Nikon 18-35 WA zoom... Performance?

F5user · 12th May 2005

Greetings to all!!!

Was just wondering... i'm about to get a Wide angle for my son. Although he's bugging me like crazy for the 17-35, (crazy idiot thinks i print $), i'm going to settle for the 18-35 to shut him up.

Being only a user of the wider primes and a 17-35 whenever the company lends it to me, I've never used the 18-35 before.

Hence, was wondering about its performance, especially at 18mm stopped down (F8 and above), colour, saturation, etc...

Also, i've not been back home to singapore for a while, and am not too sure about the price down at tcw (grey) and cathay... any ideas from my fellow photogs out there?

Thanks guys..

F5user · 12th May 2005

nobody?

TMC · 12th May 2005

you posted too early for most of them to reply you. have to factor in the time zone.

think TCW should have a few sets available. About 600+. Heard its a good lens, did some research but never used one. look for some reviews off the web.

F5user · 12th May 2005

oh yeah hor..timezone... thanks thanks...

so far, i've gotten iffy reviews on the web.. but i guess it's still worth it for 250usd new here with warrenty.. just wanted to see wat the guys back home think about it.

Thanks

nightwolf75 · 12th May 2005

hey! howz things with u on the other side of the world!!??

is this the lens?
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/s...&cat=28&page=1

from reviews, seems excellent. however, i heard from another nikonian dat the lens suck as his copy was soft on both ends. he dumped it and got the 17-35mm. could be his lens.

elixir · 12th May 2005

i have the lens and I think the price that you can get in US is much better than in S'pore.

For quality of the optics, I'm pretty happy with it. But the lens tends to be softer at the longer (35MM) end than the wider end. Stop them down a stop, everything sharp as tack.

Pinoy_SAP · 12th May 2005

i use to have this lens bought it at $900++ bnew. very good lens indeed and it is using 77mm filter. i got a few shots from Bali using F80 + 18-35. I sold my camera and this lens then bought D70+kit. now looking back, i should have kept the lens.

check out my pics using AFD 18-35 at Photonski.com

Chee Wai · 12th May 2005

I have the 18-35mm lens and would have preferred it over the 18-70mm kit lens. Most wide angle shots are done with f8 or f11 anyway so don't let the wide open performance affect you.

I'm very happy with this lens for its price vs the 17-35mm. If you are not a pro and don't print $, then get this one.

espn · 12th May 2005

Alright, being an ex-18-35 user, my findings are as follows:

Slight barrel at 18mm (on digital body). Correctible with PS of course. Image is definitely soft at wides and large apertures, stepping down is necessary.

Colours is not bad, contrast a little warm. Kenrockwell also reviewed this glass on his website. I do agree with him on most of the points like if you use it on digital body, it's good because the crop factor factored out the sides whereby it's not the perfect areas, just like using f/8 to get the sweet spot, the 18-35 is good on DX bodies.

Comparing with the 18-70, at least wide open, I don't get light fall off, distortion control is also better. Pity I no longer own it

mpenza · 12th May 2005

alternatively, you could consider the Tamron 17-35 f2.8-4 Di. It's around US$450 though.

F5user · 12th May 2005

i knew i could count on all you clubsnappers for the wonderful first hand reviews !!!

the ang mohs here seem to be ONLY affixed to the heaviness and EDness of the 17-35, and most of the reviews i read about this lens were umm... not too good?

Ok la...

i go down to the shop and buy tmrw.

waaaaa....
surprizing to know that it sells for almost 1k in singapore... i'm getting a 250usd quote from a nearby authorized nikon dealer... BHphoto lets it retail for around 380usd too after rebates and all....

anyway... thanks guys..

really appreciate it.

F5user · 12th May 2005

Yo ESPN..

when my son come back, he can come join NUG anot? i want him to lim kopi with u guys.. learn abt photography in general...

oh yeah..

but don spread the BUYX 3 sickness to him hor.

espn · 12th May 2005

CP is retailing it at 950.

TCW grey set at 900.

Well, the 17-35 is really good IYAM, but when one has no budget, the 18-35 is the next way to go in the Nikkor line.

espn · 12th May 2005

Originally Posted by F5user

Yo ESPN..

when my son come back, he can come join NUG anot? i want him to lim kopi with u guys.. learn abt photography in general...

No problem, NUG welcomes all users of any brand, as long as the person comes with the heart to talk and share freely without bashing & being an irritant.

Originally Posted by F5user

oh yeah..

but don spread the BUYX 3 sickness to him hor.

ERMM... this one.. I cannot promise liao

mpenza · 12th May 2005

Originally Posted by F5user

Yo ESPN..

when my son come back, he can come join NUG anot? i want him to lim kopi with u guys.. learn abt photography in general...

oh yeah..

but don spread the BUYX 3 sickness to him hor.

you can buy stuff from US and sell through your son to NUG members

win-win situation for both parties

espn · 12th May 2005

Originally Posted by mpenza

you can buy stuff from US and sell through your son to NUG members win-win situation for both parties

Well, I'm looking at the Nikon sweater, the Nikon professional vest, the ....

