"T P" <tp@nospam.com> wrote in message news:oq35hv06unmkq544c5v6j6bujng9f5h0oj@4ax.com...

[...]

> We should not expect miracles from a 5X zoom lens that starts at 24mm,

> but if anyone can make an affordable silk purse in this focal length

> range, it will be Nikon. The previous version was a very good 24-85mm

> lens with the option of going to 120mm, but with "sow's ear" (poorer)

> performance at those longer focal lengths.

The early sample of the earlier Nikkor 24-120mm f3.5-5.6 was as described

(well, not soft above 85mm or so, but the corners softened some, and it was

rather slow...), but late samples appear generally to be quite good throughout,

with stopping down a stop advisable toward the short end for best contrast.

Overall, the non-VR 24-120 is an excellent zoom, and more consistent

among samples than the 28-105 - and I rewrote my review of it based on

the later information (see: www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/articles.html).

--

David Ruether

d_ruether@hotmail.com

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

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