"Lewis Lang" <contaxman@aol.comnospam> wrote in message news:20030715165356.00221.00000421@mb-m03.aol.com...

[...]

> Does anybody know if the current 24-120 "regular" Nikon zoom or the new 24-120

> VR is as excellent optically in sharpness/contrast for large enlargements (at

> the 24mm-50mm focal length range) as my old Nikon 25-50mm/4 AIS which was in a

> class by itself? How do either of these two AF zooms compare in distortion at

> the wide end and flare w/ the older AIS lens?

> Check out my photos at "LEWISVISION":

> http://members.aol.com/Lewisvisn/home.htm

My memory is dimming somewhat of the 25-50mm f4 Nikkor, but as I recall,

the performance at 25mm was about a stop behind that of the 24mm f2.8

(very good, but not outstanding) at 35mm, it was superb, at 50mm it was

even-to-the-corners-at-all-stops-but-not-exciting... Distortion was fairly low

(as it is with the 24-120), and flare was OK (as it is with the 24-120). The

24-120 non-VR (good sample) is surprisingly good at true f5.6 throughout,

and outstanding at f8 and f11 (amazing for a wide-range zoom that includes

WA). More is in the review at www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/articles.html and

in the Nikkor list at www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/slemn.html (ignore the hit

counter - it was recently reset...;-).

--

David Ruether

d_ruether@hotmail.com

http://www.David-Ruether-Photography.com

Hey, take a gander at www.visitithaca.com, too...!