bullfr's reviews

  • Nikon 24mm f/2.8D AF Nikkor

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    optics and build quality, sharpness, wide angle on argentic
    not a wide angle for digital

    In the pre-digital days, this lens was my favorite on the F801 body; I love the wide angle field of view for landscapes and travel pictures. This lens was a perfect companion for many years, and has proved extremly reliable under any circunstances. Optics are very good, providing very sharp images (really goood even on the sides), and the build quality is Nikon's...
    I was a bit disappointed at first when reading about the 1.6 crop factor for digital SLRs; but this lens is now equivalent to a 35mm, which makes it perfect for street photography and every day snapshots; additionally it is not as impressive and intimidating as bigger zooms for peoples photography. However, you may have to add a replacement lens if you want a wide angle...

    reviewed November 24th, 2006 (purchased for $700)

  • Nikon 60mm f/2.8D AF Micro Nikkor

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Excellent optics and build quality
    -

    This lens has been one of the bests I ever used. I did not personnaly owned it, but borrowed it from my dad for my travels, several years in a row- I wish I never had to give it back !!
    Using it on a film F801, it was just the perfect combination - I lve the 60mm for any kind of pictures, and this lens is simply great. Nothing to say about picture quality, I never had any problems mentionned in this review. Build quality is greqt, since I cqrried it qll over the world, dropped it in the sand and took it up on mountains without any misfunction.
    Now, on the D70, it still is a really good lens, especially for macro (tripod required).

    reviewed November 24th, 2006 (purchased for $700)

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

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharp, compact, well built - great as part of a kit
    Vignetting at 18mm, wide angle

    As mentionned before, this lens is a the perfect basic companion of the D70 - it is a sturdy, well designed lens, with all that what needs to start having fun !! As part of the kit, it is definitely a grat advantage of the D70, especially now that prices are dropping. AF is great, optics are more than fine for a lens.
    Of course, one cannot expect the quality of primes, but considering its size, price and zoom range, it is well above average !!
    There is quit an important amount of vignetting at 18mm ; ok, this can be easily removed through software, but one cannot use the images straight out of the camera.
    I would prefer it if it could be a bit more wide angle, but well, it is an all(around lens ; also, the widest settings are a bit difficult to set finely.

    reviewed December 1st, 2006

  • Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED VR DX AF-S Nikkor

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Excellent travel companion, great value
    Like any zoom, trade offs are required (especially at that price !)

    This lens deserves well its success - in its category, it definitely is one of the bests !!! Indeed, as a travel companion, this lens will be the perfect choice for 99% of the shots, covering everything from moderate wide angle to telephoto - and results are great !! Of course, there are some design trade offs, resulting in various aberrations (distortion, color fringing,...); but if what you want are great pictures in any conditions, go for it !!
    If you really care about distortions, color finging, etc... if you really need wider angle, or larger telephoto (which means better optics, f/2.8, a tripod,...), then you know why you need it, and you probably have all the necessary gear. This lens is great if you just want to carry one around, leave your tripod at home most of the time (thanks VR, even if it only partially compensates the smaller max aperture)

    reviewed December 18th, 2006

  • Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G AF Nikkor

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    cheap, long range, light
    average optics, slow AF and aperture

    Just bought one ; it does exactly what it is supposed to: a really cheap, lightweight, long zoom !! Ideal for travelling, since it adds longer zoom ability for a ridiculous price. But it comes to the cost of build quality (who cares, by the time it s broken I'll have enough to buy a better one), and optics features (only f/4, no VR,...).

    reviewed January 4th, 2007 (purchased for $100)