A great lens. Very sharp and a good performer, and my favorite lens in spite of its limited zoom range.

I would have liked a greater zoom range, but not at the cost and bulf of the new 28 - 70 zoom.

For some reason Nikon is manufacturing "bigger" lenses, i.e. larger and heavier. The 17-35mm is nearly twice the weight of its predessor, as is the new 28-70mm which competes with the 35-70 zoom. If you are going to have to carry photo equipment for any length of time, particularly if you are traveling and weight is a consideration, then I would opt for this lens. It does an excellent job and can be purchased used for a very reasonable price. It does not have the zoom range of the 24-120, but when at the end of the day when the light is fading, the extra speed is a real value.

Customer Service

none

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24-120mm, 28-105mm, 20-35mm, 80-200mm.

Sharp!
Well constructed.
2.8 throughout

Could be a better range

This was my first 2.8 zoom and what a difference it makes over the 5.6 tripe that is out there now. This lens is really sharp and really fast. The contruction on this lens is very, very well done. You really have no worries about this lens as compaired to others. Some people complain about the range, but for the price you can't beat it. I use this lens as my only lens and it's great. I highly recommend it if you're to get one lens.

Customer Service

Haven't needed it.

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50mm 1.8
28 - 80 5.6
70 - 210 5.6

Just like Nikkon claimes: Very fast, very sharp corner to corner. Great for both indoor & outdoor.

not IF, therefore, inner barrel rotate during focus, painful when using circular polarizer filter
I wished Nikkon can make 28-80mm f/2.8D (constant) :-)

If you can afford ONLY 1 lens 1 body for family & travel; this is the one.

Customer Service

Never need one so far

Similar Products Used:

AF 105mm f/2.8D Micro-Nikkor
AF 24mm f/2.8D Nikkor
AF 300mm f/4 ED IF Nikkor
AF 70-210 f/4-5.6D Zoom Nikkor

Very sharp. Constant 2.8 aperture.

None really. (See Summary)

This is one of Nikon's legends. It's a steal even at around $600 considering the 28 - 70/2.8 costs about $900 more! Some people complain about the fact that it doesn't have Internal Focus, but it does focus rather fast on an N90s. Also, because it does not have IF, the front lens element does rotate as you change focus. But, in reality I find this less annoying than even with Nikon's newer lenses that do have IF and I'll tell you why. I usually set focus first then try different views by varying the focal length. With the 35-70 simply focus, adjust your polarizer, and you're set. You don't have to change the polarizer as you change focal length. With other zooms (non-pro of course), you have to readjust the polarizer as you zoom in and out even though they feature IF. I guess it depends on personal taste, but I find this more annoying.

In short, this is a great lens. I got the 20-35/2.8 AND the 35-70/2.8 for about what it would have cost me to get either the 17-35/2.8 or 28-70/2.8 alone. The optical quality is superb. I got it mainly for this reason and find it to be useful for outdoor, travel, and snap shots of my kids. I also have the 24-120 which I probably will sell. I, like many others, have had mixed results with it. After all these years of photography, I am finding the slower zooms too restricting, especially when you add a polarizer, and the light starts getting low. The 35-70 is indeed a great lens and is very durable. 5 Stars!

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Other Nikon zooms: 35-105 Manual focus, 24-120 AF, 35 -70/3.5-4.5 AF zoom, Tamron 28-200AF.

Fast glass,2.8. Pictures are tack sharp! 62mm filters are a plus. Built like a tank!

Limit zoom range, I got this lens 2 years ago for shooting weddings but would have rather had a more wider range lens like a 28-105 but at 2.8. I detest varible apeture lenses. I would have liked Nikon to make up its mind on making lenses that "real photographers" use in everyday situations at a more reasonable price. Like a 28-105 2.8! Macro should be at 70 not 35!

This is obviously a very sharp lens and well made but the focal length is too short and limiting on both ends. Nikon does not want to make one lens like a 28-105 2.8 (an ideal lens for shooting models), because that would be too much like right! Wake up Nikon

Customer Service

I hope I don't "have" to use it, but it better be there ready to serve and solve the problem right the "FIRST" time!

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N/A

Fast, Sharp from corner to corner just like the ones which have fixed focal length.

pull-type zoom. a little bit heavy.

As it is not cheap, I've considered 3 months before I bought it! However, up till now it had never disappointed me. Hope you'll enjoy taking photos with it too!

Customer Service

not needed so far

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None

Very sharp and well built.

Zooming might take some time to get use to it.

This is a beautiful lens cosmetically and mechanically. Deliver sharp result. Nice and small. My only problem is that I have to buy 62mm filter to match my 20-35 & 80-200. Also, wider angle (28 instead of 35) will be better. Go get this lens and a 28mm or 24mm, you will pay less than a 28-70 AFS. Happy shooting.

Customer Service

None needed so far

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20-35/2.8, 80-200/2.8

Extremely sharp at all f-stops, almost compares with Nikkor primes of similar focal lenghts. Incredible at f/11, and outstanding at all other f-stops.

Poor flare control (worse than the Nikkor AF 35-135 mm f/3.5-4.5).

A pro-lens in all aspects, wihich also allows for low light photography

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None

Sharpness; Speed

D*** IT!!!
the coating in some lens inside is totally detriorated
i've gotta pay us$300 to repair it

though this lens is so sharp. But in terms of the price, it is not as good as you can imagine.
The repair required for the deteriorated lens cause me furious. This is not my own problem but I have known from many local shops who have quite similar disastrous problem too.

Customer Service

see weakness

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None

Image quality is excellent. Optics are great. Sharp lens!

Push-pull zoom. Limited zoom. Most of all though, is the rotating of the barrel during focusing (a pain if using a polarizer.)

Great lens. Combined with the 24mm 2.8, it makes for a good system. Many places are discounting it with the intro of the 28-70 2.8 which I hear is great, but twice as much. Great lens for the price. Some people have complained of the fall-off if set at 2.8. My opinion is that if you are using it for landscape, you'll hardly use it at 2.8.

Similar Products Used:

Various Nikon and Minolta lenses with similar focal legnths