vNe's reviews

  • Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    fast, sharp, cheap
    noisy

    This should be a lens is everybody's bag. Super fast, tack sharp, and the price cannot really get any lower. Compared to my old manual 50/1.4, the 50/1.8’s build quality is lacking. The focus could be a bit smoother. However, it is surprisingly durable even though it looks cheap. It does auto focus and can matrix meter on modern cameras. Word of caution to beginners about stopping the lens all the way down; it is a little soft and the depth of field is extremely shallow.

    reviewed January 8th, 2007 (purchased for $90)

  • Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G AF Nikkor

    6 out of 10 points and recommended
    cheap, light, high zoom
    Slow AF and apeture

    If you are on a tight budget and need some zoom this is a good solution. The image quality is excellent up to 200mm; after that, images get slightly soft and there is some loss of contrast; however it is not much of a problem. The end of the lens rotates as it focuses, which is a bit annoying if you are using filters. The lens also does not focus very close, which makes the lens less optimal if you want a cheap macro option. If you plan on shooting outside in good light, the lens is a great bargain.

    reviewed January 9th, 2007 (purchased for $100)

  • Nikon 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF DX AF-S Nikkor

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    good price, compact, lightweight, great optical quality, fast
    variable aperture

    This is a great lens. Small, compact and great image quality at a bargin price. Images are crisp and sharp. Contrast is high with good color saturation. There is some distortion at either extreme, but that's being nit-picky. Focusing with AF-S is super fast and on the dot. The lens is also internal focus, so the barrel does not rotate, saving you trouble with readjusting filters. After banging around on hikes, I find the construction to be pretty good.

    There really isn't any drawbacks on this lens. This lens would have been perfect if it was f/3.5 all the way. The variable aperature makes it slightly more challenging to focus on the long end.

    If you need an affordable lens that gives you some flexibility, this is it.

    reviewed January 14th, 2007 (purchased for $250)