Nikon 24-85mm f/2.8-4.0D IF AF Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

by Nikon

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.2 x 3.1 x 3.1 inches ; 1.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005LE74
• Item model number: B00005LE74
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2003

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

Lens-making is an art--Nikon artisans craft Nikkor optics from the finest materials, taking pride in adding their intellect and technique to bring the world's finest lenses to life. They push the leading edge of lens-making in their effort to provide the "glass" that makes the world's greatest pictures.

AF Nikkor lenses work with Nikon SLRs for optimal performance, even the very latest. The 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF AF-S Zoom Nikkor Lens is a wide to telephoto 3.5x zoom lens ideal for landscape, full-length portraits, travel and portrait photographs. With a fast f2.8 maximum aperture at 24mm focal length, it provides a maximum 1:2 reproduction ratio from 35 to 85mm. Hybrid and molded-glass aspherical lens elements provide higher optical performance, while the nine-blade rounded diaphragm achieves a natural blur for out-of-focus elements. Filter attachment does not rotate during focusing or zooming.

Nikon Super Integrated Coating ensures exceptional performance
To enhance the performance of its optical lens elements, Nikon employs an exclusive multilayer lens coating that helps reduce ghost and flare to a negligible level. Nikon Super Integrated Coating achieves a number of objectives, including minimized reflection in the wider wavelength range and superior color balance and reproduction. Nikon Super Integrated Coating is especially effective for lenses with a large number of elements, like our Zoom-Nikkors. Also, Nikon's multilayer coating process is tailored to the design of each particular lens. The number of coatings applied to each lens element is carefully calculated to match the lens type and glass used, and also to assure the uniform color balance that characterizes Nikkor lenses. This results in lenses that meet much higher standards than the rest of the industry.

Aspherical lens elements
Nikon introduced the first photographic lens with aspherical lens elements in 1968. What sets them apart? Aspherical lenses virtually eliminate the problem of coma and other types of lens aberration--even when used at the widest aperture. They are particularly useful in correcting the distortion in wide-angle lenses. In addition, use of aspherical lenses contributes to a lighter and smaller lens design. Nikon employs three types of aspherical lens elements. Precision-ground aspherical lens elements are the finest expression of lens-crafting art, demanding extremely rigorous production standards. Hybrid lenses are made of a special plastic molded onto optical glass. Molded glass aspherical lenses are manufactured by molding a unique type of optical glass using a special metal die technique.

Internal Focusing
Imagine being able to focus a lens without it changing in size. Nikon's IF technology enables just that. All internal optical movement is limited to the interior of the non-extending lens barrel. This allows for a more compact, lightweight construction as well as a closer focusing distance. In addition, a smaller and lighter focusing lens group is employed to ensure faster focusing. The IF system is featured in most Nikkor telephoto and selected Nikkor zoom lenses.

Distance information
D-type and G-type Nikkors relay subject-to-camera distance information to AF Nikon camera bodies. This then makes possible advances like 3D Matrix Metering and 3D Multi-Sensor Balanced Fill-Flash. Note: D-type and G-type Nikkors provide distance information to the following cameras: Auto exposure; F6, F5, F100, F90X, F80, F75, F70, F65, F60, F55, F50, Pronea S, Pronea 600i, D2 series, D1 series, D100 and D70s/D70. Flash control; F6, F5, F100, F90X, F80, F75, F70, D2 series, D1 series, D100 and D70s/D70.

What's in the Box:
Lens, 72mm snap-on front lens cap, rear lens cap LF-1, bayonet hood HB-25.

Product Description

RE)NIKON 24-85MM F2.8-4D IF (1929)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great All-Purpose Lens for FX DSLRs, July 30, 2009

By 

Russell K. MacDonald "Russ" (Richmond Hill, GA (near Savannah)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nikon 24-85mm f/2.8-4.0D IF AF Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

I bought this lens new about six months ago to use on my D3, and have used it now for four weddings.

It is not quite as sharp as my 24-70mm f/2.8, when wide open, but when stopped down one stop, it is tach sharp. It is also much lighter which helps a lot at a long event, and it has more reach, making it great for parties and receptions.

It autofocuses very quickly with the screw drive in the camera, and I never miss any action shots due to focus lag. It won't focus on some of the low-end Nikon DSLRs because they lack the drive screw.

I don't recommend this lens for DX cameras, because 24mm is not usually wide enough on DX for many reception and party shots. In my opinion, the 16-85mm VR DX or even the 18-70 DX lens would be a better choice for a DX camera.

The 24-85mm is also a very nice light weight travel lens for an FX camera.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good lens for mid-range zoom, November 20, 2009

By 

RonAnnArbor (Ann Arbor, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Nikon 24-85mm f/2.8-4.0D IF AF Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

This is a very good lens for mid-range zooms. Those of us who kept the lens around from our SLR days can happily use it on digital equipment. It's meant for full-frame cameras, but it works on DX as well (though I am not sure 36 - 128 is a useful lens on DX). On my D700 for instance, it is a true 24 wide to 85 zoom.

The lens is fast and sharp. It renders colors well. I do find some lens flare apparent without a standard UV filter -- buy one. A tiffen UV filter, for example, will set you back 20 dollars, and is worth it. Note that the lens hood on this lens is pretty much useless. It doesn't stay latched, and is more bother than it is worth. I have long ago stopped using lens hoods on my lenses -- using your hand for shading the three times out of 1000 that you might need a hood does the trick just as well.

The fast 2.8 aperture speed allows for creative shots, and it's generally usable along it's entire 2.8 -4 low-end aperture range.

For Full-frame cameras, this is a dream lens. It is sharper and faster than the 24-120 VR kit lens, and it doesn't need the VR at these speeds. It is also light, and makes for a great travel lens. I do a lot of event shooting, and it's great to use this small lens -- while the 24-70 2.8 is the current top of the line standard zoom for Nikon, it also costs three times as much, does not have a Micro function (NIkon's name for macro) and weighs three times as much. The 24-85 is much better for extended walk-around shooting, be it landscapes, everyday shots, or events.

You will not be disappointed with this lens -- though you might still crave that 24-70 2.8 in the longrun.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Happy to have it, October 15, 2008

By 

Klaus "Klaus" (Cologne/Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nikon 24-85mm f/2.8-4.0D IF AF Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

I use Nikon since ~30 years. Last one a F801 (film, autofocus) for over 20 years. I used digital Sony W7 and Canon Elph etc. in parallel to the film camera F801. I ordered the D80 with a Tamron 28-75 /f2.8 on Feb 2008. First evening I shot about 200 images. Bottom line, the very old&cheap Nikon 35-70 mm f3.3-5.6 was in sharpness and contrast better then the Tamron (my taste). I returned the Tamron. I wanted a lense about that focus length. I read Ken Rockwell review and bought this one in May, made over 1500 images.

The sharpness, the contrast, the versility, the handling (no "turning front part"), the weight on the D80 body is perfect to me. It is exact what I was looking for and did not find with the Tamron. I am fully satisfied with this lense.