Build Quality
AF Speed
ED Lens

Pricey $$$$$$$

This lens is huge, heavy and its so robust.
Outperforms my 35-70 f2.8 in all focal length.
Very sharp in every details, vivid colors, contrasty, some softness in the edges but acceptable.
Excellent lens for the professionals and amateurs!

Customer Service

Tolerable in many ways

Similar Products Used:

AF-S 17-35mm f2.8D IF ED
AF 35-70mm f2.8D
AF 80-200mm f2.8D IF ED

*optics
*construction
*the speed with which it focuses
*the ability to switch from auto focus to manual focus quickly and effortlessly

aside from weight, which is typical of the design, none.

This is an extraordinary lens. It is sharp and contrasty. It balances well on camera. It does everything it was designed to do exceedingly well. For those of us old enough to remember the days of manual focus/ manual exposure, the recent technical advancements are amazing! I cannot imagine some of the criticism I have read about this lens. The quality of a lens of this design was unheard of only a few years ago. Quit complaining and start using this beauty for that which it was intended: the making of photogrphic images. This lens is a great photographic tool!

Customer Service

Never used.

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I've used many of the Nikkor AI prime lenses, and I currently own the 80-200f2.8AFd two ring.

Vivid colour, sharp and contrasty image, fast focus, very silent, well-built, sexy look!

Quite big and heavy, and also expensive. Noticable distortion at the edge. Soft at edges but can be improved by stepping down.

The outlook of it is very very sexy, like a rock! It is well-built, and when you take it out, you will become a photographic professional.
When I first attached it on my F100 and half pressed the shutter, the thought that came to my mind was:"WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED?!" The focusing speed is very very fast!!!
One day, I went to the Victoria Peak and took night view from there, the result I got was GREAT! I could see all the fine details in the building, and could also count how many storeys that the building got. Later, I took it to take pics for the tree trunks in a park to test the sharpness, every layer, every fine grain on the trunk could be seen very clearly, GREAT!
However, the edge shows some noticable distortion, and this is a really really shame, don't let people see the distorted pics, sigh......however, if you don't usually take pics with straight lines, this lens is one that every photographer should keep.

Customer Service

Can be bought in everywhere.

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor AF 20mm f2.8
Nikkor AF 35-80mm f4
Nikkor AF 80-200mm f2.8 ED

* This lens is the best in it's class, though extremly indistinguishable optically compared to the Canon equivelent.
* Sharp even wide open and best at apertures of f/5.6-f/11 as usual.
* Extremley well built, though I am not convinced it's cover is metal, though it feels so.
* Super fast AF on an F100, but not any better than a EF 28-70mm f/2.8 on an EOS 3/1V.
* Excellent flare control compared to Tokina AT-X 28-80mm f/2.8.
* Full time AF is welcommed.

* A bit too FAT for my liking especially compared to the Canon and Tokina, though I would change anything if I could as it performs comparable to fixed lenses or better.
* The filter thread is not metal like my Nikon AF 20-35mm f/2.8D lens. It is plastic (not a real concern).
* The lens hood is not as sturdy whn mounted like other lenses I've used, but has the crinckle finish like the lens, so it won't show light scratches

Excellent, almost a perfect lens. It is extremley fat and bulky which creates a lot of attention so make sure that the lens has a specific use(s), or else you might scare people off using it as a normal lens. Other than that it is fantastic and is probably the best overall version out there in terms of design, flare control with large hood, distortion control and sharpness and contrast. the images POP off slides!!! Based on the fact that the buyer considering this should be prepared to pay big $$$ when wanting the best, I rate this a 5 in value, or for the amatuer, a 4 will do. Overall a 5 either way. This lens rocks photography and as the highly paid Moose Peterson says in the Nikon Magic Lantern guide II, "The 28-70mm f/2.8D ED IF AF-S is one of my favourite lenses- and probably one of Nikon's sharpest lenses of all time". Although I don't always trust what he says due to his "unknown" motivation, I truly back him up on this occasion as I agree 100%. Even my photos of the Australian Prime Minister (John Howard) agree. "The photos were just a little too sharp for my liking" -and that's with Fuji NHP 400 pushed to 800!!! If there is a need or you want the best and have the money- just do it!

Customer Service

Not required yet.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EF 28-70mm f/2.8- this lens is nice though is very plasticky and feels very cheap compared to the Nikon. It barrel when zooming also extends about 2 inches more than the Nikon.
* Tokina AT-X 28-80mm f/2.8- this lens rocks! It is perfectly constructed and designed (lens doe not extend when zooming or focusing), though tends to flare badly with night lights and distorts a little too much at 28mm. It is also not as sharp as the Nikon or Canon open wide.

Very sharp (especially around f/8), very quiet (barely audible when motor brakes the rotation), very fast af!

Somewhat heavy, but then it is f/2.8
Very, very expensive

77mm staring at people tends to draw attention. Despite the expense and for the record, this is as good as it get folks.

