Nikon 24-85 (or similar) options, & use with F6 etc.

etn · Jun 18, 2023

Another "what should I buy" thread
I will soon take a trip over a couple days with a friend, in a general aviation airplane. I would like to document the trip but do not want to change lenses. I think the ideal lens for my use would be a small zoom such as Nikon 24-85. Although I plan to take my Df on the trip, I want whatever I buy to be compatible with at least one of my film Nikons, e.g. my F6.

A few questions:

1) The 24-85 AF-S (and even VR) can be found for quite cheap (few hundred €). Does this work on the F6? The VR too?

2) There is an older 24-85 AF-D, which has the aperture ring (=works with my F3, although this is not a "must have" here) and 1:2 macro capability (nice, but I have other lenses for this too and do not need for that trip).
How is this one? I understand the newer AF-S is optically much better, though. Can you comment on this?

3) Are there other good Nikon (or Sigma, Tamron etc) worth considering? Criteria are:
- relatively good image quality,
- range around 24~28mm (35 would be acceptable) on the lower end to 70~80-ish (or more) on the upper side,
- relatively small size therefore no, the 28-70 2.8 does not come into consideration.

Thanks!
Etienne

250swb · Jun 18, 2023

In situations like this I always like to refer to Ken Rockwell to polarise opinion.

https://kenrockwell.com/nikon/2485afs.htm

neilt3 · Jun 18, 2023

I'm using that lens on the F80 and f100 , it works well , including VR .
I had intended getting the AF-D version so I could use my f4 and some manual focus cameras , but after reading some reviews opted for the later version.
For earlier cameras I use the 28-105mm AF-D or my 24-50mm AF lens .

etn · Jun 18, 2023

Thank you. Interesting.
I briefly saw Bronson‘s post on the 28-70 AF-S before I could answer (and before it was deleted). Thanks for this also. I did not even know this lens existed; it combines f/2.8 and an aperture ring which seems a good compromise. I might decide to compromise on weight.

The 24-50 was not on my radar either, need to research that one. 50 could be enough indeed. The lens is small and dirt cheap. Might be just what i need!

xkaes · Jun 18, 2023

Much depends on how WIDE you want to go and how SMALL you want to go. If you want to go WIDE, there are the 24-50/70mm lenses, as well as the SIGMA/PROMASTER 24-200mm AF lens (That's my ALL-IN-ONE lens!). If you want to go SMALL, there are lots of 28-50/70/85/105/200mm AF lenses.

ic-racer · Jun 18, 2023

I frequently use the inexpensive 20-80G on my F6. Works well as long as there is enough light, as it does not have the VR and the F6 does not have the built-in flash. So maybe it works better on a F80 which has built-in flash. As was pointed out in another thread, the F80 can sometimes be obtained with the 28-80G attached for the price of a camera strap.

Having written that, the 28-85 AF-S VR is on my list of lenses to get some day.

etn · Jun 18, 2023

xkaes said:
If you want to go SMALL, there are lots of 28-50/70/85/105/200mm AF lenses.

Thanks, yes I am researching the topic a bit and realize that. The question is, which of them are good and which are to be avoided?

etn · Jun 18, 2023

ic-racer said:
Having written that, the 28-85 AF-S VR is on my list of lenses to get some day.

This lens seems like a good value proposition, and is what I am tending to at this point. It is even available new for 600€ if I don't want to take any chance with buying used. My only concern at this point is, how will I cope with the lack of aperture ring (never had one before). Particularly as the front dial of the Df is useless for all practical purposes.

As a side note, I'm thinking that if I spend 600€ I might want to put the money toward something else, e.g. a 35mm 1.4 AIS or a 24mm... this thread had me write both of them on my own "list of lenses to get some day"
Bottom line, I might just take any lens I already have on that trip!

Craig · Jun 18, 2023

I have the 24-85 F2.8-4 and it is a great lens. Fast for a zoom, yet compact. Works well on my F6 and dF. I also have the 24-120 G VR, but it's considerably larger.

For photographing from a airplane I don't think the VR is going to be of much help, I'd go with faster film an a higher shutter speed to counter any vibrations.

Sirius Glass · Jun 18, 2023

Since 2004 I have had a Tamron 28mm to 300mm zoom AF lens and a Nikon 28mm to 200mm zoom AF lenses, one for the color film camera and one for the black & white film camera. Except for the focal length one cannot tell the difference between them. I also carry the Nikon 20mm to 35mm AF zoom lens which the two cameras share.

Chan Tran · Jun 18, 2023

I have the original 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 AF-S non VR. The sharpness is very good. Significant barrel distortion at wide angle settings. For film camera it would be a problem because you can't correct that easily like digital. The F6 would support all VR lenses.

ic-racer · Jun 18, 2023

etn said:
This lens seems like a good value proposition, and is what I am tending to at this point. It is even available new for 600€ if I don't want to take any chance with buying used. My only concern at this point is, how will I cope with the lack of aperture ring (never had one before). Particularly as the front dial of the Df is useless for all practical purposes.

As a side note, I'm thinking that if I spend 600€ I might want to put the money toward something else, e.g. a 35mm 1.4 AIS or a 24mm... this thread had me write both of them on my own "list of lenses to get some day"
Bottom line, I might just take any lens I already have on that trip!

