The following sample shots were taken with a D3x and RAW-converted via CaptureOne 4.8.
Click on a thumbnail to view the original file (opens in a separate window).
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D3X
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
70.0mm
Aperture:
f/8.0
Exposure
1/320s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D3X
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
36.0mm
Aperture:
f/8.0
Exposure
1/400s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D3X
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
36.0mm
Aperture:
f/8.0
Exposure
1/320s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D3X
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
48.0mm
Aperture:
f/5.6
Exposure
1/200s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D3X
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
70.0mm
Aperture:
f/4.0
Exposure
1/2000s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D3X
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
62.0mm
Aperture:
f/8.0
Exposure
1/200s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D3X
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
45.0mm
Aperture:
f/8.0
Exposure
1/250s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D3X
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
24.0mm
Aperture:
f/5.6
Exposure
1/400s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D3X
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
70.0mm
Aperture:
f/5.6
Exposure
1/400s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D3X
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
70.0mm
Aperture:
f/3.5
Exposure
1/1250s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D3X
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
70.0mm
Aperture:
f/2.8
Exposure
1/2000s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D3X
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
27.0mm
Aperture:
f/5.6
Exposure
1/500s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D3X
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
29.0mm
Aperture:
f/5.6
Exposure
1/500s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D3X
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
26.0mm
Aperture:
f/2.8
Exposure
1/1250s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D3X
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
70.0mm
Aperture:
f/2.8
Exposure
1/1250s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D3X
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
24.0mm
Aperture:
f/7.1
Exposure
1/160s
Verdict
The Nikkor AF-S 24-70 is an impressive standard zooms lens that delivers very sharp and contrasty images. With its fast aperture it allows for low light shooting or alternatively object separation with limited depth of field, where it delivers an unusually smooth bokeh for a zoom lens in this focal range. It is built as solid as you'd expect a pro grade lens to be and its sonic wave driven AF is very fast and silent.
It's not without flaws, though. Distortions are very high at the wide end, but at least they are of uniform shape and thus can be corrected in software if required. CAs are very high, too, but just like distortions can easily be corrected in software (in fact most current Nikon DSLRs do this already if you shoot JPGs). The wavy image field at the low end might be an issue if you shoot flat objects and last but not least the lens is not exactly cheap.
However, in summary the Nikkor 24-70 currently sets the benchmark for F-mount FX standard zoom lenses.
