AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 IF-ED
By Gary W. Stanley
With
my old Nikon F100, the 24-120 easily covered my most used focal lengths.
After switching to digital, this lens (now 36-180mm with the 1.5x factor)
is not wide enough. It has now taken over the mid-range of my three lens
arsenal, and is part of a very lightweight travel package. Last month I
tested and reviewed my latest lens purchase: the Nikkor 12-24mm. When I
switched to digital with its smaller format, it became a must-have lens.
While the 12-24 has been designed strictly for digital, the 24-120VR,
works on Nikon's newer film and digital bodies.
Keep in mind that the VR feature won't work on older Nikon bodies such
as the 8008s, F4, N-90 etc. This G-type Nikkor lens is designed with no
aperture ring for easier, more mistake-free operation (aperture does not
need to be set to minimum). This is fine unless you want to use this lens
on an older Nikon Body. If you do you're out of luck.
I fell in love with the original 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6D IF (2212.htm) back
when it was first introduced. I found myself using it all the time, and I
believe it's why these types of wide to moderate focal length lenses are
so popular for anyone looking for a do-it-all travel lens. Smaller than
its predecessor, the new AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 IF-ED
incorporates advanced features such as SWM (Silent Wave Motor) and VR
(Vibration Reduction).
 |
The 24-120mm range is
ideal for grab shots |
The Silent Wave Motor is ultra-fast, ultra-quiet, and the VR system
minimizes the negative effects caused by camera shake. The VR system
allows the use of a much lower shutter speed (about 3 stops) for shooting
in low light situations. This very sturdy, well-constructed lens, has
worked well for me not only as a great wide-to-mid-range landscape lens
but also for grab shots of the folks on our photo tours and for family
events.
The
lens offers 5x high-power zoom capability and wide-angle coverage from
24mm (36mm on a digital body) and features two ED (Extra-low Dispersion)
glass and two aspherical lens elements. The lens adopts the Internal
Focusing (IF) design, and employs M/A mode for rapid switching between
autofocus and manual focus operation.
I did find a couple of things about this lens a bit unusual, as was the
case with the 12-24mm. Because I manually focus everything, I found the
M/A mode a little hard to get used to. The focusing ring never hits a
stopping point, it just keeps turning, so I had to pay special attention
when focusing manually which can be a bit distracting.
Because everything seems so far away when looking through a wide-angle
lens, I was a little uncomfortable at first until I recalibrated myself to
it. Because I do manually focus almost everything I really appreciated the
well-damped precise feel of the focusing ring and zoom ring on this lens.
It's what we've all come to expect from pro-level lenses but it's still
worth mentioning. If you've only used consumer lenses, which tend to feel
a bit loose and touchy, you'll be amazed by the feel of the controls on
pro lenses.
Again
as with the 12-24, I found it somewhat annoying that the focus and zoom
rings on the 24-120 are opposite those on my 80-400mm VR, so I kept
grabbing the wrong ring to focus and zoom. It's not a big thing when
shooting landscapes, because, I'm usually not in a hurry. However, I use
the 80-400mm quite a bit for wildlife, so it left me feeling a bit uneasy.
Thankfully the other two big VR lenses, the 70-200mm and 200-400mm are set
up like my 80-400mm. I'm still waiting for an answer from Nikon on this
matter. The design just seems counter-intuitive.
I used this lens frequently on my recent trip to Zion National Park in
a variety of shooting situations. Its images were tack sharp and the lens
worked flawlessly.
AF-S
VR Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED
Major Features |
|
High-power zoom lens with
24-120mm zoom range only available from Nikon, incorporates more
highly advanced features such as SWM and VR more affordably and in
a more compact design than its predecessor |
|
SWM for ultra-fast,
ultra-quiet AF |
|
VR system offers the
equivalent of using a shutter speed 3 stops faster (at
120mm) |
|
High-power 5x zoom lens
with focal range starting at 24mm for greater covering power |
|
New high-quality optical
system featuring two ED glass elements and two aspherical lenses
to minimize chromatic aberration while providing superior overall
performance |
|
The rounded diaphragm (7
blades) makes out-of-focus elements appear more natural |
|
M/A mode for rapid
switching between autofocus and manual focus operation |
|
Internal Focusing (IF)
design for smoother focusing and great body balance · High-grade
Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) offers superb color
reproduction while minimizing ghosting and flare |
|
Flower-shaped Lens Hood
HB-25 (provided) greatly reduces stray light |
Specs |
Focal Length |
24 to 120mm |
Maximum Aperture |
f/3.5-f5.6 |
Lens Construction |
15 elements in 13
groups (including 2 ED lenses) |
Minimum Focus Distance |
1.6ft. at all zoom
settings |
Filter Size |
72mm |
Dimensions |
3.0 in x 3.7 in |
Weight |
20.3 oz. |
Compatible
with D1X, D1H, D100, D70, F5, F100, N80, N75 & N65 |

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