DELIVERY:
The lens comes in a kind of soft-shell storage pouch that can store the least in their camera bag probably because the whole thing is just too bulky. Should the lens but leave time at home (* laughs * What is the face of the universal focal length range rather not be the case), so you have a good storage option.
By default, while the front and back cover (the latter already the "new" version, which is down slightly grippy, like its predecessor), description, warranty card, and not least a massive, rock-solid lens hood with snap closure. To loosen the lens hood, a small button is pressed.
CONSTRUCTION:
Weighing in at 900 g, a length of 133 mm and a diameter of 83 mm (77 mm filter diameter) certainly no lightweight and tiny. Anyone - like me - like "something in his hand has" will love this lens. Robust and designed for intensive use, this lens gives the impression that it will afford many years of loyal service.
15 elements in 11 groups, including 3 ED lenses, 3 aspherical lenses and one with Nano Crystal Coat lead to Spitenabbildungsleistung - provided you have the appropriate camera to take advantage of this well can.
Two non-slip rings for focal length and focus without play, and a selector switch for AF / M (A / M and M).
The lens does not have a tripod socket. This is also not necessary. A top-heaviness of the camera-lens combination can be only very slight camera models achieve - and for the entry-level models, this lens is not yes been constructed in the first place.
I also take the view that a tripod including the tripod head have a certain robustness / stability and should be matched to the camera / lens.
In my nearly 3 kilos Manfrotto 055B (model that today is the beginning of the 90's - as far as I know - a little easier) in connection with the nearly 1 kilogram ball head from Manfrotto, the camera and lens are safe and there is no heaviness determine.
Optical performance:
Imho sublime beyond all doubt! Please one never to forget (as in other reviews comparisons are made, which should be considered relative in my opinion): A zoom remains a push.
Even if you have to shell out for the 24-70 / 2,8er lot, so you still buys a zoom lens and no fixed focal length.
Would you be able to correct zoom lenses as well able as prime lenses, nothing more talks for the construction of such (apart from various special lenses).
I am aware, for example, no Carl Zeiss zoom lens. This does not mean that there is no such. But there will be good reasons that the Carl Zeiss lenses that are manufactured without change for years, have been designed as a fixed focal length and not as a zoom lens.
Nor do I consider it as a sign of poor quality if Nikon updated its series of objectives over time and improved / changed.
In an image stabilizer, I can do without. This is not necessary in view of the focal length range and the constant, high light intensity.
Comparisons with about the 16-85er, which is located in a completely different class of lenses may be useful for a camera with APS-C sensor, when you consider whether or not the charge is reasonable or not. Finally, the image stabilizer compensates for-called lens the lower light intensity to a certain part, and also with Aperture 2.8 will be reached on a camera with APS-C sensor never the same "exemption" from the background, such as in combination with a full-frame sensor camera is the case.
Especially on such a high optical quality of this lens is but only really apparent.
By 24-70er falls the technical quality of the recordings that I make in connection with the D300, again a notch higher, but not compared to the recordings on the D700.
But then you also noticed a very well - albeit small - yet existing vignetting (unless you have - just like the D700 possible - vignetting correction activated) at open aperture, which disappears almost entirely from Aperture 5.6.
Chromatic aberration is not visible to the naked eye. Tack-sharp photos even at full aperture, the imaging performance dimmed to 4.0 / 5.6 again clearly visible At length.
Distortion:
In all focal areas, most at wide angle. Well, perhaps a better result would have been achieved here, but the distortion remains within the range of acceptability still good.
The distortion can be corrected by software and for shots where explicitly the maximum possible Minium of distortion is necessary, or better yet to no distortion occur anyway is another lens to use.
Flares:
Very difficult to enforce. You have to take pictures against a halogen desk lamp to get decent flares. Here does the Nano Crystal Coat very good services.
Autofocus:
Super! Extremely fast, quiet and reliable - just on the D700! (If equal in sports photography, the D300 has certain advantages, but who have no place in this review)
CONCLUSION:
In my opinion, an objective of the highest class, which is worth its price. For use with full-frame sensor cameras an unrestricted recommendation on my part!
Who owns an APS-C sensor camera, the acquisition of this lens should think twice if he can ever rule out switching to full-frame. Due to the crop factor corresponds to the angle of the lens on cameras with APS-C sensor to a 36-105ers ... so lost in the wide-angle end virtually all the benefits of a.
In addition, the current Nikon APS-C sensor cameras are not this lens fully unlock able in terms of resolution - thus paid money for something that you can not use.
