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| AF Zoom-NIKKOR 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 D |
The beauty of this lens is its versatility, but when you combine that with its sharpness and low distortion you come up with a real winner. Its very useful range 3.75x zoom range of 28-105mm make it a lens you can keep on you camera at all times. It’s speed is a cut above average, topping out at f/4.5 instead of the usual f/5.6 at upper limit of its zoom range. This is good for photogs who want to take advantage of its other useful feature: Macro capability.
Modern lenses typically have a close focusing range under two feet at all zoom settings, and here the 28-105 D doesn’t disappoint. At 105mm, this allows you to get pretty darn close. But this lens has a macro “switch” which unlocks the focus ring and extends its travel, allowing you to focus as close as 8.4", at which point you can achieve a 1:2 reproduction ratio. This is the same as Nikon’s 55mm, 105mm and 200mm manual focus lenses! So, although it is 1-1/3 stop slower, this lens can essentially take the place of a macro lens in your outfit.
What’s Missing Two features that distinguish a macro lens from a standard lens (besides the reproduction ratio capability) are a long focus ring travel, and reproduction ratio markings on the focus scale. This lens has a rather short focus ring travel, although it is extended in macro mode (the reason for having the switch is to optimize travel for both scenarios) and no markings other than an orange line to denote the macro range.
What’s Included A direct-coupled focus ring, which has no “slop” when rocking back and forth to fine tune the focus. This is very import, as it differentiates this D lens from a G lens in which the outer focus ring is coupled to the inner barrel vs. a gearing system. This makes manual focusing on a G lens quite a challenge.
There’s a little trick to using this lens. If you use in macro mode with autofocus, and try to “retract” the lens barrel by zooming it all the way back to 28, it might stop at 50 requiring you return the macro switch to the normal mode. You can’t! That is, if the lens is still focused in the sub 0.5 meter range, the switch won’t slide to the normal position. And, since you can’t rotate the focus ring by hand in AF mode on any D lens, you have to either switch to MF mode, or simply autofocus on a distant object. You then simply flip the switch and zoom all the way back in. A small price to pay for such versatility.
Auto Focus Relatively slow. Mechanical focus linkage allows AF only with cameras equipped with a motor. Noise it about average for a D Lens.
Bokeh Not yet evaluated.
Close Focus 1.7 feet at all focal lengths (0.7 feet in Macro mode from 50mm to 105mm).
Color Rendition Not yet evaluated.
Compatibility Works with all Nikon digital cameras, but will not autofocus on D40, D60 D3000 and D5000 series bodies. Works with all autofocus and manual focus film bodies.
Construction 16 elements in 12 groups, including 1 hybrid aspherical element. Plastic outer barrel, metal inner barrel, metal mount; no rear gasket.
Country of Origin Japan.
Coverage 135 film, FX and DX.
Diaphragm 9 curved blades.
Distortion Much better than the average zoom, it’s negligible except at 28mm.
DX Performance When used on a DX camera this lens has a very usable range of 42-157.5mm, and is faster at the long end than the average lens it its class. It provide nearly a 1:1 reproduction ratio in macro mode. 42mm is the optimal “normal” focal length, while on a FX camera, 105mm is a typical focal length for macro lenses.
EXIF Encoding The focal length is accurately recorded at all zoom settings.
Extension Tubes Even with all three of the tubes from the Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set DG stacked, I was able to achieve autofocus. The addition of the tubes allows you to achieve greater than 1:1, but more importantly they increase your working distance at lesser magnifications.
Falloff Minimal; usually visible only at 28mm @ f/3.5. Never a problem on DX.
Filter Thread Plastic, 62mm. Rotates with zoom, but not focus.
Ghosts and Flares Reasonably good resistance when pointed directly into the sun.
Included Standard center-pinch front lens cap, LF-1 rear cap.
Lateral Color Fringes Not yet evaluated.