Customer Service

Never used, hopefully never will

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor AF 80-200mm f/2.8D ED (non-AFS)

Beautiful pictures
Solid constuction
Fast Autofocus

Big
Range uninteresting

This is a lovely lens but it really is HUGE for the purpose it serves. My people subjects are often taken aback by it. I also use the 17-35 AFS and the 80-200 AFS. I would be more inclined to carry my wide, my telephoto, and maybe a 60mm macro or even an 85mm. If you only want one lens, this would make an excellent choice. Otherwise I might spend my money on a more interesting focal length like the 17-35. I'll still give this lens high marks for good optics.

Customer Service

Very helpful when I call them just to pick their brains.

Similar Products Used:

tried 35-70 / 2.8

razor sharp optics
fast and silent af
built like a tank

bugger all
some would say price is a weakmess. but that is not a weakness of the actual lens.

Forget about those who say about the lens extnding when zooming. Who cares? You dont even notice it, especially when the brilliant lens hood supplied is on. Well it should be on. The bottom line is this that this lens above all is super sharp, fast, quiet, built like a tank and feels like a dream to hold. I used the 35-70 2.8 for years and I thought it was great. That was until this baby came along. It makes photographing weddings a breeze. You can get quick gtab shots so easily. Shots I would not have been able to get in focus with the 35-70mm. Simply because of the fast af.

If you are serious about photography and want nothing but the best, this is your lens. Save up if you have to. Because if you want to take your photography to the next level you need this lens. You will not regret it.
p.s The 17-35 afs and this lens are my two favourites.

Customer Service

pretty slow on repairs on my SB28

Similar Products Used:

35-70mm nikon af 2.8
85mm 1.4 nikon af
17-35mm afs nikon 2.8
80-200mm nikon af 2.8
50mm nikon af 1.4

Sharp pictures and fast and quiet operation. The thing that amazed me most was the result. This lens is without comparison. The slides that I took came out so crisp and clear. It showed very good contrast, crispness, and sharpness.

costs too much and it took me too much trouble to get one without scratches or pit in the lens.
The focusing ring has some movement. I don't know if this is normal because I never checked for this with the other lenses.

One hell of a lens for a hell of a price. Nikon could lower the price and sell more of them to make a profit.

Customer Service

not needed

Similar Products Used:

35-80 mm f3.5-5.6

mazing optics, build quality, super fast AF, 77mm filter, great hood, flare control, etc etc...

price! wish it came with a balastic bag like the ones for the VR lens and the new 300mmf4 AFS... actually all nikkor containers should be like that!

a must have for PJ or anyone needs a fast lens for general everyday use. 28mm and 70mm doesn't look as 'interesting' as 17mm and 200mm, but when you need real fast response there's no time for you to swap lenses - and this lens is for that moment. this baby is THE best in its class, it beats the 28-70 'L' lens according to my pals shooting canon! someone complained about its extending front when zooming, indeed Tokina's design is better, but nothing is perfect and this lens beats the tokina in every other aspects... and btw, look at how long canon's 28-70/2.8 L extend out when zooming! lol!

Customer Service

not yetn eeded

Similar Products Used:

various nikkors and canons

Very sharp optics, first Nikon lens that comes close to the 'Bokeh' (= Bouquet) of my Leica M lenses, well built (which was my first impression at least). A very good lens when shooting in crowds (pop concerts etc.), a bit too obtrusive when photographing in the streets. Then I prefer my Leica M outfit. Very good lens for shooting landscape and nature. 77mm filter size is an advantage.

Heavy lens, bulky too. Difficult to shoot unobtrusively. Durability not what I expected; bought mine December 1999, had - in spite of my very careful handling - returning problems in autofocus operation (grinding noise, no focusing), turned the lens in for inspection, got it back, the problem returned. I will turn it in again, but am wondering if Nikon is really able to solve the problem. Anyone else with this experience? Please drop me an e-mail with your experience and suggestions.

If you will not have the mechanical problems I have with this lens, it is just wonderful optics. The price is high, though, probably too high for the avarage amateur. It comes close to the prices Leica is asking for superior optics, although they do not offer the kind of platform Nikon offers with F5/F100, SB-28 and an incredible range of optics. If you don't need such a platform, then buy Leica. Otherwise this is a very good combination (if you don't happen to receive the monday-morning lens I got). Not taking into consideration the specific problems I have, I give an overall rating of 5 stars. If the problem remains, or if other people also have this problem, I will reconsider the fiver.

Customer Service

Through Nikon's importer in Holland, Inca. Lens returned after eight (!) weeks, without specification of repairs. Problem apparantly not solved. No other option available, so I'm afraid I will miss this lens for another eight weeks with uncertain results.

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 17-35mm 2.8 AF-S
Nikkor 80-400mm VR
Nikkor 24mm 2.0 AiS
Nikkor 35mm 2.0 AF-D
Nikkor 50mm 1.4 AF-D
Nikkor 60mm 2.8 Micro
Nikkor 85mm 1.8 AF-D
Leica M 24mm 2.8
Leica M 35mm 1.4
Leica M 50mm 2.0
Leica M 90mm 2.8