35-70mm f2.8 D (with macro)

[Matt. K]

I have the opportunity to buy the above lens for around $350. Oddly enough it is a lens I know almost nothing about. Anyone have any knowledge or info or experiance with this thing?
Thanks

[xerubus]

looks like a great price! haven't used this lens myself, but there are some pbase entries with this lens:

http://www.pbase.com/cameras/nikon/35-70_28d_af

looks nice and sharp... bokeh look quite nice also.

cheers

[marcotrov]

I have one Matt. I think its great. For that price it would be a great addition and very sharp especially stopped down. It can suffer from lens flare when shooting anywhere near the sun. Some of the lenses also suffered from a thing called lens element separation of one of the internal lens groups- it caused a slight smokiness/haze in the image so you need to check this out when buying.
The macro facility is very sharp for what it is. A while ago I posted something called which Lens? comparing the 35-70 macro function with the 55 micro nikkor on a cactus leaf. Surprisingly everyone seem to pick the 35-70 image as the dedicated 55macro shot.
It is really good value for a fast nikkor. Here's Bjorn Rorslett's assessment
http://www.naturfotograf.com/index2.html
cheers
marco

[Matt. K]

So...is that buy?.....or pass?

[birddog114]

So...is that buy?.....or pass?

If it's free then take it

[Matt. K]

Birdy
If I can negotiate free then I'm going into politics!

[birddog114]

Birdy
If I can negotiate free then I'm going into politics!

Yeah!!!!! you're right!

[phillipb]

Matt, I had a quick look on Ebay, there is one in the States with 2 days to go and it's already over $400 Aus.
There is also one from a chap in Italy, my Italian is a bit rusty, but I think he's saying that it is not suitadle for DSLRs, not real sure why. He bought it to use with his Fuji s3pro which he says has a 0.8 crop ratio. Maybe that has something to do with it.

[marcotrov]

Matt check out new price on those lenses if it's in good nick(glass clean) and you can use that focal length on a very sharp fast pro calibre lens with a pretty damn good macro facility-SHIT buy it!! That's a bloody good deal. 4.5 out of 5 from Bjorn means bloody good lens. I love mine. I'm sure he'll let you use it to try it out for yoour needs.
cheers
marco

[Glen]

Matt, I was going to buy one of those and that would have represented what I thought was a good price. I think it is a lot of lens for the money. Only reason I didn't is I am pretty chockers at that end of the spectrum and the smaller zoom range.

[birddog114]

Matt,
Buy and sell it after,
I knew you have the 20-35 same as other lenses in similar range.
The 35-70/2.8 is a nice lens but will it suit to your shooting? or it will become your surplus.

[Onyx]

The 35-70 is the poor man's 28-70. I'd snatch it up at $350 for sure!

[Mj]

Would think it fairly low risk purchase at that price... sure to be someone round here interested in it if you decide that it spends more time off than on the camera !!!