On 19 Jan 1999 09:18:28 GMT, "albini88" wrote:

>I want to purchase a short Nikkor zoom lens. Part of the reason is that its
>a pain in the ass to switch between 2 or 3 lenses during a concert (where I
>often shoot).
>If someone could relate their findings on the following lenses, I'd
>appreciate it.
>Im looking close focus capability, optical quality wide open, and
>mechanical feel.
>
>*AFD 24-50/3.3-4.5
>*25-50/4
>*28-50/3.5

There is a Nikkor evaluation list on my web page (under
"I babble"...). Specifically, all can focus reasonably
close (about 2' or less, as I recall...), all are
rather poor compared with the best non-zooms at wide
stops (THE reason to avoid short zooms..., though the
new Nikkor 28-70 f2.8 MAY change this...), and the
28-50 had the best feel (the several 25-50's I had
all developed focus "slop", and most AF lenses come
with it...) - and the 28-50 was unusually resistant
to back-light problems. For wides for concert use,
the Nikkor 16 f3.5 is sharp wide open, and resistant to
flare and ghosts; the 28 f2.8 AI is very resistant to
flare and ghosts, but isn't as sharp as the AIS (good
wide open); the 35 f2 MF (multicoated version) is good
at f2; and the recent 50's are all good at mid distances
by f2. Short/mid-range zooms are sometimes useful for
bright-light situations, but not for available-light,
or when there are bright light sources within the
field of view, I think...