What is a Good Alternative to Nikkor 35-70mm f2.8D?

[Ariston]

I picked up a cheap Nikon 35-70 f2.8d. As it turns out, it has the hazing issue. I would like an affordable autofocus alternative to this lens, in a similar zoom range. Can someone suggest something?

I am okay with Sigma, Tamron, etc., as long as they perform decently well optically. I am looking for something with a constant f2.8 because my older cameras need the extra light for focusing indoors. VR is not necessary, and probably not affordable for me.

Thanks for your input!

 

[MultiFormat Shooter]

Can someone suggest something?

Try looking here. It's a place to start, and they gave different grades, at different price points.

I have no affiliation with the seller.

 

[mshchem]

That's a stellar lens in excellent condition. It's the infamous push pull that relies on (felt?) to keep it in place. If you can find a really nice 35-70 AF-D, ?

 

[Paul Howell]

Sigma 24 to 105 F 4 Art which will work with any camera that works with G lens.

 

[Ariston]

Sigma 24 to 105 F 4 Art which will work with any camera that works with G lens.

Thanks Paul - I'm looking for something that has an aperture ring, though, so I can use it with my older Nikons, too. Also I think those ART lenses are outside my budget.

Maybe I should look for another Nikkor and hope for the best.

 

[Alan9940]

You don't mention what your budget is, but I have the Canon mount of this lens and I've been very satisfied with the image quality. As a matter of fact, though I've never done any side-by-side comparisons I have the impression that this lens is sharper than my Canon 24-105L glass!

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/sear...r di for nikon f&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ps

 

[BobD]

Any AF Nikkor 50mm lens plus take one or two steps forward or backward as needed.

 

[benveniste]

In rough order, my preference is:

• Tokina 28-70mm f/2.6~2.8 (Either the PRO or PRO-II versions)
• Tamron 28-75mm model A09 (Early models have aperture rings, later ones do not)
• Another 35-70mm f/2.8D

 

[Ariston]

Any AF Nikkor 50mm lens plus take one or two steps forward or backward as needed.

Are you suggesting I get out of my car?

Seriously, though, I care more about the perspective difference.

In rough order, my preference is:

• Tokina 28-70mm f/2.6~2.8 (Either the PRO or PRO-II versions)
• Tamron 28-75mm model A09 (Early models have aperture rings, later ones do not)
• Another 35-70mm f/2.8D

This looks like a good list, thank you. I'm going to check them out.

 

[narsuitus]

I picked up a cheap Nikon 35-70 f2.8d. As it turns out, it has the hazing issue. I would like an affordable autofocus alternative to this lens, in a similar zoom range. Can someone suggest something?

I replaced my Nikon 35-70 f/2.8 auto focus (on left) with the Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8 auto focus (on right). I moved my 35-70 to my backup wedding kit and put the 28-70 in my main wedding kit.


Nikon Mid-Range Zooms by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[Ariston]

I replaced my Nikon 35-70 f/2.8 auto focus (on left) with the Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8 auto focus (on right). I moved my 35-70 to my backup wedding kit and put the 28-70 in my main wedding kit.


Nikon Mid-Range Zooms by Narsuitus, on Flickr

Do you have haze on your 35-70? I'm wonder if it is inevitable, or does it only happen with certain copies. I thought about buying another, but there are a lot of instances of people complaining about it. The same is true of the Tokina that benveniste recommended - a lot of the eBay listings report haze. Maybe there was some bad glue going around at this point in time.

I need one to take indoor photos of my family without flash, but that is when the haze seems to be the worst. You can't even notice it outside unless you are shooting against the light.

Checking all of these options and seeing so many listings with haze makes me nervous, but I can't afford one of the newer versions (plus I want an aperture collar). It's frustrating.

 

[Colin Corneau]

I'd look for a version another person posted above, the Nikkor AF-D autofocus zoom. Likely within your budget and quality glass, too.

Also the "are you suggesting I get out of my car" line made me laugh out loud.

 

[narsuitus]

Do you have haze on your 35-70?

There was no haze on my 35-70 when I purchased the 28-70 and there is no haze on my 35-70 today (12/2/2019). The only reason I purchased the 28-70 was because I needed the wider 28mm focal length for the APS-C bodies I started using.

I did not purchase the newer 24-70mm auto focus Nikon G lens because it did not have an aperture ring like the 28-70mm auto focus Nikon D lens.

 

[Ariston]

In rough order, my preference is:

• Tokina 28-70mm f/2.6~2.8 (Either the PRO or PRO-II versions)
• Tamron 28-75mm model A09 (Early models have aperture rings, later ones do not)
• Another 35-70mm f/2.8D

Thanks for this advice, benveniste. I found a Tokina 28-70 2.6-2.8 that looks basically new, and it does not disappoint. It is amazing that you can buy a pro quality lens at this price if you are willing to forego a focus motor in the lens and VR.

For those who stumble on this thread from Google, here are my thoughts on the Tokina:

1) You zoom by turning a ring, instead of the push-pull of the Nikon 35-70mm 2.8. I don't really mind the push-pull type lens, but I am more familiar with the ring, so I appreciate this.

2) I LOVE that the zoom and focus move in the same direction as real Nikon lenses. I am aware that most other manufacturers do it differently, but I use only one 35mm system - Nikon, so this keeps it very easy for me. I have a Tamron I almost never use because it is awkward and slow for me to do so.

3) I did not realize it, but although the front element turns with the focus, it is set back in the barrel. What that means i that screw-on filters do not turn when you focus, because the barrel doesn't turn. You can set your polarizer and forget it. This is great.

4) The image is great. I mean really, really great. My Nikon had the haze problem (though not all of those Nikons had that problem), but this Tokina doesn't. The photos really "pop".

5) It focuses down to 2 feet. I don't know what the official close range is supposed to be, and I don't know if that is good for this type of lens, but it seems close to me, especially at the 70mm end.

6) It has an aperture collar, so I can pop this on any of my film Nikons and use it. I can't do that with newer lenses, even if they do cost several time more.

7) This lens has some kind of "clutch" to change from auto to manual focus. It takes some getting used to, but is no more difficult than having to flip a tiny switch on the side of the lens with your fingernail. The fancy new lenses that automatically switch between AF and MF are the ideal, but this lens is not that.

I have been using it with my D700 to familiarize myself with it, and it focuses as well as any first party lens of similar vintage I've ever used. If you are thinking of getting one of these, I say go for it. I don't shoot pictures of white walls and diagrams, but the photos this lens is putting out for me are in sharp focus and contrasty.

 

[Tomwlkr]

Nikon 35-80 1.4-5.6D

 

[BMbikerider]

I too have a 35/70 F2.8 AF with the haze problem which I used on my F2a. Several repairers were asked to see if they could get it back to what it was but all said it would cost more than the lens was worth. I have been unable to find another which is in better condition I have bought a Tamron.

Adaptall 11 35/135 which was a bit like clutching at straws, but to me there is very little difference between that and the 37/70 Nikon, apart from the design and the reduction in weight. Definition and contrast is up there with the best of the era and is dust and haze free. It cost me £65, which is about half the cost of a good 35/70 in UK. Prints on B&W film can easily be enlarged up to and over 12x16.

Haze is/was a problem with the 35/70, both the 'D' and non 'D' version, principally because of the push pull zoom that sucks in air and dust but does not force it out when zoomed the opposite way.