Here're some quick'n dirty sample images taken with the D200 and RAW-converted via ACR.
Unfortunately the weather conditions where very unfavorable at the time of the test so I
apologize for the rather low quality.
Click on a thumbnail to view the original file (opens in a separate window). Please note that the originals are FULL SIZE samples
(=several megabytes) thus requiring a significant amount of bandwidth so please take care of the limited resources here.
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D200
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
24.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/8.0 @ 1/350s
Size
2613x3898
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D200
ISO Speed
400
Focal Length
24.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/8.0 @ 1/800s
Size
3898x2613
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D200
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
62.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/2.8 @ 1/200s
Size
2613x3898
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D200
ISO Speed
400
Focal Length
62.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/2.8 @ 1/250s
Size
3898x2613
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D200
ISO Speed
400
Focal Length
24.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/2.8 @ 1/250s
Size
2613x3898
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D200
ISO Speed
400
Focal Length
24.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/5.6 @ 1/100s
Size
3898x2613
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D200
ISO Speed
400
Focal Length
24.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/8.0 @ 1/125s
Size
3898x2613
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D200
ISO Speed
400
Focal Length
29.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/8.0 @ 1/125s
Size
3898x2613
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D200
ISO Speed
400
Focal Length
24.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/4.0 @ 1/125s
Size
3898x2613
Verdict
The Nikkor AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED exceeds the already very good performance of its
predecessor. The center quality is nothing short of outstanding matching or beating
the resolution of a 10mp APS-C sensor. The border quality is very good at large
aperture increasing to excellent levels at f/5.6-8. However, you've to be
careful with the curved focus field at 24mm which can result in out-of-focus
corners! Distortions and vignetting are very low
and not really field relevant. Chromatic aberrations are generally well controlled
although they could have been somewhat more symmetrical (in the tested sample). The
bokeh (out-of-focus blur) is unusually smooth and buttery for a zoom lens with aspherical
elements. Please note, however, that 70mm f/2.8 isn't terribly fast on an APS-C DSLR so
you've to be fairly close to your main subject in order to produce a pronounced
out-of-focus blur.
The build quality of the lens is superb and it´s a joy to handle it in the
field despite its comparatively hefty size and weight. The high speed and low
noise of the silent-wave AF drive is the cream on top of it all. The primary
aspect which can spoil the game is, unsurprisingly, the high price point of around
1500€/US$.
(with reservations due to field curvature)