Macro Outstanding macro capability for a general-purpose lens. In macro mode, achieves a reproduction ration of 1:2, which can be extended to 1:1.3 (nearly 1:1!) simply by shooting in DX Crop Mode.
Manual Focus Focus scale with no depth-of-field scale, but infra-red index at 28 and 105mm. Hard stop at infinity. Focus ring is smooth, well-damped and direct-couple to lens barrel, making manual focus easy despite its short travel, which is extended in macro mode.
Maximum Reproduction Ratio 1:5.2; 1:2 (macro mode at 105mm), 1.2.7 (macro mode at 50mm)
Optional Accessories HB-18 Hood, CL-49 Hard Case or Pouch #62
Price Paid $149.00 (pre-owned). Original 1999 price: $290.00
RoHS Compliance None.
Sharpness Sharp at all apertures, but borders are softer at 105mm at large apertures.
Size 2.9" (D) x 3.2" (L)
Spherochromatism Not yet evaluated.
Sunstars Not yet evaluated.
Teleconverters Nikon TC-200, TC201 and TC-14A (manual focus). Tested with the Kenko Teleplus MC-7, it performed flawlessly on the D610 with full autofocus capability even in low light. The MC7 correctly reports its maximum aperture range as f/7.1-9 to f/45-57 (56mm-210mm respectively).
Variable Aperture Range
Versatility Good for: wide angle, portrait, close-up and macro. Not the best choice for sports photography, hand-held night photography or infrared.
Vibration Reduction (VR) None.
The Bottom Line Ever since I first heard about the 28-70mm D by a fellow photographer in Starbucks, I was intrigued. I wanted to add an AF Zoom D lens to my collection for compatibility with both my film and digital bodies, and to be sort of “period” to my N80. A little research turned up this lens, which was every bit as good optically, but offered far more utility as a macro lens. The current 24-85mm D, while seemingly fast at f/2.8-4, is nowhere near as sharp as this lens. While not quite as wide as the 24mm, 28 is quite versatile and really handy on DX, where it’s considered “true normal” at 42mm.
Being well-suited for both FX and DX use, compatible with film bodies via its aperture ring and being such a great macro performer, this was the perfect choice for a D Zoom lens addition to my outfit. I feel as though I’ve finally gotten myself the macro lens I’ve been wanting for some time. In use, it’s really comfortable and well-balanced on the D610, and surprisingly easy to focus. And The two minor points that make this lens not absolutely perfect are the stiff aperture ring (typical of D lenses) and the rotating filter threads (typical of “kit” lenses). But neither of these are deal breakers.
Without autofocus motors, VR electronics and lead-free solder, D lenses seem to be more of an “investment” than G lenses, and provide a more traditional feel to shooting with a DSLR. And this particular D lens is one that I highly recommend.
Color Rendition Not yet evaluated.
Compatibility Works with all Nikon digital cameras, but will not autofocus on D40, D60 D3000 and D5000 series bodies. Works with all autofocus and manual focus film bodies.
Construction 16 elements in 12 groups, including 1 hybrid aspherical element. Plastic outer barrel, metal inner barrel, metal mount; no rear gasket.
Country of Origin Japan.
Coverage 135 film, FX and DX.
Diaphragm 9 curved blades.
Distortion Much better than the average zoom, it’s negligible except at 28mm.
DX Performance When used on a DX camera this lens has a very usable range of 42-157.5mm, and is faster at the long end than the average lens it its class. It provide nearly a 1:1 reproduction ratio in macro mode. 42mm is the optimal “normal” focal length, while on a FX camera, 105mm is a typical focal length for macro lenses.
EXIF Encoding The focal length is accurately recorded at all zoom settings.
Extension Tubes Even with all three of the tubes from the Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set DG stacked, I was able to achieve autofocus. The addition of the tubes allows you to achieve greater than 1:1, but more importantly they increase your working distance at lesser magnifications.
