Product ReviewsNikon Nikkor Non AI 55mm F/3.5 Micro Manual Focus Lens {52}

Bang for buck, wonderful!

This is an older Nikon lens, but its performance is outstanding, even by today's standards. It is a push and pull type zoom, and you have to physically move a switch on your camera to change between auto focus and manual focus, but that is NOT a big deal; if you are going to manually focus, you usually have enough time to move your finger over the switch to activate manual mode anyway! And zooming in or out, so what? Many do not like this len's range is only from 35-70 mm. But in my opinion, that is true mid-range anyway, and perfect for groups shots, and closer shots, to include full body and waist up photography, which is perfect for wedding impromptu shoots, senior photos, and everyday gatherings. More formal photos, well, you have time to pull out a prime 85mm for that. But for general walk around, wedding, parties, group activities, this lens rocks! The auto focus is fast enough for group activities, it is also fast (f2.8), and unless you are pixel peeping in the corners at photos taken at f2.8, it is a sharp lens, probably 95% as sharp as a prime lens (my opinion, of course). Bokeh, well, average to very good, other lenses do better, i.e., an 85 mm f1.8, or a 70-200 f2.8; the bokeh on these lenses are very good to excellent. But for approximately $350 (used), this Nikon 35-70 mm f2.8 take wonderfully sharp images. Bang for buck, even though it is an older lens, it is a winner . . . if you can find one that has clean glass, no fungus, haze, etc., purchase it!Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: japan.camera

Nikon 35-70 f/2.8 lens

This lens, and probably others made a while ago, were used so much that I think it ended up so filled with dust and other image destructive problems that it wasn't a very good buy - even at $200. I liked the idea of it - especially because it was much cheaper than the 28-70 f/2.8 and a lot cheaper than the 24-70 f/2.8. I needed a fast lens to use for indoor events without a flash but it just didn't pan out.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: d-pro2005

Fast Normal Zoom for your Digital Camera

This is a fast professional lens with sporty AF and nice bokeh. The fixed aperture should prove to be great for DSLR video and nice portraits. On my digital camera it works like a 50-105mm lens which is a useful range. I realize that people like to avoid normal and shoot wide or telephoto but so far I have been happy with the normal to telephoto and really saved some money and weight not buying both the 17-35mm and 80-200mm instead. I do have 24mm and 200mm primes if need be. Check your best pictures and if they fall into the 50-100mm range you might consider this relatively inexpensive but professional quality lens. On the down side I find the push pull zoom hard to get used to a little tough to use for video as it jerks too much but perhaps that will work itself out or can be adjusted. It also isn't light but this is no starter lens and quality is heavy.Read full review...

Good but hard to find excellent

This is a good old Nikon professional zoom lens. Surprisingly sharp wide open and great color rendition. Good performance throughout the focal ranges. It's also an extremely finicky lens. You will probably need to do some AF tuning, and you will have to watch the light at it flares like crazy.

The lens is built like a tank and its all-metal body looks like it can take a beating. And they usually have. Being a popular pro lens, you will find that it's rather difficult to find a good specimen in prime condition. Most of them will have dings and scratches, but even those advertised as "mint" may have haze or balsam separation. If you think you can pay $100 more to get an item in great condition, you should think twice. Paying over $200 for this lens is probably not going to increase your chances by much.

It's heavy. Very heavy.

If you don't particularly need the shallow depth of field and AF, the cheapest les, the old kit lens, 35-70mm f/3.3~4.8 is actually a pretty good alternative. It's light, performs well at f/5.6 and above, and it only costs $40.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: makimur-0

Nikon AF 35-70 2.8D

I was looking for a mid range zoom to shoot basketball along with my 80-200 2.8 without breaking the bank. I researched this lens and found that if i got a good copy without the hazing issue or any fungus, it was a great deal. This lens is working out perfectly and i got a great one that is very clean, without any of the above issues. Although it doesn't focus as fast as an AF-S lens, nor is it as quiet but this does not matter to me at all. I have gotten great images with this lens, even wide open at f2.8, it is solid all metal construction with no plastic like the newer versions. I also like the fact that i don't have to worry about AF-S motor failure. If your camera has an in body focus motor this lens is a great addition to your camera bag!Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: uXVUBu4kT1m@Del...

Pro quality standard zoom

Proper Nikkor Lens. All you need to know really. Metal body and tack sharp. Very fast AF. Tested on a Nikon F4 and D810.

Macro function allows very close focus indeed.

Uses standard 62mm filter size so easy to combine with square filter systems. Correct Hood in Nikon HB-1. This is not perfect but works.

In short I think this lens is an absolute bargain.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: japan.camera

Fantastic value. Be sure to get a good copy.

Best value in pro-quality FX normal zoom. Costs 10% of a new 24-70 VR. For that you give up a *little* sharpness and CA, particularly in the corners, as well as wider focal lengths and VR. But it’s smaller and more robust. I like the push-pull, but it’s not for everybody. Watch out for fungus, fog, and mechanical issues. I had one that would only zoom to 58 mm. Lens can often be repaired if you have a lens spanner, Japanese size screwdrivers, and a delicate touch.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: d-pro2005

One of the best!

This lens is the second one of these I have owned, and hopefully it won't be stolen like the first one. It was unparalleled when it was first made, and I find that it is close to that now. It may be a little heavy for its diameter and length, but that is because of the glass and metal that make it up. It is not as much a wide angle as the 28-70mm or the 24-70mm lenses, so I just have to move my feet more to get the (almost) same photo. Its size is very small compared to similar current lenses and it certainly is lighter which makes carrying it around on my D200 (and FE-2 or F3) a hardly noticeable task. I also have a non-D version, which is capable of making the same photos but with more work on my part, another reason I like this lens (I'm lazy to a point, but I still don't mind moving my feet).

I do use other lenses that have the latest Auto Focus and Vibration Reduction features, and I really like them, but maybe the nostalgia of using one of the older technologies to create pictures as good, and in some ways better than the newer lenses, is why I cling to this lens.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: kwm55

Excellent Quality Sharp Lens at a reasonable cost / limited focal range.

This old lens is much better than most people realize. It does not have a wide zoom range, but in its limited zoom range it is very sharp, and works well.

When I am shooting without studio strobes this is an excellent lens to use if I do not need the low light fixed 28mm / 50mm / 85mm lenses instead of my Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR which is my most flexible lens, but usually shot at f/8 when the extra stops of light are less important to me than VR to stop subject movement.

I used this lens on my last shoot because I wanted some sharp shots of belly dancer swinging her very large cape under a modeling light with no strobes or flash because this required more fps than my Studio Strobes could supply on a battery pack. Great shots, sharp with super skin tones.Read full review...

Crystal Clear 2.8 Lens, Great Value

This is my second time owning this lens, first time was on a film camera. It has an aperture ring, which means certain auto features on modern DSLR cameras do not work with this lens. But it is crystal clear. And when you are in low light and need the shot it is the best value in a 2.8 35 -70 mm zoom.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: camerastop

Heavy, but awesome!

This is a great lens if you can accept the relatively narrow zoom range, and if you're OK with an extra 2 pounds on your camera. It's very well built, tight, and quite fast. Zooming is a little strange, as you actually pull it out for wide angle and push it in to zoom closer. In spite of the weight though, this is the lens I now leave mounted on the camera.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: camerabroker