Nice R&R. Now that I look back I might have gotten this lens over my 17-55 if they only release an FX replacement soon. I love my 17-55, but not sure what I will do with it if the new bodies are just FX.

In case you are interested, the 28-70 is pretty good for IR photography while the 24-70 hotspots very badly beyond f/5.6.

Opps. Remembered the thread name must be a 28-70 F2.8. I'm retired you know cant remember from one minute to the next. It's great to get new stuff. Enjoy.

Crazy happy about it. Probably the lens I'll be be buried with.

R8R said:
Just scored one of these for $795.

The store I found it at had it back from a customer repair, and she no longer wanted it because of the weight. They sent it in to Nikon, they gutted and re-built it (new AF motor, circuit boards, etc) so it is for all I can tell a brand new lens. Not a flaw on it and easily the cleanest glass I've ever seen. (not a speck of dust inside)

The few shots I took today are nothing less then stunning. On par with the 24-70mm easily.

Hey look at me using the search function and posting in the right thread!

R8R- Glad you like it. Did i miss something or did you forget something. You must be very happy. What is it?

Just scored one of these for $795.

The store I found it at had it back from a customer repair, and she no longer wanted it because of the weight. They sent it in to Nikon, they gutted and re-built it (new AF motor, circuit boards, etc) so it is for all I can tell a brand new lens. Not a flaw on it and easily the cleanest glass I've ever seen. (not a speck of dust inside)

The few shots I took today are nothing less then stunning. On par with the 24-70mm easily.

Hey look at me using the search function and posting in the right thread!

Got mine yesterday. Mint as the seller said. Could only take some pics inside as it was 16F this morning and I was busy shoveling snow. Anyway the pics I took were absolutely awesome. Very clear. Focus was fast (under .5 seconds most of the time). I only have DX now (D7000) as I am waiting on my pre-ordered D4.

If you really want one, look for another on eBay or somewhere.

Later,
Jeff

Well thanks for the info. It seems to have sold already. Maybe down the road I can find another.

Its a wonderful lens and super sharp. Its massive though especially with the hood attached and the motor can be loud as well. Be careful if you pick up a used one because these lenses have been used by pros and samples out there can be quite banged up. I almost got one because I wanted a mid range zoom after being disappointed with the 28-300mm VR, but decided that because this is most useful focal range for me and I would be using the lens the most, I decided to splurge and get the newer 24-70mm.

It is an ok lens and a pretty good one depending on the price you can get it for. I had one while I was in college and loved using it in the studio. My only problem with the lens was it wasn't as sharp as I would have liked. I now have the 24-70 which is much sharper and makes for a nice image. I would think if you were looking in that $850-1100 price range to get a lens, you couldn't do better. It was very nice for the price, I paid $850 for mine when I had it. I did like that it was shorter then the 24-70 is, I didn't mind how fat it was. Other then that they work mostly the same. AF was just about as fast, not as silent, but its not loud.

The 28-70mm was release around the same time as the 17-35mm f2.8. It was one of the early AF-S lenses (released in 1999), back when there were no "G" lenses. Like all AF-D lenses the aperture ring must be locked at max aperture.

I haven't heard anything about this lens, good or bad, but should be okay.

The AF-S is the funky bit, this has the AF motor built in but still has the aperture ring. I guess you still need to lock the ring to F22 right? Is it still silent?

I kind of wish Nikon still had that backwards compatibility built into their lenses.

The one I have seen for sale is $850 and looks in good shape. I just hadn't ever seen much about it and so I thought I would ask. Looks like it has good potential though and the price is pretty nice.

I have seen the gray ones also. Looks like it was a limited production like some of the other Nikon lenses...I know they made the 300 F4 in a gray version as well.

I just got one and it should be here tomorrow. Doing research, some of the units suffer from a noisy AF motor. If this is an indication it might be going bad I am not sure. Some seem to think so. I paid $920USD for the one I got. Ones with a noisy motor or more wear start about $500-600USD. I have seen some dreamers asking $1300.00 for some units.

What is with the grey color of some of the lenses? I saw a few of the 28-70 f2.8 that were this color. sorry for the hijack. :-)

Later,
Jeff

I own one and use it alot (don't have a 24-70mm)...

Hefty as it is, I would buy another for between $500-$1100. Mine is quick and sharp and reliable. It is built like a tank and has around 1/3 more girth than either the lenses it replaced 35-70mm f2.8 and the current 24-70mm f2.8...

The AF-S 28-70mm F2.8D replaced the 35-70mm F2.8D, and came before the 24-70mm as you supposed. It is bigger and heavier than the current 24-70mm, but not by a lot. Sharpness wise it is fine from the reviews I've read.

Has anyone shot with this lens or have an opinion on it. From what I can tell the 24-70 replaced it right? Seems like it was sharp and quick focusing. If the price was right would you consider it? I saw everyone said it was a beast of a lens, but I don't think that would bother me.