Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Lens

The 24-70mm Nikon lens is an impressive normal zoom that delivers very crisp and contrasty images. featuring a quick aperture it allows plenty of poor light shooting or alternative separation of objects with constrained depth of field, as it releases a remarkably buttery bokeh for any zoom of this focal reach. It's built solid like you'd expect from a professional grade lens and the sonic wave AF motor is super fast and quiet.

It's not without limitations, though. Distortions are especially elevated at the wide range but they are have uniform shape and can also be corrected with software. CAs are elevated, too, but identical to distortions can be easily fixed with software (As a matter of fact most later version Nikon DSLRs correct this already when you shoot JPGs). There's a wavy image field on the bottom end that might become a problem if you compose flat subjects.

One more thing. this lens is not what you'd call cheap. However, the Nikkor 24-70mm lens is presently the yardstick for FX F-mount normal zoom lenses.

There's no such thing as perfect lens and this one has it's drawbacks.

It's really huge for a midrange, and there are times when I miss the compact Nikon 18-200mm zoom. And I'm talking without without the huge lens hood installed and then, the already big lens gets massive.

The lens' zoom ring is located too near the camera's body. I keep reaching for the manual focusing ring in error. I know, it's a learning curve, and I'm not there yet.

It's constantly out of stock. Lot's of luck finding it at the listed retail price

Announced Aug 23, 2007 Feb 11, 2011

• AF-S Autofocus lens featuring a Silent wave, coreless, integrated, focus motor (unwrapped in 1996). Basically an updated AF-I Autofocus-Silent sporting a "Silent Wave Motor" (ultrasonic) to focus near silently and fast.

• D- Distance. Denoted after the  f-number. It signifies the lens has the capacity to use Nikon's 3D Matrix Metering on camera bodies where it is supported.

• DX - NIKKOR - Compact and lightweight Nikon DX lenses feature a lesser image circle and are specifically created and optimized for the Nikon D-series, digital SLR camera bodies. An ideal option for photographers and enthusiasts who require shooting of expansive landscapes with Nikon DX DSLR

• Two ED- (Extra-low Dispersion Glass Elements)
a necessary element of the Nikon telephoto lens Nikon engineered Extra-low Dispersion optical glass to facilitate the manufacture of lenses that provide superior color correction and sharpness by diminishing chromatic aberrations

• FX-format
The leading factor setting the Nikon FX apart from other sensors is the large size of the pixels, which allows for more light collection.

• G - labeled after the f-number.
A G-lens contains no aperture ring, therefore aperture may only be electronically controlled by the camera and only autofocus camera bodies featuring function dials have the capacity to control G lenses

• IF- Internal Focusing
The ability to have a lens focus while it's size remains unchanged. Nikon’s IF engineering allows that to happen. All internal optical travel is contained within the inside of the non-extension lens container.

• M/A mode
AF-S Nikon lenses include the exclusive Nikon M/A focus function, that permits switching from auto to manual focus virtually without time lag - even while the AF servo is in operation regardless of the AF mode in play.

• N-Nano Crystal Coat
Nano Crystal Coat consist of an antireflective coat that stemmed from the cultivation of Nikon NSR-series (Step and Repeat type) semiconductor fabricating devices

• SWM- Silent Wave Motor
Nikon AF-S engineering is yet one more rationale why professional photographers like Nikon telephoto optical lenses.

• Rugged construction and professional-grade dust and moisture resistance.

• 77mm Front Lens Cap
• LF-1 Rear Lens Cap for F Mount Lenses
• HB-40 Lens Hood
• CL-M3 Semi-Soft Lens Case