Just got this lens a few weeks ago and I must say, wow. This lens is freaking tack sharp. It's going to get some serious action. Last shoot, I never took it off till I needed the 85 1.4. Amazing piece of glass. Thank you Nikon.
Good choice. I love mine. You'll find that the build quality is great as well. I've hauled it up Kilimanjaro, used it while hanging out of helicopters, and have dragged it around the desert and temperate rainforests. It still works great. Then again, my 18-70mm has been abused more and it still works well. Nikon just knows how to build lenses.
Yes I think it's my sharpest lens (seems to need less sharpening in-post though it could be all that nano coated micro contrast goodness ). I regularly use the 300VR1, 70-200VR1 and the Tamron 60 & 90mm macros which are no slouches in the sharpness department!
And as mentioned great for shooting action (it's AF speed and accuracy spanks the Tamron 28-75).
I'm trying to talk myself out of buying the 24-70 in favor of the 24 1.4g. Everything I've seen from the 24 is so stunning. It's almost like the 24 1.4g is a wide version of the 85 1.4g. So sharp, beautiful thin DOF, I just love it. The problem is I need the versatility of the 24-70.
Perhaps I'll buy both. Right now my plan is to buy the 85 1.4g, the 24-70, the 105 with VR for macro work. At that point I don't how to decide between the 14-24, 24, 35, and 70-200. I've kind of ruled out the 50 1.4, the image quality doesn't seem to be on par with the 24 or 35. But I'll test everything before I buy it. Testing begins Monday with a D800 and 85 1.4g from LensRentals
I love the flexibility it offers, and use mine heavily, however I have a few reservations:
1) My copy, at least, seems somewhat less sharp than some of my other lenses - namely 105 VR and 70-200 VR2. It's not shockingly bad, but just somehow lacks that final "bite" that certain other glass seems to possess
2) It has recently started making a "whirring" noise when I turn the focus ring. It doesn't seem to affect the functionality at all, but noises appearing where there were no noises before make me nervous.
Now all I need is someone to give me $2,500 for the 70-200 2.8. I'm going to rent for now and after a few more big jobs I'll pick up the 70-200, some more flashes, some more studio lighting equipment, buy a loft space.................etc. This is an expensive business.
). I regularly use the 300VR1, 70-200VR1 and the Tamron 60 & 90mm macros which are no slouches in the sharpness department!