This lens was introduced in 1985 and made until 2005. It cost approximately $550 (USD). It has two-touch zoom/focus mechanics. It is fine to use on Nikon DSLR bodies, but being a variable aperture zoom lens, don't expect to easily keep EXIF data accurate. That said, this is an interesting lens. It has a "macro" function at the 28mm focal length. It is very barely a varifocal zoom because it changes its focus just a tiny bit while zooming. Oddly enough, it settles into the same point of focus at f=28mm and f=85mm, but its focus changes a little between these focal lengths. Its physical dimensions are shortest at is greatest focal length and it is at its longest at its shortest focal length.
The 28mm focal length is not as wide as today's zooms, but it really is enough for most situations. In its day, it was wide for a normal zoom lens. This lens makes a great backpacking one because of its compact size and ruggedness.
macro to 0.3× magnification (detail)macro to 0.3× magnification — DX mode (detail)
Particularly in the corners, there is some color fringing with this lens, and there is pronounced barrel distortion on the wide end and like-wise pincushion distortion on the long end.
Color fringing detail at 3-to-1:
very little color fringing in the center at f=28mm/8very little color fringing in the center at f=85mm/11the corners at f=28mm/8the corners at f=85mm/8
This lens is best at its shorter focal lengths, but it is no slouch at its longer focal lengths!
Infrared seems okay at f=85mm/29, but there is a slight hotspot at f=28mm/22.
infrared hotspot at f=28mm/22infrared at f=85mm/29
This lens has a macro function which goes all the way down to a reproduction ratio of 1:3.4, but its macro performance is not up to par. For an inexpensive macro lens buy a cheap 50mm/2 lens and some extension tubes and teleconverters.
Sadly, the front element of this lens does turn when it is focused and this makes for difficult times when using a polarizer. It has a focus scale.
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