After waiting for what seemed like forever for the 24-70 AF-S G to come back into stock, I took delivery in the middle of October. I've been wanting something to fill the gap between the 17-35 AF-S and the 70-200 AF-S VR, and it looks like this will do the job nicely. Now I have three f2.8 zooms, of three different generations. Should be fun comparing them.
I decided to celebrate with a nice Prime Rib steak, very rare:
I've got to admit, it's been a long standing dream to have Nikkor Pro Zooms from 17-200mm. I got the 17-35 the first year it was out, the 70-200 VR in its second year of release, and now the 24-70. I'll never need to buy another lens! My NAS is cured! Oh, yeah, well maybe a 200-400 and a PCE or....
First impressions of the 24-70: I love the close focus, something the 70-200 sorely lacks. Flare and ghosting seem to be very well controlled--there are two SB800s aimed almost straight into the lens in that shot above. Neither the 17-35 nor the 70-200 would allow me to get the light this close to the lens axis without severe flare.
OTOH, I'm not thrilled by the fact that this lens is not parfocal. I can't zoom in to get critical focus and then zoom out for composition like I can with the other 2.8 zooms. Pretty minor gripe, I know, but $1800 empowers me to gripe about pretty minor things.
Sorry John, I already ate that unappetizing, nearly raw steak! Maybe I can convince the client that, regardless his opinion on the matter, that image really sucks and I'll have to shoot another one... and, of course, eat the subject.