Falloff Minimal; usually visible only at 28mm @ f/3.5. Never a problem on DX.
Filter Thread Plastic, 62mm. Rotates with zoom, but not focus.
Ghosts and Flares Reasonably good resistance when pointed directly into the sun.
Included Standard center-pinch front lens cap, LF-1 rear cap.
Lateral Color Fringes Not yet evaluated.
Macro Outstanding macro capability for a general-purpose lens. In macro mode, achieves a reproduction ration of 1:2, which can be extended to 1:1.3 (nearly 1:1!) simply by shooting in DX Crop Mode.
Manual Focus Focus scale with no depth-of-field scale, but infra-red index at 28 and 105mm. Hard stop at infinity. Focus ring is smooth, well-damped and direct-couple to lens barrel, making manual focus easy despite its short travel, which is extended in macro mode.
Maximum Reproduction Ratio 1:5.2; 1:2 (macro mode at 105mm), 1.2.7 (macro mode at 50mm)
Optional Accessories HB-18 Hood, CL-49 Hard Case or Pouch #62
Price Paid $149.00 (pre-owned). Original 1999 price: $290.00
RoHS Compliance None.
Sharpness Sharp at all apertures, but borders are softer at 105mm at large apertures.
Size 2.9" (D) x 3.2" (L)
Spherochromatism Not yet evaluated.
Sunstars Not yet evaluated.
Teleconverters Nikon TC-200, TC201 and TC-14A (manual focus). Tested with the Kenko Teleplus MC-7, it performed flawlessly on the D610 with full autofocus capability even in low light. The MC7 correctly reports its maximum aperture range as f/7.1-9 to f/45-57 (56mm-210mm respectively).
Variable Aperture Range
| Full-Frame (FX) | APS-C (DX) | f-Stop Range |
|---|---|---|
| 28mm | 42mm | f/3.5-f/22 |
| 35mm | 52.5mm | f/3.8-f/22 |
| 50mm | 75mm | f/4-f/25 |
| 70mm | 105mm | f/4.2-f/29 |
| 85mm | 127.5mm | f/4.5-f/29 |
| 105mm | 157.5mm | f/4.5-f/29 |
Versatility Good for: wide angle, portrait, close-up and macro. Not the best choice for sports photography, hand-held night photography or infrared.
Vibration Reduction (VR) None.
Vignetting Not yet evaluated.
Weight Approximately 17 ounces.
Weight Approximately 17 ounces.
Build Quality ★★★★
Optical Quality ★★★★★
Value ★★★★★The Bottom Line Ever since I first heard about the 28-70mm D by a fellow photographer in Starbucks, I was intrigued. I wanted to add an AF Zoom D lens to my collection for compatibility with both my film and digital bodies, and to be sort of “period” to my N80. A little research turned up this lens, which was every bit as good optically, but offered far more utility as a macro lens. The current 24-85mm D, while seemingly fast at f/2.8-4, is nowhere near as sharp as this lens. While not quite as wide as the 24mm, 28 is quite versatile and really handy on DX, where it’s considered “true normal” at 42mm.
Being well-suited for both FX and DX use, compatible with film bodies via its aperture ring and being such a great macro performer, this was the perfect choice for a D Zoom lens addition to my outfit. I feel as though I’ve finally gotten myself the macro lens I’ve been wanting for some time. In use, it’s really comfortable and well-balanced on the D610, and surprisingly easy to focus. And The two minor points that make this lens not absolutely perfect are the stiff aperture ring (typical of D lenses) and the rotating filter threads (typical of “kit” lenses). But neither of these are deal breakers.
Without autofocus motors, VR electronics and lead-free solder, D lenses seem to be more of an “investment” than G lenses, and provide a more traditional feel to shooting with a DSLR. And this particular D lens is one that I highly recommend.
1 comment:
Thanks for the review.
Just picked a copy myself for my d610, hopefully be a handy travel lens.
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