(34 views/week)
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Review Date
February 16, 2007
Overall Rating
 4 of 5
Value Rating
 5 of 5
Used product for
More than 1 year
Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes
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Reviewed by
piotr_82
, Intermediate
Price Paid
$100.00
at allegro.pl
Photography Experience
2-5 years
, Outdoor
Summary
I bought this lens as a bargain on the internet auction (allegro) about a year ago. Wanted to have a medium focal lenght zoom lens with good optics and solid, metal construction - this one was the best choice I have made and still left my pocket with some money! Optically I am very satisfacted with the results, it gives a SHARP, CONTRASTY pictures and natural color tones, especially when stopped down to f/8 or more! It still gives very good results handheld when using ISO400 film. From f/3.5 - 5.6 it is a bit soft, espiecially in the corners and sometimes in the center of a frame but stopped down and no softness is visible! Great choice fot a wildlife photos, portraits (with Nikon A2 filter that is always on my lens it gives really fantastic skin tone and slightly warmed backgroud - looks great to me!) and narrow landscape shots!
Solid metal construction is quite heavy but I do not have to worry about breaking the lens in my photo bag or a backpack. Never use tripoid but suppose to get even better overall results with one! Usually works in AF mode that is a bit slow in my non-D version, but still precise and suitable to my needs (portraits and animals do not need a super-fast focusing, nor do landscape scenes). Focusing ring works smoothly, zooming barrel too (it`s a push-pull zoom lens - shouldn`t need a lot of time to get used to it ; right now seems to me that this type is even better than a standard one). Distortion is acceptable but I try to avoid straight lines as a main motive on my scenes. Flare can be a problem when you get a direct sun into the lens - need to think about it when shooting! I always shoot this lens with a NH-23 Nikon metal lens hood that seems to solve this problem! Balanes very nicely with my N80 and MB16 Battery pack - no reasons to complain about it. Front element rotates while focusing so polarisers can be a bit demanding - personally don`t have a 62mm polariser so far ;)
Overall, it`s a GREAT performing lens with a - let me call it a "sub-pro" quality - very good optics, built with metal and glass which is not very common solution in todays Nikon lens. If you need such a focal lenght, want to get a stunning results and still keep a money in your pocket - this is a MUST! (not so hard to find a second-hand one on an auction as a bargain!). I can recommend it as a second lens in every photo bag!
Strengths
- Optical quality - EXTREMELY SHARP !!!, CONTRASTY and well toned colors (espiecially when stopped down)
- Built quality - very SOLID and DURABLE - metal and glass,
- Good focal lenght for portraits, wildlife and outdoor shooting,
- Great balace with N80 (and similar SLR bodies),
- Still fast aperture, even handheld,
- PRICE and QUALITY - great related to each other!!!
Weaknesses
- can be a bit soft below f/5.6
- quite heavy due to metal and glass construction - have to know if you prefer weight or durability
- front element rotating while focusing,
- focusing distance quite big - not a macro lens ...
- needs a fill-in-flash in a dim light conditions, especially with longer focal lenghts
Similar Products Used
Nikkor 35-135 f/3.5-4.5., Nikkor 20mm f/2.8D, Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D Nikon N80 camera body with MB 16 Baterry Pack, Nikon SB-600 flash
Customer Service
Never need one so far ...
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Review Date
January 11, 2006
Overall Rating
 5 of 5
Value Rating
5 of 5
Used product for
Less than 1 month
Visitors rate this review
3.86 of 5, 7 votes
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Reviewed by
hinze
, Intermediate
Price Paid
$140.00
at used
Photography Experience
6-10 years
Summary
I bought this lens becouse i read kenrockwell's review of it and I have to say that i fully agree with his opinion in any way. The Nikkor 70-210 AF-D is unbeatable in sharpness!!!! I've seen more expensive lenses (third party and nikkor) which are not half the sharp this lens is. When you first whatch an image out of the camera (d50/70 in my case) you simply cannot belive it! razor sharp brilliant contrast and colors - what else can you say... oh yes the af is a real sprinter!
I had to get used to the push pull mechanism first but you get into it in minutes and it is noth that bad compared to the ones you turn.
I think i never sell this lense again.
like the guy bevore said - the best lense you can get for your nikon gear at this price and this quality!
kudos nikon!
