OldRedFox's reviews

  • Nikon 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF DX AF-S Nikkor

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Good (but not great) zoom range, excellent IQ. Great quality for the price
    Some small focus issues, could use a distance scale

    This is a solid lens, and certainly the best of any "Kit" lens being offered by anyone. The range is great for landscape to casual portraits. The image quality is fairly sharp once you stop down one or two stops. There are distortions, but PTLens (a $15 PS add-in) corrects them nicely. For a starter lens that will stick around for many years, this is the gold standard.

    reviewed November 20th, 2006 (purchased for $250)

  • Nikon 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF VR AF-S Nikkor

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Great "walk around" range, VR works and helps
    Not quite wide enough, constrast a bit low

    A solid, useful lens. The drawbacks are that 24 is a bit too long for many family/landscape shots on an APS sensor and in comparison with my 18-70 Nikon lens the constrast is a bit lower and the saturation of bit less as well. That aside, it is a better built lens then the 18-70 and in many situations the increased length is more important than wider angle on the 18-70. VR is also handy and effective. If I had to choose only one, the 24-120 would probably be the one, even though the IQ is a touch higher with the 18-70.

    reviewed November 20th, 2006 (purchased for $500)

  • Nikon 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6G AF Nikkor

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Far better IQ than you'd think
    Slow

    I was suprised how sharp and detailed images were using this lens on a D50. In many ways the IQ is the equal of the 18-70 - but on an APS sensor the 28 wide end is not wide enough. Also, the lens is fairly slow reacting. Those issues aside, the images it can render are quite good. To be sure, it's not a pro lens, but if your budget only allows $100 for this focal range, buy it and do not apologise for it.

    reviewed November 20th, 2006 (purchased for $100)

  • Nikon 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED AF-S VR Micro Nikkor

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharp!! Quick focus for a macro, solid feel. Bokeh!!
    Spendy

    The image quality - sharpness everywhere, lack of CAs and light fall off, contrast and saturation - is everything you could ever ask for. 10+ for sure. And then when you look at the bokeh you realize just what a remarkable lens this is. Truely a pro lens in every respect. And the VR really helps with normal shots. I've handheld down to 1/3 of a second and had a sharp image. With a macro shot it helps down to about 1:2 as well. Below that you need a tripod, but you'd need one anyway to control your focus point. A classic lens.

    reviewed January 3rd, 2007 (purchased for $825)