zoom range, fast aperture, steady to hold, very sharp and contrasty when stopped beyonf 5.6

large filter diameter (not usable for Cokin P)

Great lens regardless of a few annoying features

Customer Service

no experience

Similar Products Used:

Tamron and sigma 2.8/28-70, Canon 28-70

The lens is fast (f2.8) for the focal range.

Heavy and large. This is actually a strength in certain situations.

This is a very nice lens. For travel photography this might be all you need. Make sure that you have a gadget bag that can handle this lens, it is very large. Filters are very expensive (82mm). My results (image) have been very good. I demo'ed this lens and a Nikon 28-80 (silent wave) and purchased the Tamron. Both rolls of film that I shot were of equal qaulity. The Tamron has a greater focal length and is $600.00 cheaper. Works very well with my F100.
If you have the money, buy it.

Customer Service

No problems yet.

Similar Products Used:

Many products.

F2.8
Very impessive looking.
Sharp images

Filters expensive
Weight

I love this lens. Great for indoor without flash and 800asa.
A liitle slow on autufocus with Minolta 800si.

Customer Service

Got $100 rebate

Similar Products Used:

Tamron 28-200
Tamron 90mm
Minolta 100-300

zoom range
f2.8 aperture
looks the business.

I can live with the plastic body because I can tell myself it makes it lighter.
Having to switch off AF (on my f100) before doing a manual focus

I'm content with my lens.
this is the bottom line
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Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 28-105 f3.5 - f5 (ish)

Clear, Fast f2.8, good focal range, A+ image quality... and it's sexy.

none so far...

I use this lens on my Canon 620 as my main lens shooting weddings, and you wouldn't believe how nice it is not having to switch lens every 5 sec! This lens has almost very useful focal length: 28, 50, 85, and 100 all at f2.8. This is an amazing lens. Combined this with the Tamron 70-210 f2.8 and you've got it all. Very happy with the performance of this lens... would recommend.

Similar Products Used:

Tamron 70-210 f2.8

Supreior Optics
Large constant f/2.8 aperture
Continuous focus
Internal Focus
Weight

Plastic... a lot of it
Disortion

As Tamron SP tradition, the resolution of this lens is extremely high. Considering the zoom range and aperture, Tamron does a very decent job on the weight and AF speed as well. However, for this high-end market niche, may be I am a little bit picky; I don’t think the level of distortion is acceptable at all. @70mm the level of distortion is actually worst than my Nikon point-n-shooter, zoom @70mm!

Also, a side note for Minolta Maxxum /Dynax users, in manual focus mode, the lens provides the opposite focusing direction in the viewfinder.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Minolta MD 35~70 f/3.5
Minolta AF 35~70 f/4
Nikon Nikkor 35~135 f/3.5
Tamron 28~135 f4/4.5
Tokina 28~70 f/2.8

2.8 is the only strength

SOFT and SLOW!Overall cheap feel and way to expensive for what you get!

I needed a lens to replace my Canon 70-200 2.8 because my digital D30 increases the focal lenghth by 1.6xs. Wow was I dissapointed with this lens. Slow to focus when it wasn't searching in vain. Then the prints were soft at most focal lengths. Of coarse I'm use to an array of Canon lens but even the Canon 28-235 IS brought better results and was less expensive! I was very happy to get my money back and pay a 5% restocking fee rather than get stuck with this one. Canon is still my first choice! If you shoot moving objects stay clear of this one.

Customer Service

None knock wood

Similar Products Used:

Canon 28-135 IS
Canon 70-200 2.8

f2.8
anti-slip
heavy / steady
some of my sharpest shots (or is this experience?)
Based on other reviews, mine was a bargain at $500

I didn't realize how expensive 82mm filters were!
heavy to balance/focus especiallly on vertical shots
(awfully hard to be inconspicuous when you're trying to take candid people photos at close range...)

This lens was recommended to me as a steal ($500) with rave reviews from users at a camera show.

Unlike some other reviewers who like the "impressive look", its impressive look actually has intimidated myself or subject out of some interesting photos (especially as a novice photographer). OK, I've also had obstructions (people) clear out of my way (I must look impressive too).

I use a Nikon FM, so many of autofocus complaints don't apply for me. For manual focus, it was very smooth focussing (& with the borrowed Nikkor, I was always bumping the lens out of focus), but very heavy to hand-carry at different angles.

Overall, I've taken some of my sharpest photos with this lens - but this could be my learning curve! The jury is still out - I'm not sure if even the bargain price of $500 is justified for my requirements. And I'm still getting used to the weight/size for everyday use.

Customer Service

none

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 28-80 f3.5 (? borrowed lens)
Nikkor 24 f3.5
Nikkor 50 f1.4

Great range, fast, sharp, antislip is good, tough construction even if it is plastic

mainly size, scares people, filters are really expensive, autofocus can be slow

Really good in general, but I've recently rented some Nikkor AF-S lenses and this one really doesn't compare that favorably, and size really is an issue, it may make youlook professional, but it scares people, and I want my prints to make me look professional not my lens. If I had to do it again I honestly would probably spend the extra money on the 28-70 AF-S Nikkor.

Customer Service

haven't used it

Similar Products Used:

Most of the current Nikkor lenses, Sigma 28-200, Tokina 19-35, some canon stuff

F2.8
Good range

Heavy, bulky, plastic out coat get wearing easily.
Slow AF.
Get soft after 1 year of using.
Poor colour and contrast.

DON'T be trapped by the f/2.8. No all round lens in the world. The expensive price can change for other prime lens of big aperature and greater quality in return!!! NEVER BUY!! Deeply regret after 1 year of usage when it get softer and softer at f/2.8 .Now it was being put aside.

Customer Service

Problem arise after 1 year warranty.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 28-205 f/3.5-4.5
Nikon 50mm f/1.4
Sigma 28-70mm