Strengths
Fast as lightning
razor sharp
good contrast
good color
Weaknesses
none at this price
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Review Date
December 11, 2005
Overall Rating
4 of 5
Value Rating
5 of 5
Used product for
3 Months to 1 year
Visitors rate this review
3.33 of 5, 3 votes
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Reviewed by
Christiano
, Professional
Price Paid
$299.00
at adorama
Photography Experience
11-20 years
, People
Summary
Probably the best investment you can do for your Nikon analogue or digital gear for the moment,the only rival is the Nikkor 28-200,and of course a little better the 80-200 and best of all the 70-200 BUT at a very very different price but not extremely different when it comes to the quality of the end result> true pic quality.
This Lens is able to make very good prints and sharp pics with good resolution and details,a little flat at the 210 end and lacking a bit of contrast,but very very close to pro results.I use it mostly when its a clear good day and sunny,and use it as well with my SB 600 flash and Nikon D1 H and even with my oold Nikon F2 !
I agree with many that this lens is very responsive and fast and for my PJ work its fantastic capable to solve the newpapers need for good sharp sports pic and other fast action pics.No probs whatsoever!
Of course its Not a hgh end lens BUT darn too close for little money,remember to put a good filter (62 mm) in front.; i use Rodenstock UV.If you can find it used .Buy it.
Highly recomandable.
Strengths
ALL...... its pro made.....(made in japan) may one say it i s a pro lens for a amateur price..or 95 % close to this fact?
(another sleeper is the 28-85 and the 28-70 too.!)
Weaknesses
too slow at the 210 5,6 end...BUT still fast..?!!
Similar Products Used
many in the 70-200 end..sigma canon nikon..
Customer Service
nope
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Review Date
July 31, 2004
Overall Rating
5 of 5
Value Rating
5 of 5
Used product for
1 to 3 months
Visitors rate this review
3.78 of 5, 18 votes
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Reviewed by
nevardmedia
, Expert
Price Paid
$150.00
at Secondhand dealer in
Photography Experience
21+ years
, Outdoor
Summary
Older design solid AF Nikkor, covering a fairly undemanding but useful 70-210mm tele range.
Bargain price - probably because most consumers want a zoom to cover 12-600mm all in one lens!
Strengths
Notes from using on a digital Nikon D70 DSLR:
Optical and build quality-wize, better than the newer 75-300 'Nikkors?'.
My results comparing (unfairly?) to prime lens Nikkors in this range....
Much to my surprize; good contrast and saturation at all apertures, only falling off slightly wide open at 210mm.
Sharpness pretty good at all zoom settings (a tad weaker at 210mm). Just stopping down half a stop from wide open increases sharpness markedly a 210mm end (a small amount of USM in Photoshop makes full aperture very usable however!).
No noticeable light fall off even wide open (bearing in mind a DSLR only uses the centre 2/3rds of a 35mm frame - an advantage).
Chromatic aberration well controlled, you have to look quite hard for it even at wider apertures.
Nice bokeh for a zoom, with little to no 'directional' or 'patterning' effects.
At apertures from around f7.1 and smaller the results surprizing compare very well to my 85mm & 135mm Nikkor primes.
Secondhand price good.
Weaknesses
None really for spec and price, just the slower aperture when you need the speed at 210mm end.
Keep those prime lenses for dull days when this lens is too slow.
Similar Products Used
A borrowed a 75-300mm ED Zoom Nikkor.
Nikkor primes in this range.
Tamron 80-210 (nasty).
Customer Service
Never needed.
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Review Date
June 22, 2004
Overall Rating
5 of 5
Value Rating
5 of 5
Used product for
Less than 1 month
Visitors rate this review
3.60 of 5, 5 votes
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Reviewed by
olegv
, Expert
Price Paid
$230.00
Photography Experience
11-20 years
Summary
It seems to be the best AF-D consumer zoom. I guess Nikon discontinues it to shift customers to much costly F2.8 zooms. Bought it used for my D70 after being disappointed by AF 70-300 ED (sharpness in ok but contrast is below average, especially at the short end).
Strengths
Good sharpness and contrast wide open across entire zoom range. Fast AF.
Weaknesses
Push pull zoom, loose focus ring - not for manual focus fans.
Similar Products Used
AF 70-300 ED
AF-S 24-85
AF 18-35
AF 50/1.8
Sigma 105/2.8 macro
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