Mid-2012, the Nikon 24-85 mm has entered the market with the Nikon 18-300 mm, which we have already reviewed. This lens is designed for use with the full frame / FX format SLRs and has a - for a full frame lens - attractive price tag. That is why the Nikon 24-85 mm is also available as kit lens with the Nikon D600.
This Nikon 24-85 mm lens is the successor to the Nikon 24-85 mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED from 2002 and is a cheaper alternative to the Nikon 24-85 mm f/2.8-4D IF. The Nikon 24-85 mm lens is compact, light and comes with integrated image stabilization. This lens will probably become one of the most popular Nikon zoom lenses for everyday use with FX-format SLRs. We have tested this Nikon 24-85 mm lens in combination with the Nikon D600.
The zoom range of the Nikon 24-85 mm on the Nikon D600 includes a range of popular focal lengths ranging from wide angle to portrait (24 mm, 28 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm and 85 mm). The Nikon 24-85 mm can also be used on a camera with a DX sensor / APS-C sensor, but this changes the field of view to 36-127.5 mm full frame equivalent.
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CONSTRUCTION AND AUTOFOCUS | |
The construction quality of the Nikon 24-85mm VR is good, as we are used to from Nikon. The body is made of high quality plastic and the mount is of metal. The mount is provided with a rubber ring to prevent dust on the sensor or in the lens. The Nikon 24-85 mm weighs only 465 grams and is 30% lighter than the Nikon 24-70 mm f/2.8. It comes with a lens case and lens hood.
Thanks to the IF focus, the lens does not change in length when focusing and the front lens does not rotate, which is nice when using polarizing or graduated ND filters. Some zoom lenses get considerably longer when you zoom in, but it is not so bad with this lens. The SWM (Silent Wave Motor) honors its name and indeed makes for a quiet and accurate autofocus. Like almost all Nikon lenses, there is a switch on the lens for two AF modes: M/A (autofocus with manual priority) and M (manual focus).
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IMAGE STABILIZATION NIKON 24-85 MM VR | |
The built-in image stabilization (VR) is controlled by an on / off switch on the lens. More expensive lenses also have an option for VR during the following of moving subjects in addition to an on / off switch. Unfortunately, the Nikon 24-85 mm VR does not have this. The vibration reduction system (VRII) makes it possible, according to Nikon, to take pictures from the hand with shutter speeds up to four stops slower. We have tested the VR at an 85 mm focal length and only took sharp photos at a focal length of 85 mm at a shutter speed of 1/6 sec when the VR was enabled. A very good achievement! The Nikon VR is also completely silent.
Click the Imatest chart for a practice shot taken at a focal length of 85 mm and a shutter speed of 1/13 seconds, taken hand held with and without VR.
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VIGNETTING NIKON 24-85 MM VR @ FX | |
On a camera with a full frame sensor, it is not unusual to be dealing with 1 stop or more vignetting. That is why the Nikon D600 has been set to in-camera correction of vignetting (Normal) in jpg files. Apparently, that was not enough yet, because vignetting is, especially at the shortest focal length and open aperture, visible in the jpg files.
In general, vignetting in jpg files is sufficiently low after stopping down 1 or 2 stops to no longer be visible in most practical situations. Nevertheless, in RAW files, you can even encounter visible vignetting at aperture 11. Incidentally, this is easily corrected in Lightroom, Photoshop, or Capture NX.
Move your mouse over the graph for the Nikon 24-85 mm Imatest results for RAW files without in-camera vignetting correction.
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DISTORTION NIKON 24-85 MM VR @ FX | |
As many cheaper lenses, Nikon 24-85 mm VR exhibits a strong degree of distortion. In RAW files without in-camera correction, there is visible barrel distortion at 24 mm and 35 mm, and pincushion distortion at 50 mm and 85 mm. Activating in-camera correction of distortion makes it better, but visible barrel distortion remains present particularly at 24 mm and 28 mm.
Because distortion can simply be corrected by software, this part weighs relatively little in the final judgment of the Nikon 24-85 mm VR. However, when you take a picture, you should already take into account that you are going to correct the perspective afterwards, because a part of the image at the edges will drop out.
Move your mouse over the graph for the Nikon 24-85 mm Imatest results for RAW files without in-camera distortion correction.
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Source: https://www.camerastuffreview.com/
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