Glutte's reviews

  • Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    QI for the price
    Can find better for less (used)

    This lens is very good but not excellent when compared to Nikon AF 50mm 1.8 non D (paid 60$) or the wonderful Nikon 50mm 1.8 Ai straight nose (paid 60$).
    I had these 3 lenses and the Leica Summicron-R 50mm serie 1 with Leitax adapter (paid 500$).
    Staight nose is the best lens I ever owned. Sharpness,contrast,color,bokey are incredible. Even better than Leica R Summicron that I sold back after comparing.
    By now Nikon 50mm 1.8 Ai straight nose and Nikon 28mm 2.8 Ai-s 0.2 are on my D7000 most of the time.

    reviewed April 21st, 2013 (purchased for $130)
  • Nikon 28mm f/2.8 AIS Nikkor

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharp, contrast, color, beautiful bokey, no ca, no distortion, delight to operate.
    Have to go back to my other lenses sometimes.

    Mine is serial 825936 and i'm using it with a D7000.
    This lens gives incredible result when used at close and mid range. At f/2.8 it's already sharp from edge to edge and sharpest at f/5.6.
    Bokey is splendid,color vivid, contrast close to Zeiss 28mm f/2 ZF (I rented one few weeks ago and would't trade it for Nikon).
    I tried very hard to find something wrong with Nikon 28mm ai-s but I can't find any con.
    Using this lens is a charm: Focus ring is just the good grip and perfectly damped.
    The lens can focus very close at 0.2 ft and with good close up (Nikon 4T or Canon 250D) I use it for photographying flowers, insects,etc... with excellent results.
    When focused at infinite still a good lens but nothing to rave about. It then compares to my Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 at 28 mm. Difficult to see a difference.

    reviewed April 11th, 2013 (purchased for $150)
  • Nikon 180mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF Nikkor

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Very well built, Sharpness from f/4,exceptional lens after f/4, good bokey.
    chromatic aberration and color fringing f2.8,

    Mine is the AF 180mm ED non D model.

    I would have given this lens a perfect score if I had not been owner of a Nikon 180mm 2.8 ED ai-s before. This MF lens was sharper at f/2.8 and completely free of chromatic aberration and fringing.Bokey at 2.8 was a dream. It was looking like a wreck but took incredible pictures...and I sold it. Very bad idea!

    From 5.6 there is no difference between these 2 lenses. But a f/2.8 is supposed to be good at f/2.8.

    At least I must say AF is very useful and sometimes makes the shot. This 180mm is just light enough for all day hiking (very not the case of 80-200mm 2.8)which makes it very good for wildlife shots. It's not at ease with extenders so you have to walk closer to your subject.
    pictures.

    reviewed April 11th, 2013 (purchased for $350)
  • Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical IF SP AF

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharp, good contrast, neutral color, bokey ok for a zoom.
    Distortion 17mm f/2.8, front focus with D7000

    This lens is sharp at all openings and is free of distortion with exception at 17mm where you find distortion and unsharpness till f/5.6.

    Image quality from 24mm and up is excellent. I did compare it with Nikon primes like 28mm 2.8, 35mm AF-S and 50mm 1.8 and there is not that much difference between images taken with these lenses and !7-50mm even when looking at full resolution.

    I used the Tamron with D200 and D300 without problem. With my D7000 and 17-50mm I have a front focusing problem. I have to adjust AF to +12

    reviewed April 11th, 2013 (purchased for $250)
  • Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED DX AF-S Nikkor

    7 out of 10 points and recommended
    OK for the price
    Good quality pictures only from f/8-f/11

    I have owned both first and vr version of this lens. Qi is the same.
    It means edges and corners quite soft wide open bettered at f/8 and f/11. A little slow for moving subject.
    What's missing with this lens is punch.Pictures are ok but lack vividness of pro lenses.
    Considering price it can be a good deal on older low end dslr but shows his limit on my D7000.
    I bought a Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 as replacement and difference in picture quality is huge.

    reviewed April 19th, 2013 (purchased for $100)
  • Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED VR DX AF-S Nikkor

    7 out of 10 points and recommended
    Price, moderately sharp and contrasty
    Build, pictures lackluster.

    Sharpness is not that bad,nor is contrast or even color at f/8-f/11.
    But I never liked pictures taken with this lens so after awhile I replaced it. I don't have the money to invest in pro zoom so instead I bought: - Nikon 50mm 1.8 ai-s 50$
    - Nikon 105mm 2.5 ai 130$
    - Nikon 180mm 2.8 ai-s ED 200$
    Sorry for convenience but with these lenses I got what is lacking
    in Nikon 55-200mm vr: luster,brilliance,shining pictures.
    By the way the field of view of my Nikon 180mm is probably equal to what would be 240mm on the 55-200mm vr.

    reviewed April 19th, 2013 (purchased for $200)