Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/10/19

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Subject: [Leica] Test charts and 28-70 AF-S
From: "Kotsinadelis, Peter (Peter)" <peterk@lucent.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 11:42:06 -0700

Anthony,

Bob is telling you the truth!  He is not talking about test charts.  The
Nikkor 28-70 AF-S is not a very sharp lens wide open. Fact!  Stopped down is
a different story.

You also stated: 

>Tamron is a name I tend to associate more 
>with low price than high precision,
>but perhaps things have changed.

There are some Tamron lenses that will surprise you, much like the Cosina
Heliar lens.  Never underestimate something just because it is not
expensive.

>So how does Nikon manage to sell the 28-70?  
>It seems to be on perpetual
>backorder, and I haven't seen any used copies 
>around in the trade magazines.

There is not a choice if you want a fixed aperture Nikon 28-70.  The 28-70
F3.5-4.5 was the only other option. Don't forget there is a large embedded
base of Nikon users that have been dying to get a 28-70 F2.8 Nikkor.  The
only other choices were 3rd party, which for a Nikon user is like a Leica
user using the Cosina Heliar.

>What are the Nikon zooms that outperform this lens?

Not sure. But with Nikon there is not much choice in the 28-100 range is
there?
The 80-200 is a great lens and will outperform other Nikkor zooms albeit a
bit like comparing apples to oranges since its not really fair to compare
different range zooms.

>I think my AF-S 28-70 is great.

Obviously you have a vested interest.  If it works for you, great.  Maybe
you don;t shoot wide open, but others who do may have different opinions.  

Peter K