AFS Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8 G ED

While not normally my favourite focal lengths to shoot with, this range is something no photographer can do without and in this new form the workhorse ‘go to’ lens is another fine example of the quality we are used to from Nikon. A replacement for the tried and tested (and huge) 28-70mm f2.8, this new version incorporates all of Nikons latest technology to deliver super sharp images.

The first thing you notice with this lens is the size. With the hood attached it is one huge beast but it in nearly all hood. The lens itself is smaller and lighter that its predecessor but the hood it nearly twice the size. The hood is so deep that if you have a polarizer attached you cannot reach inside to rotate the thing.

The focus is crisp and fast with images snapping into focus on the screen and the added advantage of the AF-M you can easily refocus with a twist of the wrist on the solid focusing ring. The same can be said of the feel of the zoom, the lens feels great in the hand and is a pleasure to use.

The 24-70 on the larger sensor is a great range for a go to lens and spends a lot of time on my camera for a day to day use lens. The sharpness from edge to edge is superb so much so that it is possibly too sharp for portraits! Every pore, every hair and every blemish shows up with this lens.

Like its cousin the 14-24 this is one heavy sucker at a fraction over 1kg but don’t let that put you off. I have been hauling this all over the country, up and down hills and cliffs all over and it has been worth it for the end results. The solid construction of this beauty is worth the extra weight I can tell you.