I have just discovered the joy of using the video function of my D800e. I've been playing with it the last few days. I struggled when I used this function with MF lens. Because of the video function, I am now leaning more towards the 24-70 lens since it also allows me more flexibility. I guess prime will have to take a back seat for now.
If it did it would probably be over $2,300. Would you buy it? Notice how Canon came out with their IS version but it's an f/4. That isn't just because you gain a few stops in speed with IS but it would have been big and very expensive at 2.8.
Actually I was talking about a 24-70. I just noticed he said 28-70. However, if the made a 24-702.8VR, the lens would have to have room for the VR components, that would add cost, size and weight, and they could charge more for it anyway so they would. The average consumer would not be their target market. You can't really compare consumer variable aperture lenses to a professional fixed aperture one. There are many features that add cost to pro lenses like higher quality and larger glass elements, 9 aperture blades, all metal, weather sealing, Nano-Crystal coatings, more ED glass elements, 5 year warranties, etc. Totally different animal.
I have been really enjoying the 28/2 AIS for the last year since "discovering" it. I find that I don't miss the 35mm focal length at all. Distortion is pretty low, peoples heads don't egg out in comparison to 24's, but at the same time the 28 FOV is a good bit less restrictive than that of a 35mm. It lives on the front of my D600, while my much larger zooms stay at home. I pop a small 50 or 85 in a pocket somewhere when feel the need for more versatility.
Having just bragged on the 28/2 AIS, today I would probably buy the 28/1.8 AFS. Adding AF is obviously a plus sometimes, the corners are probably a little better than the 28/2, and distortion correction profiles are automatically available if necessary.
zesto wrote:
I don't think the 24-70 f/2.8 needs VR. Then again, some people have pretty shaky hands so they'd probably find it useful.
I think they would be better off with a good TriPod or working on their hand held technique than VR.
Only time I found VR useful was shooting in Active mode from a helicopter with my 200-400 lens.
I normally shoot at high shutter speeds (500-800) for action and find the VR slows down the focus time.
Lots of good advise here already. As far as wide angle MF lenses go I have an Ai 28/2 & 35/2, an AiS 35/2 and also the superb AiS 24/2.8. On film with FE, FM and F3HP I had an AiS 28/2.8 which was also superb.
Bjørn Rørslett rates all these lenses 5 of 5 except the 28/2 which he rates 4.5 because of some softness in the corners. http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_wide.html
If I was going to do panoramic I would stitch with the AiS 35/2 or the equally flat and sharp AiS 50/1.8 LN.
For general use though I'd definitely consider a good AF zoom lens. I'm lusting for the 17-35/2.8D, but can only vouch for the 35-70D and my only G lens the 24-120/4. For me the 24-120G does everything well, even indoors with low light. My only criticism so far is the bokeh is a little nervous with bright, outdoor backgrounds. The 35-70D is great at everything too and is relatively small and cheap.
I bought a Nikon 28mm f/1.8 last week and I really like the focal lenght, sharpness and weight of it, unfortunately the focus was very inconsistent.
Reading some reviews I found the lens suffer of a "focus shift " that makes focus unreliable at different apertures creating soft or out of focus images.
I am thinking to buy the Sigma 35mm but I really like the 28mm focal length.
Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 is probably the best you can get. I've been using this lens for a while now (plus 4 other Zeiss lenses) and this lens is just amazing. The resolution is unbelievable. The only other lens that matches resolution of it is Zeiss 100mm f/2.0. But don't get me wrong they are all awesome lenses, if you don't mind manual focusing.
I just got Zeiss 50mm f/2.0 macro for portrait and panorama shots etc.
I've been playing with it the last few days. I struggled when I used this function with MF lens. Because of the video function, I am now leaning more towards the 24-70 lens since it also allows me more flexibility. I guess prime will have to take a back seat for now.