My main concern with any of these 'reasonably priced,' well performing, Nikkor AF Zooms is the lack of fast aperture. So I did recently get the fixed focal length 24/1.4 AF-S with which I am very happy though it is bigger and heavier than some of these zooms in question here.

etn · Jun 18, 2023

Thanks for all your answers!

I'm relatively OK without a fast aperture - the goal here is to shoot in daylight, or with digital where you can push the ISO.

I found a DxO page comparing the AF-D and the newer AF-S:

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-85mm f3.5-4.5G ED VR and Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G review - DXOMARK

Most manufacturers have a lens that gets bundled with their cameras to make a ‘Kit’, and Nikon is no exception, but when its full frame cameras are beginning to be accessible to the consumer market, the kit lens needs both coverage and quality to be an appropriate partner to the likes of a Nikon...

www.dxomark.com

The AFD wins on vignetting and distortion (as mentioned above), and the resolutions is not dramatically worse than the more modern ones. This speaks for the AFD as it is the most versatile (for my usage) of the 24-85 options.

Paul Howell · Jun 18, 2023

Although a bit longer and somewhat heavier than the Nikon, Sigma 24 to 105 F4, I have one lens in Minolta Sony A mount, I have used it with film on my Minolta 7, and full frame with Sony A900.

Sirius Glass · Jun 18, 2023

ic-racer said:
My main concern with any of these 'reasonably priced,' well performing, Nikkor AF Zooms is the lack of fast aperture. So I did recently get the fixed focal length 24/1.4 AF-S with which I am very happy though it is bigger and heavier than some of these zooms in question here.

What is the goal, fast aperture or zoom capability? If zoom capability, short, medium or long? These are individual choices, to what are the various options?

etn · Jun 18, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
What is the goal, fast aperture or zoom capability? If zoom capability, short, medium or long? These are individual choices, to what are the various options?

As far as I am concerned in this thread: zoom from 24~28-ish to 70-ish. I am covered with my primes as far as "fast" is concerned. I personally never saw the need for a fast 24mm but this obviously does not mean no one does!
I have a Zeiss ZM 25 f/2.8 (and long for the Nikon 24 f/2.8 AF-D) and that's plenty fast for my uses.

xkaes · Jun 18, 2023

There are a lots of zooms "from 24~28-ish to 70-ish" to choose from, especially if you are not stuck on the latest Nikon has to offer, new.

Here's a few dozen -- with reviews:

https://allphotolenses.com/lenses/c_869038.html

Chan Tran · Jun 18, 2023

As per the DXO scores the original 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 non VR is the sharpest lens and cheapest . It does have other disadvantages so the overall score is lower.

dynachrome · Jun 18, 2023

A very nice and inexpensive lens is the 28-80mm f/3.5-4.5 AF Nikkor D. This lens has a wider focusing ring that the first 28-80 version. The D version is surprisingly sharp. It was sold as a kit lens with many cameras so there are many for sale.

M-88 · Jun 19, 2023

As far as compact form factor is of concern, I'd vote for 28-70 mm f/3.5-4.5 AF-D which is small and of high quality. 28-80 G lens is even lighter, and although it gives good results, it feels cheap.

[And now I should preach about how good 28-105 AF-D is and how I ditched 28-70 for it, but it's beynod OP's desired focal length coverage and there are better options available.]

etn · Jun 19, 2023

Thanks to all for your answers and suggestions!
I decided to give the 24-85 AF-D a try; let's see. Will run a few test shots on my Df and check whether I like what I see. If not, there's a return policy Will keep you posted.

etn · Jun 21, 2023

Quick update: the 24-85 f/2.8-4 AF-D arrived today and I took a few boring shots of the wall of the neighboring building. The lens is indeed somewhat "softer" wide open compared to f/5.6 or f/8 but not soft enough for me to dislike it. (this was my biggest fear with that lens) Distortion is quite pronounced at 24mm.

Apart from that, the macro mode is great and its results are good for what it is. General size, weight and handling of the lens are quite OK. The aperture ring is a blessing. Autofocus is really fast due to the very short focus throw. I expect the focus throw to be a potential issue with manual focusing (if I ever use the lens with my F3). I am happy with using autofocus on my F6 and Df.

I obviously need to run real-life tests with this lens but unless I have a big surprise the coming week-end, I think I have a keeper which will serve me well for its intended purpose.

Thanks again to all of you for your advice!

neilt3 · Jun 21, 2023

Enjoy your new lens .

Sirius Glass · Jun 21, 2023

Enjoy and shoot more film.

etn · Jun 23, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
Enjoy and shoot more film.

Thanks Sirius!
"Shoot more film" is in my case probably simply "shoot more". When picking up my Df I looked at the pictures which were still on the camera's memory card. Apart from a couple dozen test pics of my freshly acquired Voigtlander 40mm in summer 2022, the last time I used it was 2021...
As for this weekend's trip, until now I wanted to shoot digital for convenience and sharing the pics with my friend; but you are right I could take my F6 instead. My freezer is still full of 35mm rolls!!

Nikon 24-85 (or similar) options, & use with F6 etc.

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