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Dissapointed w/ Nikkon 18-70 part 2

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Keko379841

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I posted a few days ago, letting you know how little impressed I was with the apparent poor performance of the Nikkon 18-70 vs. the cheap Nikkon 28-80G. So I decided to do a first comparison test, shooting with a tripod and the three lenses I have: Nikon's 18-70DX, 28-80G and 50 1.8D all @ 50mm from f4.5 through f8.

I know you can always question the test setup and method, but as far as I'm concerned this is what I get with my equipment regarding sharpness:

The 28-80G is the best perfomer all shots in corners by far. Center performance of the 28-80G is equal or better than the 50 1.8.
The 18-70DX is outperformed in every possible way.

I'm still stunned by the results, I musthave one heck of a copy of the 28-80G. Does anyone else have feedback on this cheap lens?

I know there's always the sample variation ghost, but from my experience the 28-80 for $80 new, definitely deserves more attention.
 
I have tested these lenses, and am absolutely certain that the 18-70 is one of the finest mid-grade lenses on the market and that it knocks the 28-80G into the shade. It even has the edge over the 24-85 G ED S lens.

This is not just a question of sharpness, but of faithful recording of the image over every part, and of contrast and colour rendition.

I test all my lenses carefully, and have graded dozens of them, and generally find that my results match those of the pros with photographic blogs. This does not mean I am duplicating effort and wasting my time, because there is sample variation between lenses, and also different lenses work better with different cameras. I like to know in detail how my lenses are going to perform. I have eleven mid and pro quality lenses in my collection at present, and have tested dozens of others, including all the cheapo Nikon lenses, which do not impress me very much. I thought the 28-80G was just slightly worse than the 28-80D lens. The contrast was poor, and impefections in the lens were apparent in the detail (you might not pick this up with a D70, but it certainly showed in my 12 mpix S2 images). I do not think I had a bad copy of the 28-80G - just a typical one. I have also tested the 28-100G, and the 18-55 DX (and why people like this one, I will never know).

I am not questioning your observations, but think that something must be wrong with your 18-70mm lens. I think you should try to beg or borrow another one so you can compare them. You also need to test the lenses wide open and at different focal lengths.

Another test you need to make is the performance with flash. Again the 18-70mm should outperform the comparitor lenses. I don't understand the electronics, but it seems to be doing something that the 50 mm prime and the older D lenses cannot do.

S.
 
Stoker98, thank you for an insightful and qualified response. I take the point that more factors come into play when judging IQ other than sharpness. I noticed the 28-80G to have a slight color cast and as you mention poorer contrast and color rendition, that said I may take you up on the suggestion to try and return the lens, since I bought it recently.

I still want to praise my copy of the 28-80G for the budget value it represents.
 
You are welcome. I think you should try another 18-70mm.

Just to tell you a story concerning my 28-105mmD (which is a slightly better lens than my 18-70mm). I obtained a copy of this lens from eBay. In the course of my tests, I found that the centre was always sharp, but the top right corner was always out of focus, and more out of focus than the other corners. I decided it was a manufacturing fault and sent the lens back to the seller for a refund. He was genuinely embarassed and upset, as he had never noticed.

About six months later, I found a posting somewhere on the net, which said that a batch of these lenses with turning marks on the rear element had accidentally got through quality control. I must have stumbled across one of these.

I subsequently acquired another 28-105mmD in a lot of photographic equipment. Its one of the sharpest lenses I have ever tested, and is still in my kit bag.

It showed me that you can trust your lens tests, and that it is important to test all your lenses to pick up on the faults and to learn what each lens is best at doing.

Good luck with your 18-70mm. If you can get a good one, then I am sure you will be delighted with it. It spends more time on my DSLRs than any other lens in my kit.

S.
 
I agree with Keko in that the 18-70 DX is a dissapointment. I compared the D50 kit lens 18-55 mm DX with the 18-70 lens, and I can't really tell the difference between the two. The 18-70 seemed to have a focus problem. I like the 18-55 DX.

ken
Stoker98 said:
I have tested these lenses, and am absolutely certain that the
18-70 is one of the finest mid-grade lenses on the market and that
it knocks the 28-80G into the shade. It even has the edge over the
24-85 G ED S lens.

This is not just a question of sharpness, but of faithful recording
of the image over every part, and of contrast and colour rendition.

