Nikon 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR NIKKOR Zoom Lens

by Nikon

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005LEOB
• Item model number: 2145 NCP
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 22, 2002

Product Description

Zoom lens that fits all Nikon SLR cameras but optimized for autofocus models.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what it says it is...., February 18, 2007

By 

John H. Williams (Pittsburgh PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nikon 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR NIKKOR Zoom Lens (Electronics)

This is a superb lens. It is exactly what it says it is... It has a VERY useful zoom range. It is VERY fast focusing. And it has VR. But ignore the reviews that suggest that VR is the same as a 1.2 or 1.8 lens -- It is not. VR allows you to handhold in much dimmer light than you could normally handhold a lens by compensating for minor hand tremors. But your exposure, being longer, can no longer "freeze" moving objects, like kids. So while your image is stabilized, your subject is not. VR is a GREAT benefit, but it cannot replace a 1.2 or 1.8 lens that gives you the faster shutter speed, rather than trying to compensate for a slower speed. VR also costs far, far less than a very, very fast zoom. This lens is a joy to use, very, very sharp and contrasty, and has produced for me many great shots. If you understand what image stabilization is, as opposed to a truly fast lens, you will love this lens.

20 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant accomplishment by Nikon, August 5, 2005

By 

Jack L. Kessler (Paris, France) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nikon 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR NIKKOR Zoom Lens (Electronics)

Nikon makes six VR (Vibration Reduction) lenses. Three of them sell for $4000 to $6000. Two others can be yours for $1500 and $1700 respectively. The sixth is this 24-120 mm zoom which costs about $500 mail order. VR makes the lens effectively three stops faster than a comparable non-VR lens, enabling it to shoot at 8 times as long a shutter speed without blurring. Its "slow" f/3.5-5.6 maximum apertures become functionally equivalent to a f/1.2-2.0 lens, faster than any zoom lens in existence at any price (other than Nikon's other VR lenses).

The objection that the lens is not sharp is based on it not being quite as sharp with VR on as with it off. In low light with VR on, it shoots excellent pictures while non-VR lenses shoot no pictures at all or blurry messes. In normal light with VR off it is classic Nikon glass and quite sharp.

The sharpness complaints are from people who either forget to, or don't know to, turn the VR off in normal light. Maybe future versions will turn the VR off automatically when the shutter speed is faster than a set limit.

The noise reduction technology found on the newer (and cheaper) Nikon DSLR's (like the D70 and D50) makes shooting at ISO 1600 feasible. Combining it with VR, the camera is so fast that one can shoot almost anything anywhere.

The comparable technology from Canon is IS (Image Stabilization). I have not used it but I have read that it increases the effective speed of the lens by two to two-and-a-half stops, compared to VR's three.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unfairly treated lens or my copy turned out good, November 11, 2008

By 

Francisco Solareslarrave "Professor with a ca... (DeKalb, IL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nikon 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR NIKKOR Zoom Lens (Electronics)

Here and there you'll see people maligning this lens and saying it's soft, a dog, the worst Nikon ever put out... but I haven't experienced any of the problems the lens is supposedly riddled with. Yes, it may not be the sharpest thing, but then, it's a zoom with a fairly wide reach and it compensates being slow with the VR feature (which won't stop the subject but steady the photographer's hand instead). At any rate, this lens is practical, useful and it does deliver the goods. Mine works wondefully with my F100 and my F5, and soon enough with my D700. Filters may be a problem, as it takes a 72mm size. Never bother to use a CPL on this lens: first, it's too slow (and it would only make sense to use it under a very strong sun or with a fast ISO outdoors), and it would be a pain to turn the filter to polarize the light. It may be better to have a neutral density filter instead, if it's at all needed. I haven't experienced any color distortion or any distortion whatsoever, except for the (expectable) one at the wide end of the zoom. Otherwise, this is my favorite glass... and shares the limelight with my other Nikon AF-S zoom, the 24-85 f3.5-4.5.

Worth a try? Yes! In case you're not satisfied, this version of the 24-120 lens does keep its resale value for a while. At worst, you may lose a bit on the resale, but then, you already got to play with a VR lens.