Nikon ED AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm 1:3.5-4.5 G VR Lens (f/3.5-4.5)

Overall Rating:

This lens is 13 years old with a debut price of $500 (USD). It has replaced the 24-85mm 1:3.5-4.5 non-VR version and is a varifocal zoom in that it changes focus as it is zoomed, but only by a little bit. It features one small ED element and a whopping three aspherical elements. This is a wide-angle, modern zoom with Nikon's Vibration Reduction. At the time of the introduction of this lens, the Nikon D800/D800E — a 36MP camera — was modern.

Performance

There is color fringing on the short and long end, and there is moderate vignetting to be found which, by f/5.6, it is almost eliminated. Distortion is heavy with barrel on the short end (1%) and pincushion on the long end (1%). Distortion is normal in a zoom. Flaring is minor for this zoom.

Sharpness is decent, but not stellar. It's consistent through-out the zoom range.

The autofocus is decent and it is silent. Not going to say that it is for sports/action photography, but it is decent.

This lens does not have the same reach as the Nikon Nikkor 85mm 1:1.8 G. Apparently, it is not a true 85mm. But that is fine because it performs well/consistently through out its zoom range.

Diffraction begins before f/8.

It's not a macro lens and its macro performance is not stellar which is as one would expect. There is color fringing. It's looks like and is probably LoCA.

Compactness Compared

For a zoom, this lens is not too large and is a good travel companion thanks to its light weight. Here is a comparison with its bigger brother the Nikon Nikkor AF-S 24-120mm 1:4 G ED VR.

This lens is often compared to the Nikon Nikkor AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED VR.

Infrared

This lens is not for infrared photography. It exhibits a weak hot spot at f/18. It will be fine if shooting wide-open or nearly so.

Bokeh

The bokeh does exhibit some harshness, as can be seen below.

Compatibility

Because this is a "G" lens, it is compatible with all Nikon DSLR's.

Construction

This is an all plastic lens, however, it is very sturdy feeling. The manual focusing feels good and there is no slop in either the focus or zoom collars. It does focus beyond infinity to accommodate the UV wavelength.

This lens has a focus scale but no depth of field scale because it's a zoom. The focus scale is useful as it is not too small and has more travel than a prime but it could have more travel still. For example, the greatest indicator on it is ten feet.

The 72mm filter threads do not rotate.

Specifications

Images

Related links:

• Nikon Nikkor Lens Reviews
• All Lens Reviews