this is true. However, I buy a lens for a paticular purpose and don't worry about over-lap or gaps. To me a 24-70 is a mid-range or street zoom used for just about everything under the sun. When I'm using such a lens, I'm often in a situation where switching lenses is not an option.
A 14-24 is a landscape / story-telling lens for me. I only want to switch to it when I absolutely need to, not as a matter of course.
Of course all this is mute, as I am a DX shoot and don't care to have either of these lenses on that format.
I am a recent convert to Nikon and use a D700. Over the years, I have I run a standard series of tests with all my lenses, shooting wide open and one stop down at the wide and telephoto ends of the lens. I have seen something with the 28-70 that I have never seen before in any other lens tested and not sure if its a major concern since its most visible when viewing at 100%. The lens is sharp enough wide open at both ends but when I photograph small print, the color of the font is not right at f2.8, kind of purple, at high contrast edges.
I have had both. Flare was horrible with the 28-70mm, but the 24-70mm copy I have does not suffer from flare at all. The 24-70mm feels more balanced/streamlined than the 28-70mm, but optically both are the best there is. I needed the extra 4mm till I got the D700, now its an added extra. I will be looking for a used 28-70mm RSN to go on the D700 while the 24-70mm goes back on the D2X and later the D3X.
Grognard wrote:
I have had both. Flare was horrible with the 28-70mm, but the 24-70mm copy I have does not suffer from flare at all. The 24-70mm feels more balanced/streamlined than the 28-70mm, but optically both are the best there is. I needed the extra 4mm till I got the D700, now its an added extra. I will be looking for a used 28-70mm RSN to go on the D700 while the 24-70mm goes back on the D2X and later the D3X.
This is interesting. I too, have a 28-70 which has unwelcome flare. I had to reshoot a job because of it. When the 24-70 first came out, I asked for input about flare comparisons and all that responded said that there was little difference. I guess I'll have to rent a 24-70 and do some side by side flare tests.
I can't post them here, but I shot quite a few directly into the sun down at Corpus Christi two weeks ago with NO FLARE AT ALL! This compared to the 28-70mm which suffered terribly from flare issues. Try here for the shots (as Murph);
Kerry Pierce wrote:
This is interesting. I too, have a 28-70 which has unwelcome flare. I had to reshoot a job because of it. When the 24-70 first came out, I asked for input about flare comparisons and all that responded said that there was little difference. I guess I'll have to rent a 24-70 and do some side by side flare tests. http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84079&page=2
i have owned them both and there is a big difference in the size of the barrels. the 24-70 focuses significantly faster than my 28-70 did as well... as for sharpness pretty even i would say.
rjk55425 wrote:
I have seen something with the 28-70 that I have never seen before in any other lens tested and not sure if its a major concern since its most visible when viewing at 100%. The lens is sharp enough wide open at both ends but when I photograph small print, the color of the font is not right at f2.8, kind of purple, at high contrast edges.
rjk55425, your copy appears to be suffering from a type of misalignment that causes one range of the color spectrum not to be focused precisely in same plane at 70mm. It's a type of CA, but it is likley due to the mechanical misalignment, not optical design.
I had a similar problem with a Canon 50 1.4; my lens showed red-orange ghosting at 1.4. I sent it to CPS for adjustment and it became one of the sharpest 50's I have used.
I strongly suspect Nikon can repair your lens if you clearly explain the problem and provide samples.
this is true. However, I buy a lens for a paticular purpose and don't worry about over-lap or gaps. To me a 24-70 is a mid-range or street zoom used for just about everything under the sun. When I'm using such a lens, I'm often in a situation where switching lenses is not an option.