sharpness (nikon 24-85mm F 4)

[billycaste]

the nikon 24-85 doesn't seem very sharp even in the middle of the lens...my canon pwershot G2 creates sharper files............i've tried sharpening with both the 'standard" and "hard" settings in the raw converter and the pics still don't look sharp...I usually keep in-camera sharpness off....I don't see how this really matters if you're shooting in "raw" format since the settings are not applied until they're chosen in "EX".......i usuallly shoot in the middle of the lens at 1/125...... Is the nikon 24-85 just a lousy lens..... also i've heard that re-sampling up and then down in pshp increases sharpness......any suggestions.......

 

[stuart82021]

If you are talking about the 24-85 G lens, I returned it as it was a piece of garbage. It was FAR too soft for my good, and spent $1,400.00 and purchased the 28-70 f 2.8 ED IF AF-S lens. There is NO comparison as to sharpness, contrast, speed, etc. Stuart

 

[billycaste]

If you are talking about the 24-85 G lens, I returned it as it was
a piece of garbage. It was FAR too soft for my good, and spent
$1,400.00 and purchased the 28-70 f 2.8 ED IF AF-S lens. There is
NO comparison as to sharpness, contrast, speed, etc. Stuart

that would be the "G" lens........... $1400 is steep though......

 

[Donald Hutton]

Stuart

I think there are some valid points out there for this lens - I think quality control and therefore "good" and "bad" lenses may have put you off (I also tried a sample which I am convinced was sub par). Ken Rockwell's new review on this lens is interesting.... http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/2485afs.htm

Price is really a big issue, as is the 24mm end. From reading your posts, sharpness seems to be a big issue for you (I don't know what your subject is... maybe you should fill us in) - there is only one solution - use primes! I personally was happy enough with the 28-105 - I don't use it for serious work; it just sort of keeps the front cover out of a job and works well for idle snaps. When I am going to do something specific, I try to get a prime on.

If you are talking about the 24-85 G lens, I returned it as it was
a piece of garbage. It was FAR too soft for my good, and spent
$1,400.00 and purchased the 28-70 f 2.8 ED IF AF-S lens. There is
NO comparison as to sharpness, contrast, speed, etc. Stuart

 

[stuart82021]

Being a Zeiss Contax user, I have never had a problem with poor quality control of Zeiss lenses. Having purchased the S2, I was now exposed to the poor quality control and lack of consistency of Nikon lenses. When I bought a $2,500.00 Zeiss lens for my 645 Contax medium format camera, there was never such a thing a having to buy three or four lenses, and select the one which was the lesser of all evils. For my S2, I had to purchase and return two out of three 28-70 ED IF AF-S lenses until I had a correctly functioning lens. The first 28-70 ED lens was DOA right out of the box! I am not accustom to such problems. I spoke to Fuji, to Nikon and most of the other major manufacturers, and they ALL told me that there is NO consistent quality control regarding Nikon lenses. I couldn't believe my ears when they told me that Tamron and perhaps Sigma (ugh) build lenses for Nikon and puts the Nikon name on it!!! My major complaint every single time with the S2, was poor sharpness. Since purchasing the 28-70 ED f 2.8, I learned how to use Unsharp Mask in PhotoShop 7.0, and the photos I print jump right off of the paper with sharpness. Stuart