Nikon AF-S 24-70mm/2.8G ED
- The AF-S Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8G ED from Nikon is a professional wide-angle optical lens with a 24 to 70 mm focal range (equivalent to 36 – 105mm in DX format) and a recent winner of the TIPA and EISA awards.The nanocrystal treatment on this lens works to reduce image interference and glare, and to ensure optimum clarity. The two ED glass lenses and three aspherical lenses reduce chromatic aberration for beautiful results each time you take a photo.The SWM (Silent Wave Motor) engine on the AF-S
- Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8G ED focuses quickly and quietly on a subject. The manual focus adjustment is also easily accessible.Finally, this lens is equipped with a built-in sun visor and comes with a flexible travel case. The AF-S Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8G ED will impress even the most advanced photographer!
The AF-S Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8G ED from Nikon is a professional wide-angle optical lens with a 24 to 70 mm focal range (equivalent to 36 – 105mm in DX format) and a recent winner of the TIPA and EISA awards.The nanocrystal treatment on this lens works to reduce image interference and glare, and to ensure optimum clarity. The two ED glass lenses and three aspherical lenses reduce chromatic aberration for beautiful results each time you take a photo.The SWM (Silent Wave Motor) engine on the AF-S Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8G ED focuses quickly and quietly on a subject. The manual focus adjustment is also easily accessible.Finally, this lens is equipped with a built-in sun visor and comes with a flexible travel case. The AF-S Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8G ED will impress even the most advanced photographer!… more >>
Rating: 
(out of 12 reviews)
>>Other details about Nikon AF-S 24-70mm/2.8G ED
Tagged with: 2470mm/2.8G • 24–70 mm f/2.8g ed af-s n • Nikon • nikon af-s 24-70mm f/2.8g ed
Review by Martin Turner for Nikon AF-S 24-70mm/2.8G ED
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This is the most beautiful lens I’ve ever owned. It doesn’t have any exciting features like macro limiting or Vibration Reduction – it just takes achingly crisp, superb photographs and focuses virtually instantly, with almost no measurable distortion for most of its range and very little chromatic aberration.
This is a lens with two applications, depending on what camera you put it on.
On a DX camera, such as a D2X or D300, it offers the ideal range for portraits and groups, which is the equivalent of 36-105 on traditional film.
On a film or FX camera (currently only the D3), it offers the key normal working ranges (equivalent of 16-47 on DX) which are most used by most photographers. In that sense, it has slightly less range than the DX 17-55 workhorse. More importantly, it syncs exactly with the 70-200 VR and the new 14-24 lenses, to give the D3 user a range from ultra-wide to long telephoto in three lenses. At 24 on the widest end, it is wider than Nikon’s previous wide offerings in this type of lens. Traditionally, 28 was the classic wide-angle lens, and 24 is moving towards the ultra-zoom range. For many users, this lens goes as wide as is ever necessary, since wider than 24 the apparent perspective distortion begins to be extreme.
There is some barrel distortion at 24mm, but this is largely gone by 28mm. This can be easily corrected in Photoshop in the few applications where it is a problem. The limited amount of chromatic aberration in this range is automatically corrected in the D300 and the D3. On older cameras, this is can be easily fixed in Nikon Capture or Photoshop.
So far, this sounds like a full-frame equivalent of the DX 17-55 workhorse, with slightly less range at the long end. The 17-55 is a beautiful lens, but this lens is a step better in image quality. Some of this is doubtless down to improved learning in lens design, but at least part of it is a result of Nikon’s new N nano-coating, which means that there are virtually no internal reflections, and therefore almost no ghosting and no flare — and an improvement in acutance in almost all situations.
Who should buy this lens? Essentially, every D3 owner. This lens is so perfect, and so useful, that investing in a D3 without investing in this lens is a false economy. Of course, if one of the attractions of the D3 is rendering your investment in Nikon lenses, and you already have a 28-70, then you might want to think twice, but if you don’t own a premium lens in this range, you really should think about this one.
This is a superb lens for portraits on the DX format, but is probably not such a bargain, given that the wide-end is not especially useful for portraits, and the 35-70 can be had quite cheaply second hand. However, if you own both FX and DX cameras, this is a lens which will serve you in both formats.
Written text cannot do justice to this lens. Handle a camera with one fitted, and you will start working out reasons why you need to buy one.
Incidentally, this lens comes with a good case — which you probably won’t use very much, since, once you’ve put it on the camera, there are not many situations where you will want to take it off. Except, of course, to put on the 70-200 or 14-24 — and, when you do, you can pop this lens in their cases.