I test all my lenses carefully, and have graded dozens of them, and
generally find that my results match those of the pros with
photographic blogs. This does not mean I am duplicating effort and
wasting my time, because there is sample variation between lenses,
and also different lenses work better with different cameras. I
like to know in detail how my lenses are going to perform. I have
eleven mid and pro quality lenses in my collection at present, and
have tested dozens of others, including all the cheapo Nikon
lenses, which do not impress me very much. I thought the 28-80G
was just slightly worse than the 28-80D lens. The contrast was
poor, and impefections in the lens were apparent in the detail (you
might not pick this up with a D70, but it certainly showed in my 12
mpix S2 images). I do not think I had a bad copy of the 28-80G -
just a typical one. I have also tested the 28-100G, and the 18-55
DX (and why people like this one, I will never know).

I am not questioning your observations, but think that something
must be wrong with your 18-70mm lens. I think you should try to
beg or borrow another one so you can compare them. You also need
to test the lenses wide open and at different focal lengths.

Another test you need to make is the performance with flash. Again
the 18-70mm should outperform the comparitor lenses. I don't
understand the electronics, but it seems to be doing something that
the 50 mm prime and the older D lenses cannot do.

S.
Click to expand...
--

Nikon D50, 18-55 mm DX, 18-70 dx, 50mm f/1.4, PS Ele 4, 6 books on editing photos, and one book on the D50.
 
I suspect there is an autofocus problem between your body and the 18-70mm. I have the 28-200mm and the 18-70mm. On two D70 bodies the 18-70 backfocused significantly. Not enough to ruin the photo but just enough to make the photos soft compared to my 28-200. The 28-200 was my favorite becuase I could get sharp photos from it. I couldn't from the 18-70mm.

A relatively quick test of the 18-70mm showed the backfocus. The 28-200 nailed the target on the same body.

I later got a 70-200VR and it backfocused at the lower focal lengths. I eventually grew tired of working around the limitations. I wanted a 70-200VR, not a 130-200VR. I packaged everything up and sent it in to Nikon for servicing and calibration. About two weeks later everything came back.

I was amazed at the improvement the adjustments made to the 18-70mm. It is very sharp especially in the center. Edges are very good. It focuses much faster on my D70 than the 28-200. (The 70-200 was fixed as well.)

As long as I don't need the reach, I now favor the 18-70mm over the 28-200mm when I need a lightweight lens.

Try this focus test:

http://www.focustestchart.com/chart.html

Steve
Keko said:
I posted a few days ago, letting you know how little impressed I
was with the apparent poor performance of the Nikkon 18-70 vs. the
cheap Nikkon 28-80G. So I decided to do a first comparison test,
shooting with a tripod and the three lenses I have: Nikon's
18-70DX, 28-80G and 50 1.8D all @ 50mm from f4.5 through f8.

I know you can always question the test setup and method, but as
far as I'm concerned this is what I get with my equipment regarding
sharpness:

The 28-80G is the best perfomer all shots in corners by far. Center
performance of the 28-80G is equal or better than the 50 1.8.
The 18-70DX is outperformed in every possible way.

I'm still stunned by the results, I musthave one heck of a copy of
the 28-80G. Does anyone else have feedback on this cheap lens?

I know there's always the sample variation ghost, but from my
experience the 28-80 for $80 new, definitely deserves more
attention.
Click to expand...
 
handheld
70mm
wide open
this is only a portion of the original frame (about 50 %)
I don't think the 18-70 has a problem with sharpness

 
At the long end, it is sharp, wide open, as the post above proves. It has great color and contrast throughout the zoom range.

It is weakest at the wide end wide open, where softness, CA, and distortion make it merely adequate. For the most discerning, the wide end should be restricted to small aperture daylight landscape shots, environmental portraits, tripod shots, etc.
 
SW Kim said:
It is weakest at the wide end wide open, where softness, CA, and
distortion make it merely adequate. For the most discerning, the
wide end should be restricted to small aperture daylight landscape
shots, environmental portraits, tripod shots, etc.
Click to expand...
I dunno, I'm pretty happy using it where I need it.

St. Peter's in Vincoli, Rome, handheld, 18mm, 1/10th of a second, f/3.5:



Ferris wheel early evening, Paris, handheld, 18mm, 1/1000th of a second, f/4.5:



--

 
did you correct this shot for vignetting?

