[Leica] Re:Exceptional lenses, and their value today now Nikon zooms

[leicachris at worldnet.att.net (Christopher Williams)]

I'd hate to see if anyone ever made a f/2 or f/1.4 zoom. It would have to
come with a tripod! Filter size 105.

Both the 17-55 and 17-35/2.8's are possibly the best Nikon zooms. And yes
the 17-35 is slightly better in the corners.

I only own 3 zooms - 28-70/2.8, 17-55/2.8, 80-200/2.8. All get used heavily.

Chris



----- Original Message -----
From: "David Rodgers"
Subject: RE: [Leica] Re:Exceptional lenses, and their value today


> Chris,
>
> Because you say the 17-35 is slower than the 15-55 I assume you're
> referring to focusing speed (they're both f2.8 lenses). I meant slow max
> aperture compared to an f2 or f1.4 lens (or a Noct).
>
> The 17-55 is a great, I agree. I use mine a lot, most of the time in
> program mode. I can jack up the ISO on my D200 and make it usable in low
> light, but I rarely pay attention to DOF. When I use fast
> (aperture-wise) lenses I'm always acutely aware for DOF and often use
> them for that reason, even when there's plenty of light. I may use a
> lens at f1.4 and f2 at 1/500. I'm also more concerned with DOF in BW
> than I am with color photography.
>
> I'll go out on a limb and say that the Nikkor 17-35/2.8 AF may be the
> best WA zoom available from any manufacturer. I don't own one but a
> friend of mine does. We compared the 17-35 and 17-55 DX with dozens of
> tests shots of various (difficult) scenes using a tripod mounted D2x. We
> also compared them to several primes. The whole exercise made me a
> believer in zooms, in the Nikon digital world at least. Both performed
> above my expectations. There was one instance where the 17-35 looked
> like it performed better than the 17-55. It was a very challenging
> architectural shot. The difference was in the corner of the frame, had
> to do with chromatic aberration. Again, it was very slight. It's hardly
> worth mentioning other than to say it made the 17-35 the winner,
> optically. OTOH, I could own either and I still choose the 17-55 DX.
>
> DaveR