WCranston's reviews

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

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Lightweight inexpensive quality optic for DSLR
    "Only" 70 on the highend. No VR and not 2.8.

    This is a great lens for the price, especially when bought as part of a kit. The out of focus areas are quite nice and smooth (WAY better than the Nikon 28-200 G.) This lens is very sharp. I give it a 10 overall because of awesome price/performance ratio and gave an 8 for image quality because 10 is reserved for 70-210 VR and 85 1.4.

    reviewed November 3rd, 2005 (purchased for $200)

  • Nikon 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF Nikkor

    5 out of 10 points and not recommended
    Inexpensive & big range.
    Slow focusing, not 2.8, 28mm is ok on low end for film, not for DSLR. Ugly out of focus areas.

    Pro: Inexpensive & big range. Focus limiter.

    Con: Slow focusing, not 2.8, 28mm is ok on low end for film, not for DSLR. Ugly out of focus areas. Plastic mount.

    The worst part is really the out of focus areas on telephoto shots. They are very hard a ring-like. It is really not a great lens for a DSLR & overall picture quality is not bad, but not nearly as good as the 18-70.

    reviewed November 3rd, 2005 (purchased for $300)

  • Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Small & Super Fast
    None

    This is plain a simple a great prime lens. It is small and super fast. You can really use that speed & really lets you take ambient light shots indoors w/out flash. Full open looks great, but you of course get the shallow DOF. A great creative addition for someone with only slow zooms!

    reviewed November 3rd, 2005 (purchased for $250)

  • Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR DX AF-S Nikkor

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    VR, Good focal range, inexpensive
    Plastic mount, distortion, some corner softness

    This is a decent little lens. It is nice to have the VR, and I don't really like the 18-200 so I thought I would give this a try. No lens creep like the 18-200 and seems like OOF areas render a little better than the 18-200. Overall sharpness is very good, but definitely in the worst cases at 18mm & f3.5 heavy vignetting and a bit more distortion in some cases though not terrible.

    In some cases I do think that the 18-70 is still a better all-around lens, but when you need the VR this + 70-300VR does pretty well as lightweight travel kit.

    reviewed October 15th, 2008 (purchased for $320)