a "kit lens" or the real deal?

I just recently picked up a D70 to compliment my Nikon film gear and I decided to get the complete D70 kit, which included the 18-70mm Nikkor DX lens. This was mainly because all my film lenses would suffer from the 1.5 x focal length multiplier imposed by the APS sized digital sensor. After getting some experience with the D70 and the 18-70mm lens lent to me by a friend I decided that this was the best choice for me.

To give you an idea of my background so you can judge my review for its suitability for your situation...I am extremely anal about my images and I have resisted getting a digital back for quite some time. I generally shoot medium format for all my serious work and reserve the 35mm for action or situations where I need longer focal lengths than my RZ67 can reasonably allow. I treat my equipment hard and I expect a lot in return. Optical performance is my #1 highest priority.

Anyway... You can get all the technical info you need at Nikon's website but here are some general specs.

The lens is comprised of 15 elements in 13 groups, one of which is an aspheric. It is 2.9" (73 mm) long by 3" (74 mm) long and weighs 14 oz (390 g). It has a seven-bladed rounded diaphragm with an f/22 - 36 minimum aperture. Its
close focus is 15". Its maximum aperture is F/3.5-4.5. It is a "G" lens meaning it doesn't have an aperture ring and can only be used on the latest electronic SLR's with digital aperture selection. It is a "DX" lens, which is Nikon's way of saying that it will only cover the APS format and not 35mm.so if you attach it to your 35mm camera it will vignette. It uses 67mm filters. It has "ED" coated glass for better optical transmission and improved color. It is "IF" or internal focusing for faster focus in low light situations with properly equipped Nikon bodies. Being an AF-S lens it has a large manual focus ring that can be engaged at anytime even while auto focusing...in other words, its VERY functional as a manual focus lens.... which is important because no matter how automatic your camera is, the auto focus is never as fast as you can be. I do have one gripe...the focus ring is nearest the camera and the zoom ring is furthest from the camera. This is the reverse of other nikon lenses I own and it is a major pain to remember that I need to use the OTHER ring to focus.

On paper this is a LOT of lens. Other than the variable aperture and the DX designation, this lens sounds a lot like the Nikon PRO line of lenses. I own a 28-70mm F/2.8 AFS ED-IF and an 80-200mm F/2.8 ED-IF for comparison and those specs sound REALLY familiar. There are 3 kinds of lenses... cheap,,, "Bang for the buck" ...and pro/expensive. This one falls squarely in the "bang for the buck" category. I daresay it is under priced for its specifications. A solid AFS lens with a fixed aperture in 35mm size would easily exceed $1200 and be worth every penny. So how does Nikon do it? Well, the cut back on construction quality, more on that in the next section.

Construction quality is the real reason "pro" level equipment costs so much. Often, the cheaper products in a manufacturers lineup produce equivalent optical results but are simply not designed with everyday use in mind. Things like tight weather seals and metal construction are normally not incorporated into the cheaper lenses. The lens is constructed of plastic and is very unassuming. If you handed this lens to me and told me it was good I would hand you back my 80-200mm AFS and tell you "NO.THIS is good". But I'd be wrong... because despite the plastic construction this is a fantastic lens OPTICALLY.

I've had the lens for about a month now and I have used it along side my MUCH more expensive lenses for the whole time in the studio and outside and I am very pleased to report that this lens is a BARGAIN from an optical performance standpoint. Distortion is minimal at all focal lengths EXCEPT the 18mm one (which is equivalent to 27mm on a 35mm camera). It is not excessive but is noticeable. Color is excellent and I noticed no aberrations. Sharpness is outstanding but it's difficult to measure since the digital sensor would clearly be the limiting factor in such a test. Suffice it to say, it's better than the camera can probably deliver.

Overall I think it's an outstanding lens. And with a focal range (in 35mm terms) of 27-105mm that is a really nice basic lens to have on the camera. Keep another longer zoom on hand for when you need a long reach and you have a nice setup. Since dust is constantly a problem with digital cameras...its nice to have a lens that is suitable for 90% or more of my shooting. That means fewer lens changes and less likelihood of dust on the sensor. If you are one of those people who think $300 is expensive for a zoom lens then I think you should reconsider. This lens delivers where it counts...OPTICALLY. Spending $1000 on a camera and then going cheap on the lenses is about as dumb as it gets. You'd have been better off buying a point and shoot

This lens is a really appropriate choice for the D70. It is a "bang for the buck" selection...just like the D70. It delivers "pro" level performance but without many of the extra features that make other lenses cost so much without impacting optical performance. If your ONLY camera is a D70 then its a NO BRAINER since most of my nitpicks have to do with its compatibility with my several cameras (film and digital) and my other lenses.


Considering the price... I have to forgive certain shortcomings like the 67mm filter size (vs. the more desirable 77mm), the low quality scallop hood, the variable aperture and the DX designation. I also am not a fan of the zoom ring being forward of the focus ring. All these things are less than I WANT...but I have to admit that I would expect to pay a lot more to get them. What you DON'T lose is the exceptional optical performance.