Nikon 24-120mm VR - Opinions?

Columbo · 14 Nov 2010 at 20:27

After asking last week about a D70s for a buddy of mine he now needs a lens.

The same guys that sold him the body has offered him the above for £130 & its in pristine condition by all accounts..

Is it any good and would it suit the D70s?

Tooks · 14 Nov 2010 at 21:13

Well, £130 is a pretty decent price (I'm assuming here at that price it's the old version, not the new f4 version...), but it's not a universally well regarded lens.

24mm is also a little 'long' for a DX camera body, but it depends on what he'll be using it for.

He could certainly do worse for the money, but I'd be looking to pair something like an 18-105mm VR with that body, would be a lot more flexible and it's a great 'kit' lens.

For a little more money, a 16-85 VR would be my choice.

Having owned all three at some point, I'd go;

1. 16-85 VR
2. 18-105 VR
3. 24-120 VR, but only if I couldn't get hold of an 18-70 or similar...

bigredshark · 15 Nov 2010 at 09:28

The old 24-120 is widely regarded as fairly terrible, however that isn't a bad price for it. On the other hand again it's not a terribly useful lens on DX, it's not wide enough at 24mm.

Other options are few and far between in some ways, the 16-85 is very good but it's also rather expensive for a fairly slow consumer DX lens without sterling build quality (not bad, it's just definitely not a pro lens). You could buy a 18-200 for not much more...

The 18-105 isn't a bad bet all told. There are others if you look at third party glass as well (once again the Tamron 17-50 comes up)

Columbo · 15 Nov 2010 at 18:37

So after speaking to him today he has told me that he's got £275 to spend on glass.

Where is that money best spent?

18-105VR + 50mm f1.8?

Also had a bit of a play with his D70s today, think I actually prefer the handling to my Canon. Just seemed more natural.. :confused:

Mud · 15 Nov 2010 at 20:49

ManCuBuS said:
So after speaking to him today he has told me that he's got £275 to spend on glass.

Where is that money best spent?

18-105VR + 50mm f1.8?

Also had a bit of a play with his D70s today, think I actually prefer the handling to my Canon. Just seemed more natural..

New 35/1.8 is ~£160, 2nd hand 18-105 is about £130...I'd go for those (well, I'd just take the 35/1.8 to be honest).