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24-70 runs very fast and slient, it delivers very nice image quality and resolves much details in great contrast and colors. 24-70 is in a relatively thin-long dimension with good bulit quality. The lens hood is very solid and protecting 24-70 very well. I feel a bit "loose" in handling when it loaded on D700 with the battery grip, I also prefer the zoom ring goes a bit to the outer side.
Shame Zoom Ring
24-70 extends when zoom in toward 70mm and zoom out toward 24mm, this is an interesting design with the convention set for 50 mm at the shortest of the lens. However, I was disappointed by the stiff zoom ring. After some days of trial run my brand new copy, I suddenly feels significant unusual 'roughness' when zoom in and out. Believe me, I am an easy man intended to get used to this with thought that it would go smooth over time, but that seems running worse and I can hardly make rotation or I would break the ring somehow, so finally I decided to send it back for a replacement.
My dealer is great, they gave a brand new replacement in a greater series number. The new copy is very smooth out of box, after 2 days of run it turned to a bit roughtness again, but that is definitely much better than my first copy. OK, I can get used to that if it won't lock again. I would consider that is unacceptable QC problem for the top-of-the-line professional lens, imagine your 24-70 locked during an important work and you missed some best captures of critical moment. Nikon has to seriosly look into the problem.
Excellent Optics
Most zoom lenses reach their limit at extremes, especially the wide end. My first question is how well the 24-70 is running at its widest, that has special meaning to me since I shoot wide mostly. There are sample shots at 24mm and 70mm, f/8, click the image for full size jpeg straight from the camera. Comparsion at 100% crop for different zones between f/8 (left) and f/2.8 (right) is available.
24-70 delivers very nice result at 24mm, optimial at f/8 & f/11 (f/8 seems slightly better). BTW, I was also surprised that I can hardly find CA effect in my sample shots. When wide open at f/2.8, the center is still nice though outer and cornor are going soft, loss some contrast and color saturation, stop down to f/4 that improves significantly. At 70mm, f/2.8 is very impressive, that is just a slightly visible softness when compared to f/8.
And I am curious to see how the 24-70 is going to work on my D1x which is an obsoleted crop body (well it has been in my dry box for years ... :-P). All I can say it still delivered very nice result (colors and sharpness), especially it always with good corners even wide open at f/2.8. If I have to say something at the bad side, that is more noticeable CA (latest Nikon bodies has better CA control).
24-70 vs Primes
Nikon claimed that 24-70 can produce prime level image quality, is that true? Yes, that is true! At least based on the limited test mentioned in this article, 24-70 is matching and even better than my two classic primes - 28/1.4 and 45/2.8 P which are indeed very sharp lenses.
24-70 at 45mm wins over the 45/2.8 P from f/2.8 to f/8 in corner sharpness, actually 45/2.8 delivers blur corners while 24-70 looks some softness at f/2.8 but improve significantly stop down to f/4 - f/8. They perform very close at center and outer zones. For my eyes, 24-70 also delivers better colors and contrast, it is definitely a winner over the 45/2.8 P in this test.
24-70 at 28mm and 28/1.4 only have some softness corners at f/2.8, stop down f/4 to f/11, they performed very close and almost matching in all aspects. For my eyes, 24-70 seems slightly bit better at f/2.8, but 28/1.4 wins in overall contrast and colors, I would rather conclude that they breaks even in this test. This not only proves Nikon's claim but also confirms that my 28/1.4 is a long winner. Check the samples at 28mm and 45mm, comparison at 100% crop for different zones at f/2.8 to f/8 between 24-70 (left) and primes (right) are available.
And I will not be surprised to learn that 24-70 has matching result to other primes in the focal length it covers, even the latest 50mm f/1.4 G. Notice that however the tests in this article are limited to tell only certain aspects of my 24-70 and primes, make your own assessment that meets your specific applications. Though 24-70 is matching prime quality, it should not be considered as a prime replacement. High speed primes are good for low light work and that requires narrow DOF effect. For special work under controlled environment like studio, you may also prefer fixed focal length primes. Beyond image quality, primes also offer convenience and comfort due to the smaller size and weight, and that may improve photography perhaps more than minor image quality differences.
Conclusion
So what is my conclusion? This is a lens you should not miss, especially if you are looking for real versatile solution that is the high speed and performance lens to go with excellent optics but a shame zoom ring! And you better always have the lens hood (it looks cool and smart, why not?) on whenever possible, add a quality filter (mine got a Nikon L37c attached) for maxmium protection of this decent lens from dirt and scratches.
24-70 at 24mm f/8, click the image for the full size jpeg straight from the camera.
100% crop for different zones, 24mm f/8 (left) vs f/2.8 (right)
24-70 at 70mm f/8, click the image for the full size jpeg straight from the camera.
100% crop for different zones, 70mm f/8 (left) vs f/2.8 (right)
24-70 at 28mm f/8, click the image for the full size jpeg straight from the camera.
24-70 at 28mm (left) vs 28/1.4 (right), 100% crop for different zones at f/2.8, f4, f5.6 and f/8 (top-left to bottom-right)
24-70 at 45mm f/8, click the image for the full size jpeg straight from the camera.
24-70 at 45mm (left) vs 45/2.8 P (right), 100% crop for different zones at f/2.8, f4, f5.6 and f/8 (top-left to bottom-right)
24-70 at 50mm f/11, here comes an interesting shot I intended to see what D700 and 24-70 could deliver at its sweet spot, well, I won't shoot brick wall but rocks :-), it has rich details, click the image for the full size jpeg straight from the camera.
More trial run samples from D700 and 24-70/2.8, check EXIF for technical information
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