On Fri, 26 Jul 2002 16:17:21 -0500, wrote:

>I apologyze if this is in a FAQ but I could not find a "good" answer (maybe
>there is no good answer). I am trying to get back to shooting some photos
>after 20+ years. I purchased a NIkon F80 and a Nikkor 50mm f1.8. I know I
>should stick to primes but... I have decided that I need something like a
>24-120mm. This lens will travel with me. I have looked at the reviews for
>both the Nikon 24-120 and the Tamron 24-135, and most people who own one
>seem happy with them. They both sell (at Adorama) for about $400, and the
>Nikon can probably be found at Ebay for $340 (I have not seen very many
>Tamrons)
>
>Question 1: Do you have an opinion as to which is better (you get to define
>"better")?
>
>Question 2: Are there features of my camera that won't work with the Tamron.
>(I know everything will work with the Nikon)
>
>Question 3: Is this a big mistake (I know I should get a fast 24mm prime and
>a fast 100mm prime but, as I said, the lens will have to travel, and I hate
>travelling with a lot of stuff)
>
>Any comments will be really appreciated. As I said, I am very new at this
>(the camera is just two weks old and all I have done is take (B&W) portraits
>of my kids and dog), so even trivial (to the expert) suggestions will be
>more than welcome

I just bought two 24-120mm Nikkors and tried
another (after reviewing one on my web page, at
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/articles.html#24-120
a few years ago), and was astonished how good
this lens is - it is not only wide-range (with
only moderate linear distortion), but it is sharp
to the corners *wide open* and at all commonly
used distances, VERY rare for a wide-angle zoom
(or even a wide angle non-zoom).
I have not tried the Tamron 24-135 (I have the
old 28-135 Tamron, and while very good, the
Nikkor is better), but it would be hard to imagine
that any WA to tele zoom could be better than the
Nikkor 24-120. I'm now kicking myself for not
completely recognizing the value of this lens
when I first tried it, and keeping it at the
time...;-)