TSax's reviews

  • Nikon 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D AF Nikkor

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Reasonable range, little distortion, sharp
    Macro not the best

    Purchased a used 28-105 lens to go with a N80 for my wife a few years ago. Great image quality, sharp, contrasty and very little distortion--especially for an inexpensive zoom. Bought a second, used lens for my F100, same great optical results. I've also used it on my D80 and had the same experience. The second lens had seen more use and is a little stiff but the optics are as good as the first.

    The macro is touchy and sometimes difficult to get out of. You have to refocus on something distant.

    No, it's not a 2.8, but it is one of the better mid range f3.5 zooms I've found.

    reviewed September 18th, 2008 (purchased for $190)

  • Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di AF

    5 out of 10 points and not recommended
    size, weight, zoom range
    zoom creep, soft, distortion, narrow "sweet spot", speed

    I have an older non-DI version I bought as a travel lens because of the zoom range. I've used it on a F3, F100 and a D80. The lens is generally soft with lots of barrel/pincushion and is not very contrasty. Because mine is made for FX, much of the distortion is cut off on the D80-which helps. The lens seems to have its best optical performance between 50mm and about 180mm at f8-f11. Forget about the extremes in range and f stops, it just gets soft and washed out. I recently bought a Nikkor 55-200VR for the D80 which I think is a much better lens over the Tamron's usable range - for less money.

    reviewed September 18th, 2008 (purchased for $370)