great contrast, which makes up for it and the lens range is perfect for me. As I enlarge more shots, I will post a more detailed and accurate review. (I was just given an enlarger with Nikon 50mm enlarging lens) As my results now, lenses from any camera with are faster than f2.8 (Epic=f2.8, Hexar=f2.0, 50 f1.8), are all sharper when used at similar speeds. At the same aperatures, like f8/f11, I'm guessing that quality is all high. Again, I will enlarge many shots to test this hypothesis. Using 400 speed film is NOT a substitute for a fine grained film and no longer an option for me now that I enlarge my own prints. (ok, maybe TMAX400)

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Incredable zoom range. Fast auto focus. Compact.
Great all around lens.

Heavy.
Dark corners at 24mm. Could be of a faster f stop.
Takes large and expensive 72mm filters.

Great lens for all around use and great for travel. I use this lens a lot and I am please with the results that I get. It is an expensive lens and could produce better images at 24mm. I would sugest buying a different lens if you are looking for lighter wieght equipment.

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Sigma 50mm macro f2.8.
Sigma 70-300mm f3.5-5.6 APO.
Sigma 28-80mm f3.5-5.6

5X lens-incredible
nice balance of contrast/sharpness

an excellent zoom, but not ultimate qual.-duh!

This is an incredible lens- a 5X zoom range. I have to admit that it is probably better to learn photography with a standard set of fixed focal length prime lenses- to know when and how to manipulate the focal length for effect, not just to stand there and zoom.
It is sharpest at the wide end about 2 stops in. At the long end with enlargement at F8, the edges are a tiny bit soft- not visible under 4X6 prints, though. This is not a problem at all for portraits. I know Photodo.com gives it a low ball average, but that does not define total image quality. I agree that sometimes the lens does not seem to be the sharpest lens I have used (Nikon 50 AF F1.8, Hexar 35 F2,Canon FD 50 F1.8), but has a very decent contrast (and color) level that looks very pleasing to the eyes. Lines/mm is not as important as how much control over the quality of printing/developing. I have lots of proof of this- For example, I have enlarged some of my favorite negatives and was able to pump up the contrast and the apparent "sharpness" by controlling the print process. I also noticed that most decent lenses will produce excellent enlargements. I have a few negatives from a Tokina 75-150, which I no longer have, and current enlargements prove that those negatives held excellent detail. Back to the 24-120- the range is perfect. I am completely satisfied with the range. I am not a professional and do not shoot slides, but regulary print anything (even color negs) on my B/W enlarger. An interesting shot or memorable image taken with decent equipment will look excellent when enlarged. The flexibility and contrast of this lens mated with an SLR body gives an incredible amount of creative possibilities. I suggest people stop worrying too much about equipment and just find better images. (I just dug out some old PlusX negs taken with a Canon FD1.8 lens and marvel at the F8 quality of some roof shot, where the wood grain was so sharp and clear, I swear I could blow it up to 20x30 without any visible grain- ok, maybe I'm dreaming) The 24-120 will not stop your creativity even if you have to stuff your camera with 400 speed film. Pricey if you let it sit in your closet and wait for events to happen. 5 stars if you bring it!

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various zooms-I love zooms

Versatility
Weight

Sharpness
Speed

I admit to being a Nikon fanatic, but this lens isn't the sharpest they have ever produced.
But, any self descibed expert that expects a lens with this range of focal lengths to be razor sharp is on another planet.
I use it for non-critical work where I only want to carry one lens.
The rest of the time I use an AFS 17-35, 50mm 1.4 and an AFD 80-200 2.8.
They are sharp as anything, but cost over £2,000 and weigh alot.

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Excellent focal length range.
Build quality is good.
Great lens when traveling.

Weight
Large filter sizes needed

Excellent travel lens that is capable of producing great quality images. The images themselves are not as sharp as primes but I think that it is a fair trade-off for the convenience of not having to change different lenses each time. The value is even better since I managed to get a great deal on one at a local Houston store due to a semi-annual sale they were having. I am giving this lens a 4 star only because the images produced are not the last word on detail and a bit soft compared to the primes I own(105 macro, 20 2.8, 60 macro) but I may be nitpicking here.

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Sigma 28-105

There must be a good deal of sample variation in this 15 element lens, because mine is very sharp and I am picky as hell with the lenses I shoot with. Color is good, distortion is well controlled, and I find mine is sharp even wide open at the 24 to 50mm range, and excellent in the 80 to 120 range one stop down. I often travel with just this lens, an N90S, and a small powerful Metz flash. Its also the lens I use for most parties and social events.

Sure, I wish it was f4.0 at the long end, but then it would probably need 82mm filters and weigh 10 more ounces.

I still think its one of the most versatile lenes a Nikon person can own. There has to be sample variations that are noticeable, howver, becase I can not beleive those unhappy with the lens have one as good as mine.

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Nikon in general has been good to me over the years.

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Sigma 18 to 35, Nikon 20mm f2.8, Sigma 28 to 85, Tokina 17mm

*Wider range than a lot of zooms
*Good feel
*Fairly sharp

*A bit slower than I would like
*Filter Size
*Not as sharp as a prime

My Tokina was my lens of choice at home, but it was too heavy to take on a long trip so I bought the Nikon to fill a light, "all in one" perpose. It served well on my last trip. Overall an excelent lens for the unsacrificing weight concious traveler.

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Sigma 28-105 3.8-5.6
Tokina 28-70 2.6.-2.8

Superb range
compact size
'close' focussing
extremely versatile

slowish, but not terrible
rubber grip attracts dust and grabs cloth easily

There is no better one lens solution for my Nikon bodies. I like Nikon because I can use ALL my lenses on ALL my bodies, even my old Nikkormat and beloved EM. This lens is incredible! The range is perfect for me and I do use the 120mm end often. For AF bodies, F5.6 at 120, it wreaks havoc on accurate autofocussing. Some magazine claims that it is more like F6.3 at that end, which is beyond claimed AF parameters for some Nikon AF bodies. I tend to agree, it is very dark at the end, but since the lens is not variable focus while zooming, it is not a big problem. The lens performs! Nowadays, I carry the lens on a body with me always and it is indispensible for street photography/photojournalism. I can easily grab the environmental shot, then instantly isolate subjects near wide open at the long end. Admittedly, I do this all with adequate light, but keep my 400 speed emergency film nearby. Funny thing, when I use this with my manual bodies, I get much, much more accurately focussed shots. They have more sharpness and contrast- people who complain about this lens may try this. Color and contrast are excellent for this type of lens and is consistent with all the current AF lenses, which is superb by the way. The lens is much more compact than I thought, about the size of 2 50mm manual lenses. 120mm is an excellent long focal length which is much greater than 85mm (an obvious stab at the 24-85). Be careful of flare at all times- a strategically placed hand should suffice. I do use a Nikon UV multicoated filter because I love this lens so much- but I do know that it reduces absolute resolution a small amount. The possibilities for this lens are endless because of the incredible performance and compact size. It is truly a pleasure to use this fantastic lens.

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I love Nikon lenses, so what? They're all good.

very wide range
a versatile lens
a steal for a lens of this range

lens hood is ugly

A very value for $$ lens with those range,it is a perfect lens for travelling if u only wanna bring one.i do Portraits with it too and loves it.Never regret getting it never will=)

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haven tried

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