Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED AF-S

Some photographers are challenged with tough situations and environments in difficult lighting conditions. Even with the latest digital SLR cameras that come with kit lenses may not be enough to handle these tough situations. But because there are so many other higher-end cameras available, upgrading to the next big shooter can be quite tempting. However, these higher-end models do not come with a kit lenses and using the same lens that came with the model that you currently have right now may not solve all the problems because lens construction is important for determining the final output of the image. In tough situations like this, a wide-angle zoom lens like the Nikon AF-S Zoom-NIKKOR 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED can solve the problem because of its good auto focus capabilities combined with a solid and rugged design.

Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED AF-S

Design & Construction

The Nikon AF-S Zoom-NIKKOR 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED takes the heavy duty route when it comes to the design and construction making it a bit heavier than the cheaper wide-angle zoom lenses. It is designed in a special way that won’t make the camera feel bulky. When it is used on a Nikon F100, the balance is perfect. In fact, it balances a lot better than the light and plastic lenses that cost under $1,000 so the value is there. It is best to mount or dismount the lens at 35mm to avoid scratching the lens. Overall, the build quality is solid and not extremely heavy to hinder frequent travelers that enjoy taking pictures in the streets or enjoying simple candid photography which is the primary use of this wide-angle zoom lens. Photographers with this lens can also expect to keep it for a very long time as the design is made to last for years of use.

Actual user review:
“This is a first-class professional quality lens. I am using it on Nikon F5, F100, and D200 bodies. I bought it in anticipation of purchasing an FX digital format successor to the D200/D300 DX-format cameras. It is extremely sharp from edge-to-edge, rendering crisp images with great color and contrast. Good low-light performance for natural people-pictures. On my film-based shoots, it is nothing short of spectacular. With digital, I am presently using DX-format cameras, so the focal-length range is reduced. But, when used with an FX-format digital, I expect equally exceptional results. This lens is considered both heavy and pricey by some. However, I find the weight promotes better stability with hand-held images. The price is right for what you get. I also like a depth of field indicator on the aperature ring for doing wide-ange shots employing hyper-focal distance techniques. You don’t get this with the newer g-series lenses. If you can afford this lens and are going to go FX-format, buy it.” – F.Stevens (US)

Features & Specifications

No matter what focal length setting is used, the sharpness is good enough for its primary uses mentioned earlier. Landscape photographers can achieve the best sharpness levels when stopped down to f8 or f11. When compared with other lenses like the 14mm-24mm, sharpness quality isn’t the best when wide open, but the allowance of filters compensates the slight drawback. Sharpness wise, this is the best landscape lens in the family of wide-angle zoom lenses.

Optical performance is superior because of the lack of chromatic aberrations thanks to the Extra-low Dispersion glass element. There is some CA detected when the lens is wide open, but it still performs a lot better than other lenses when it is stopped down. Using maximum aperture settings does not reduce the quality and performance either.

There are some hints of barrel distortion at 17mm, but it is nearly hard to notice in the eyes of people that do not know what distortion is. It even becomes absolutely free of distortion at around 22mm making the 20mm to 24mm range the best setting as anything higher results to pincushion distortion. Stopping the Nikon AF-S Zoom-NIKKOR 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED down also increases the resistance to flare and ghosting.

As with all AF-S lenses, the Silent Wave Motor is included which allows the Nikon AF-S Zoom-NIKKOR 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED to auto focus a lot faster than the other AF models. Accuracy isn’t left out of the equation and the overall operation remains silent. The Manual/Auto switch can be used to easily make the transition from manual focus to auto focus in an instant and back. Manual focusing is also enhanced as there is no power drain when doing so.

Bottom Line

The Nikon AF-S Zoom-NIKKOR 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED has a 2.1x zoom ratio and Super Integrated Coating for even better performance making it an excellent lens for photojournalism and travel photography. Whether it is used on the digital SLR camera or film camera, the performance remains superior and the best quality shots can be achieved when stopped down. The rugged design makes it more resistant to harsh conditions and serves as a nice balance for amateur and professional photographers to use with ease. Even if the lighting conditions are challenging, the Nikon AF-S Zoom-NIKKOR 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED is more than capable of handling it. This makes the $1,300 valued lens worth the expense.

Average User Rating:

• “This is a superb lens. I purchased it along with my D700 and the results have been very impressive. It’s very well made; the zoom control is linear (evenly spaced on the zoom ring), and it’s not as heavy as I thought it would be given the pro level of construction. Its a nice chunky size … it fits my hand well, and is well suited size-wise to the D700 … yet doesn’t feel too big or heavy. I’ve been using it mostly on a tripod for landscape photography, but I think it will also be a great walking-around lens. Highly recommended!” – W.T.Rogers (MO,US)

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