Nikon 35-70 f2.8 vs kit nikon 24-85 VR on FX

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unravel
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p.1 #1 · Nikon 35-70 f2.8 vs kit nikon 24-85 VR on FX

Old pro glass vs new technology kit glass. Which would you choose to pair with d600 given their similar price range.

Feb 05, 2013 at 04:23 AM

Danner
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p.1 #2 · Nikon 35-70 f2.8 vs kit nikon 24-85 VR on FX

I'm kind of addicted to VR. ;-)

Feb 05, 2013 at 04:54 AM

edl415
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p.1 #3 · Nikon 35-70 f2.8 vs kit nikon 24-85 VR on FX

Danner wrote:
I'm kind of addicted to VR. ;-)

+1

Feb 05, 2013 at 05:37 AM

hijazist
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p.1 #4 · Nikon 35-70 f2.8 vs kit nikon 24-85 VR on FX

As great as the 35-70 2.8 is, I think for it's price you are better off with something else. I think it also depends on what you are going to use it for. I didn't like the push pull zoom mechanism and the focal range is very limited, 35 isn't that wide so a 50 1.8G with a little exercise is a better option IMO.

I had the 24-85 VR for a while and it's a steal for the price it's selling now (~350$)... VR works great and the focal range is very useful and the lens is very sharp stopped down a bit. Distortion is crazy at 24mm but easilly fixed in PP.

The Tammy 28-75 2.8 Non-BIM is another great option

Feb 05, 2013 at 05:41 AM

GOVA
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p.1 #5 · Nikon 35-70 f2.8 vs kit nikon 24-85 VR on FX

unravel wrote:
Old pro glass vs new technology kit glass. Which would you choose to pair with d600 given their similar price range.

Tested both. Kept 24-85VR.

I used to have 35-70 f/2.8 with my F4. It was a great lens. When I got new D800, I decided to purchase it back and check it out. I got a very good copy of the lens and gave it a few days worth of shooting.

Well, I don't want to say it was bad, but @f/2.8 it was rather soft and it did show rather boldly.
It was just OK at f/4 and good @f5.6.

Unfortunately, it was not a keeper for me. 24-85 just kills the 35-70 which really surprised me. VR, wider/longer, good size really.

I got it for 50% off retail price as there are loads of them for sale now due to D600 bundle deal.

I use 24-85 as 'family/vacation' lens and for its price it is really a good one.

YMMV and I hope this helps deciding.

Feb 05, 2013 at 02:31 PM

RKB58
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p.1 #6 · Nikon 35-70 f2.8 vs kit nikon 24-85 VR on FX

I tried a 35-70/2.8 for a year or so. Sold it, no regrets:
1. Good stopped down (5.6), but low contrast, not great near 2.8. The 28-70/2.8 is much better here.
2. Noisy AF(annoyingly so, unlike some screwdrive lenses that are ok).
3. Narrow zoom range. Just use a 50/1.8G instead, maybe.
4. Decided that my early Tokina 28-70/2.6-2.8 was better between the two (still not great), but I never use it. It will be sold soon since I now have the 28-70AFS.
5. I now have a 28-70/2.8 AFS which is much better, but a lot bigger/heavier.
5. Wish Nikon would update the 35/2AF to have better optics close to open. I would much rather have this mythical lens than a 35-70. Have a 28/2 AIS that I like and use a lot, will probably get the 28/1.8G. I can't justify a 35/1.4 AFS.
6. I also have the 24-85G, prefer it to the 35-70 for the significantly wider zoom range.

Feb 05, 2013 at 06:07 PM

Reagan
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p.1 #7 · Nikon 35-70 f2.8 vs kit nikon 24-85 VR on FX

28-105d 3.5-4.5 is another option I am happy with mine and no AFS or VR to go bad

Reagan

Feb 05, 2013 at 10:34 PM

jdanze
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p.1 #8 · Nikon 35-70 f2.8 vs kit nikon 24-85 VR on FX

I love my 35-70, and find my copy extremely sharp, even at f/2.8. My only dig - it's somewhat susceptible to flare.

I recently picked up a 24-85G (original, non vr version). I also find it extremely sharp, and I love that it is tiny, has a good range, isn't push-pull and has quiet autofocus. That being said, there are times when f/2.8 is just needed.

In the end, love them both, and see enough difference to keep them both. For now. I will say the 24-85 is "stuck" on my body much more lately. It's great for family snapshots.

Feb 06, 2013 at 01:01 AM

uscmatt99
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p.1 #9 · Nikon 35-70 f2.8 vs kit nikon 24-85 VR on FX

I have both. The 35-70 is better at the wide end, great at 2.8. At the long end it needs to be stopped down to around f/4-5.6. It has the rendering of the AF-D lenses, with less contrast than current lenses and a little bit of glow/haze wide open, especially at 70mm. I've been using the 24-85VR more recently, but that is almost exclusively from f/5.6-8.0 with flash for people photos. For anything else, I'm personally using primes in that range.

It's a question of whether you appreciate/tolerate less than critical sharpness and the different rendering of the 35-70, and whether your typical shooting situation calls for f/2.8 at times.

Feb 06, 2013 at 01:34 AM

sonofjesse2010
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p.1 #10 · Nikon 35-70 f2.8 vs kit nikon 24-85 VR on FX

I would vote the newer VR lens. Its not bad at all stopped down and 4.5 and VR isn't that bad either. IF you need speed pickup the 50mm 1.8 or 1.4 G or D.

Feb 06, 2013 at 03:26 AM

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