I find that at 70mm and F/4.5 vignetting is rather severe, and am considering having it looked at as long as it is still covered by warranty (about two weeks ;) )
 
I also have the cheap 28-80G and the 50 1.8 (not D). I've made many pics with the zoom in the macro and close-up side. I completely agree with you, the 20-80 is a great performer, at least in sharpness. No appreciable differences with the 50 1.8. Nevertheless I'm thinking in selling the 20-80 and purchasing the Sigma 17-70, just for the maco ability and the wide angle extreme. But, reading your post, I don't know if I'll be doing the correct thing.
José Luis (Spain)
 
Keko said:
I posted a few days ago, letting you know how little impressed I
was with the apparent poor performance of the Nikkon 18-70 vs. the
cheap Nikkon 28-80G. So I decided to do a first comparison test,
shooting with a tripod and the three lenses I have: Nikon's
18-70DX, 28-80G and 50 1.8D all @ 50mm from f4.5 through f8.

I know you can always question the test setup and method, but as
far as I'm concerned this is what I get with my equipment regarding
sharpness:

The 28-80G is the best perfomer all shots in corners by far. Center
performance of the 28-80G is equal or better than the 50 1.8.
The 18-70DX is outperformed in every possible way.

I'm still stunned by the results, I musthave one heck of a copy of
the 28-80G. Does anyone else have feedback on this cheap lens?

I know there's always the sample variation ghost, but from my
experience the 28-80 for $80 new, definitely deserves more
attention.
Click to expand...
Possible explanations...
1. You've got the best 28-80G in existence.
2. You've got the worst 50mm 1.8 and 18-70DX lenses in existence.

Keep in mind that I'm not a big fan of the 18-70DX myself and have made my critisms of it quite often in the past. That said, the one's I've used blew away the 28-80G. If I were you I'd...

1. First sell off the 18-70 and 50mm 1.8 lenses you have. There's something obviously wrong with both of them.

2. Hold on to that 28-80G for dear life. I'd bet money you'll never find that good of a copy again.
--

Fit for release from a mental institution but banned from the 3-0-0-D forum since 6-2005.
 
I am in the process of buying a D200 body from Best Buy @ $1550+tax at our local store, but they don't have the kit with the 18-70. Appreciate your help in directing me to a good place to get this lens inexpensively and quick. Thank you. Scot
 
brokenz said:
Possible explanations...
1. You've got the best 28-80G in existence.
2. You've got the worst 50mm 1.8 and 18-70DX lenses in existence.
Keep in mind that I'm not a big fan of the 18-70DX myself and have
made my critisms of it quite often in the past. That said, the
one's I've used blew away the 28-80G. If I were you I'd...
1. First sell off the 18-70 and 50mm 1.8 lenses you have. There's
something obviously wrong with both of them.
2. Hold on to that 28-80G for dear life. I'd bet money you'll never
find that good of a copy again.
--
Fit for release from a mental institution but banned from the
3-0-0-D forum since 6-2005.
Click to expand...
And if he does hold onto it, it probably won't stay that sharp for too many years :-). Another reason to buy the 18-70 (or most other lenses) over the 28-80 is the build quality. The 28-80 doesn't even have a MF ring, much less solid enough construction to keep the lens elements from becoming misaligned over time. Here's my overall take on image quality and build of these two lenses:

There may be some good copies of the 28-80, but most are sub-par.
There may be some bad copies of the 18-70, but most are well above average.
All copies of the 28-80 have poor build quality.

All copies of the 18-70 have much better (still not the best, but MUCH better) build quality.

I own copies of both lenses, and while the 28-80 may be good considering how cheap it is, it really can't touch my 18-70 in terms of overall performance. Not only does the 18-70 produce wonderful images, but it is enjoyable to use it. I can't say the same for the 28-80.
 
No offense but it may be the image size or something else going on but that doesn't appear sharp or with good detail overall to me.
--

Fit for release from a mental institution but banned from the 3-0-0-D forum since 6-2005.
 
... here is a nice sharp 18-70mm photo from me!

If you don't do your post-processing right, your photo will also not be sharp.



S.
 
I think we can't argue that this one isn't sharp!
Nice shot! It looks great!
--
GimShim
 
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