aquajon's reviews

  • Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF VR AF-S Nikkor

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Very sharp, fast focus
    A little heavy, some ghosting

    This is a fantastic lens. The focus locks on to my subject quickly, and very smoothly. Sure, it is heavier than the 80-200, but I feel it is a better lens.

    It is the only lens I own that does not have an external aperture ring (G type), and I thought I'd hate that. But in fact, it has been such a non-issue, I've enjoyed using it from the time I took it out of the box.

    As for the ghosting, this lens has a lot of elements inside, so there is bound to be ghosting occasionally in a lens with 21 elements.

    reviewed November 23rd, 2006 (purchased for $1,500)
  • Nikon 60mm f/2.8D AF Micro Nikkor

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharp images

    I was able to take the best pictures of my daughter I have ever taken while using this lens. I was sitting about a foot and a half from her. The pictures are so sharp, shooting RAW on my D200 required NO post production sharpening at all. No changes to contrast, color, or tint. The colors were so right on true, her face was so clear, I can see the pours on her skin, as they appear in real life.
    I've also used it for what it was built, and took some close up pictures of flowers, they were also sharp and required no post production editing, even the Bokeh was exceptional in these shots.
    I wish they would redesign the focusing, I'd like to see all the elements stay in the barrel.
    About the only dissapointment I've had, and maybe this is the fault of the R1C1 and Nikon, not the lens, is that I had to purchase an extra adapter ring to use the R1C1 flash kit. I didn't mind spending the money, but as this is my only micro to date, but the UR-5 is so very hard to get. I waited for months, finally getting the only one Calumet Camera had in their entire stock. They have several on order, but like other lenses, Nikon hasn't released enough for demand.

    reviewed November 23rd, 2006 (purchased for $429)
  • Tokina 28-80mm f/2.8 AT-X 280 AF PRO

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Good Autofocus.
    Good construction, but doesn't last as long as it should. Ghosting in natural light.

    This was the first lens I got when I git my Nikon F100. My wife bought the combination for me as a gift. I have never had a complaint about using this lens. The pictures have always been of high quality, and fairly sharp. On an Nikon body the autofocus is faster than one normally expects from a non Nikon lens, even on my D200 i am happy with the autofocus. This lens does ghost A LOT when shooting in natural light, but the pictures still looked o.k..
    The lens is beginning to break down, after five years, I would have hoped that it would have lasted longer.
    Overall it still is a good value for the money, I don't, however know how much my wife paid for it five years ago.

    reviewed November 26th, 2006