* Close focusing ability of 0.28cm, the closest focusing lens of it's kind on the planet.
* Excellent build quality, with all metal constuction including the filter thread.
* Internal focusing and zooming, with no extension of the lens at any time.
* Excellent handling with smooth focus and zooming action, somewhat better than my AF-S 28-70mm f/2.8 lens.
* Excellent resistence to flare for a zoom and wide angle.
* Better contrast than my old AF 20-35mm f/2.8 at aperatures f/2.8-f/5.6.

* None, except that when you manually focus, there is a slight mechanical noise, but this is more pronounced on my AF-S 28-70mm f/2.8 lens.
* Those who say distortion is bad aren't understanding the affect of tilting a wide angle lens, and how it affects perspective leading to perceived distortion. Keep the lens straight without tilting and you will then be able to appreciate it's ability to control distortion. Otherwise, switch to Canon and buy a Tilt and Shift lens to control perspective. Although, if you want to shoot wider, Canon's old AF 20-35mm f/2.8L is much better than their poor constucted/optical EF 17-35mm f/2.8L lens.

CLOSE FOCUSING ABILITY! That's pretty much it for me. I love the ability to get up close to my subjects and fit in all of it's surroundings. It halps me tell the whole story, while being intimate with the subject. That's how I see the world. Other than that, and I would have stuck with my AF 20-35mm f/2.8, which I was very happy with. Autofocusing isn't really noticably faster with the new lens, although deadly quiet. Overall, after you have fully mastered the art of using such a fine and sometimes "complicated" lens, you'll be appreciating it's performance much longer than the initial time you spend worring about the extremely high price. A lens in the 17-35mm range that equals the top grade quality of my AF-S 28-70mm f/2.8 lens, so I'm mighty happy!!!

Customer Service

none required, although Nikon's only agent in Melbourne takes one week to look at incomming products. No on the spot observation's are possible. Pretty poor I think.

Similar Products Used:

* Canon EF 17-35mm f/2.8L
* Canon EF 20-35mm f/2.8L
* Canon AF 20-35mm f/3.5-4.5
* Tokina 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5
* Nikon 20-35mm f/2.8

best zoom in the very wide angle range

enormous, but who cares!

This lens is beyond belief. But i just found a way to test this masterpiece and i just have to share it with all of you. A little while ago, i think i was reading a print film review and the guy said Wal-Mart (i could not believe it either) often has the newer Fuji printers and that the quality of prints made there could be great. Now, i take my slides real seriously but when i shoot prints (usually a favor for my wife) i just bring it down to Wal Mart. So i know what the meant, after all, using a nikkor 24-120 ensured for some great results. I recently had to go to Paris for some work so i took the 17-35 2.8. I shot 10 rolls of Kodak Royal Gold and Fuji Superia. The rolls all went to Wal Mart and when i picked them up, i had the shock of my photo life. Sharp is not strong enough a word to describe these shots. The eternal depth of field even adds to it. Even in high quality photo books, i have not seen most printing jobs equal the sharpness of these photos. I have always been blown away by the slides this lens could produce but even good lenses produce unbelievably good results with great films like velvia or Provia 100F. To me, the true test is 4x6 or 5x7 prints. Remember, i was in love with my 24-120 but that lens is nothing and i mean NOTHING next to this.

Similar Products Used:

nikkor 24-120
nikkor 24
nikkor28
etc...

Sharp,
Well built,
No vignetting with regular filters

Not exactly cheap, but worth every penny.

To sum up this lens in one word, it is just plain amazing. To get a better feel for the lens before writing a review, I used this lens for a couple of months. I have just returned from a week in Jamaica where I used it 100% of the time. I shot mostly scenery with some architecture thrown in. The resulting slides are just awesome. I don’t think a lens of this type can get any sharper. If there is any kind of distortion, I can’t see it. And the lens is built like a tank to boot. The close-focusing ability is pretty awesome too. The lens will focus down to about 6 inches from the front lens element. When I used this lens with a regular polarizer, I had no problems with vignetting. I think the Nikon engineers pulled out all the stops when they designed this one. In my opinion this is the best lens of its kind currently available.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

18-35mm Nikkor