Review by Darius Zdanauskas for Nikon AF-S 24-70mm/2.8G ED
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With this, 14-24mm and 70-200mm you’re covered. Three best ever professional zoom lenses by Nikon. Of course, there’s primes still, which you should keep (I’m keeping 50mm 1.4, 60mm micro and 85mm 1.4). Legends about image quality that 24-70 produces are true, it has this sort of almost 3D effect, just try shooting anything wide open. By the way wide open it’s as sharp as any other aperture!
If you’re thinking about buying it, but the price is putting you off, don’t hesitate – this is an investment in the future!
Review by Happy Snapper for Nikon AF-S 24-70mm/2.8G ED
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Only four stars you ask? Why?
This is a fantastic lens, and I bought one willingly for use on a D300, with the intention as so many do of moving on to FX when Nikon announces a suitable D700 upgrade or replacement. Its a good range for FX, and a good short telephoto range for DX, and with many of my photographs being in the (FX) 50 – 100mm range the 36-105 coverage on DX is about right for me. Initial results were astonishing, and I can wholeheartedly recommend this lens optically and performance-wise. The ’3D’ effect that many talk of is there, and some of the portraits shot with this lens are unreal in their quality.
The problem is simple. This lens, for an amateur (even an advanced one like me who has had some work published and been paid for it) is that it is just too heavy for regular, amateur use. Like many, much of my photography time is based around life-events, such as children, holidays, trips etc, and this is NOT the lens to tote on the front of a big camera for occasions such as these. My son (who at 1 is just getting to be really aware) was almost petrified of this lens when it is fully complete with hood etc. It is very, very imposing, big, and heavy. For pro use, or for wedding photographers etc, this is a perfect, built like a tank, choice. After all, a bad back is just an occupational hazard!
So, it comes down to choice. I returned this lens, and purchased instead an older Af-D 24-85 f2.8/4 instead, which so far has been fantastic. The older design of the 24/85 should not put any FX user, or potential user off, and once again, the coverage of 36 – 127 suits me on DX. Optically it is not in the same league (it is half the price) but for 90% of what I’ll use it for it is fine, sharp, and fast enough. I also have in my arsenal a 50 1.4 G-AFS (Awesome, and not far off the 24-70 for portrait characteristics) and an older 85 1.8 D, again a great portrait/low-light lens. I don’t therefore think I’ll miss the 24-70.
I really wish Nikon could somehow magically produce the same stellar optical performance in a smaller package than the 24-70, or alternatively build a consumer/semi-pro grade version with a lighter weight/build quality for non daily users. I’d certainly queue up for that.
So, 4 stars is really unfair of me on a superb product, it would get 5 stars if it were two inches shorter and 300 grammes lighter.
Review by Kevin Groves for Nikon AF-S 24-70mm/2.8G ED
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This is a great lens, for both 35mm Film and Digital SLRs, supporting both regular DX sensors and the D3′s FX format sensor. The quality is everything you would expect from a top make Pro spec lens, as is the build quality and feel. Auto-Focusing is very quick, and sharp through out the range. The only slight disapointments for me are;
1. The lack of a manual apature setting ring, it is all done electronicaly from the camera body, so this lens is restricted to cameras that support this. (I am ‘old school’, and will miss this)
2. Manual focusing at distances greater than 3-5m can be a bit fiddly in low light, as almost all of the focus ring travel is used below this distance. This is only a slight niggle as the Auto mode is very good.
I would strongly recomend this lens to any Nikon digital user who is looking for top quality results and as an investment in the future, especialy with the arrival of the FX digital sensor.
1 year on:
Now I’m a little less ‘old school’ the negative points mentioned last year seem much less important. This lens is still totaly brilliant. A years regular use and abuse and it is still sharp, crisp and smooth.
Review by Bert for Nikon AF-S 24-70mm/2.8G ED
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As soon as it arrived from Amazon I opened the box with joy and everything was incredible, the packaging, the carry bag that it comes with, build quality etc. However when I inspected the glass as some other people complained, I saw lots of small dust particles inside the bottom part of the glass. I read about this before and I can’t tell you how disappointed I am! I really lost confidence in Nikon. When you buy a professional lens and pay this much you expect it to be flawless. Unfortunately I re-packed it and returned it to Amazon. I think I ll buy one from a shop so that I can inspect everything first.