Puff piece — Rangefinder mag on the Nikon 24-70
Related: image stabilization, Nikon, Nikon AF NIKKOR 24mm f/2.8D, Nikon Lenses
Nikon’s 24-70 f/2.8 zoom
Following up on Saturday’s commentary on the Shutterbug PC-E 24mm Nikkor drivel, Reader Gary S sent me a link to a puff-piece extraordinaire in (of all places) Rangefinder Magazine. This one takes the cake, “reviewing” the Nikon 24-70/2.8 AF-S, along with the 18-200/3.5-5G ED-IF VR. It must be hard to keep so many lenses separate in one’s mind in the same review; after all, they’re both black and contain glass.
Along with such insightful nuggets such as “Its advanced design and enhanced optical formulas ensure optimum performance”, the author proceeds to describe the non-existent VR II capability of the 24-70:
I shot with it over an extended period of time and there are a number of things that I like about it. First, at f/2.8 for the entire zoom range, it’s fast. Also, the lens has built-in advanced VR II—the latest incarnation of Nikon’s sophisticated vibration-reduction technology. When coupled with the D3’s amazing high ISO capabilities... the proprietary VR II system makes it possible to effectively pick up a few additional stops beyond the lens speed and—when used with the D3—the incredible 25,600 ISO capabilities. The specs say it’s possible to shoot up to four stops slower with VR II activated compared to exposures with it off. That may be a bit optimistic, but two, maybe even three additional stops are realistic.
WTF? Read for yourself, but be prepared for a new low in photographic reporting. An SLR lens in Rangefinder magazine makes no sense anyway, so at least things are consistent.
The article also makes this claim: “there’s no edge or corner lens fall-off or the slightest hint of exposure vignetting”. The author makes a similar claim about the 18-200VR. The claim is nonsense of course, see my August 14 blog entry.
Then there’s the title of the article itself (“New”) when in fact the 18-200VR is several years old. Finally this comment refers to the 28-70, when the review is about the 24-70: “Focusing is smooth, but not quite as smooth as the 28–70mm”. Thanks to sharp-eyed reader Adam F for those latter two.
I use the 24-70, and it’s an extraordinary lens, though it’s big and heavy as one might expect. I highly recommend it when autofocus and zooming are required. The rest of the time I shoot my ZF lenses. Get the Nikon AF-S 24-70 f/2.8G ED at BH Photo.