Wait... OT liao... wait Ian come whack my backside better get back to topic

F5user · 12th May 2005

Originally Posted by mpenza

you can buy stuff from US and sell through your son to NUG members win-win situation for both parties

sounds tempting leh...

but no warrenty u know..

i've done that a few times, brought back 5 sets of the old 2 touch 80-200 2.8 the last time round.

at first i tot that my shooting kakis all siao.. buy from usa.. but then i realized that singapore's actually not that cheap anymnore... hmmm

glennyong · 13th May 2005

Originally Posted by F5user

sounds tempting leh...

but no warrenty u know..

i've done that a few times, brought back 5 sets of the old 2 touch 80-200 2.8 the last time round.

at first i tot that my shooting kakis all siao.. buy from usa.. but then i realized that singapore's actually not that cheap anymnore... hmmm

tats true.. singapore's electronic product prices have gone up...

certain products u cant get them locally too... i have been looking for a lens for quite some time now.. but cant seem to find it on ebay or wad la... tats why..

F5user · 13th May 2005

yah lor....

sian...

you can indeed tell a lot about our economy when we're starting to be able to afford things from the usa and NOT from our own country.

even for film... for those who still shoot. A pack of 10 x 135 velvia 50s here going for around 28 usd. FRESH (exp in 2006 dec)

Though i do buy stuff from adorama and bh sometimes, their prices are still terribly expensive compared to some parts on the west coast, and a few hidden shops online too..

glennyong · 13th May 2005

Originally Posted by F5user

yah lor....

sian...

you can indeed tell a lot about our economy when we're starting to be able to afford things from the usa and NOT from our own country.

even for film... for those who still shoot. A pack of 10 x 135 velvia 50s here going for around 28 usd. FRESH (exp in 2006 dec)

Though i do buy stuff from adorama and bh sometimes, their prices are still terribly expensive compared to some parts on the west coast, and a few hidden shops online too..

haha.. so now i start saving up la.. den i ask u help me buy one 600mm lens back frm US.. hahaha =p

12th May 2005	#1
F5user Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: B.Timah, New york, SoCal. Posts: 834	Nikon 18-35 WA zoom... Performance? Greetings to all!!! Was just wondering... i'm about to get a Wide angle for my son. Although he's bugging me like crazy for the 17-35, (crazy idiot thinks i print $), i'm going to settle for the 18-35 to shut him up. Being only a user of the wider primes and a 17-35 whenever the company lends it to me, I've never used the 18-35 before. Hence, was wondering about its performance, especially at 18mm stopped down (F8 and above), colour, saturation, etc... Also, i've not been back home to singapore for a while, and am not too sure about the price down at tcw (grey) and cathay... any ideas from my fellow photogs out there? Thanks guys..

12th May 2005	#3
TMC Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Beyond Space-Time Continuum Posts: 5,921	you posted too early for most of them to reply you. have to factor in the time zone. think TCW should have a few sets available. About 600+. Heard its a good lens, did some research but never used one. look for some reviews off the web. __________________ Selling: 32GB Thumbdrive - Patriot Xporter XT 120sgd (Price reduced)

12th May 2005	#5
nightwolf75 Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: in bet MORE diaper changes... Posts: 14,592	hey! howz things with u on the other side of the world!!?? is this the lens? http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/s...&cat=28&page=1 from reviews, seems excellent. however, i heard from another nikonian dat the lens suck as his copy was soft on both ends. he dumped it and got the 17-35mm. could be his lens. __________________ When did ignorance become a point of view? - Dilbert budget AD/ROM shooter, anyone?

12th May 2005	#6
elixir Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Katong Posts: 363	i have the lens and I think the price that you can get in US is much better than in S'pore. For quality of the optics, I'm pretty happy with it. But the lens tends to be softer at the longer (35MM) end than the wider end. Stop them down a stop, everything sharp as tack.

12th May 2005	#7
Pinoy_SAP Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: :: Kelvin :: Posts: 216	i use to have this lens bought it at $900++ bnew. very good lens indeed and it is using 77mm filter. i got a few shots from Bali using F80 + 18-35. I sold my camera and this lens then bought D70+kit. now looking back, i should have kept the lens. check out my pics using AFD 18-35 at Photonski.com

12th May 2005	#8
Chee Wai Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 393	I have the 18-35mm lens and would have preferred it over the 18-70mm kit lens. Most wide angle shots are done with f8 or f11 anyway so don't let the wide open performance affect you. I'm very happy with this lens for its price vs the 17-35mm. If you are not a pro and don't print $, then get this one.

12th May 2005	#9
espn Deregistered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Planet Nikon Posts: 22,045	Alright, being an ex-18-35 user, my findings are as follows: Slight barrel at 18mm (on digital body). Correctible with PS of course. Image is definitely soft at wides and large apertures, stepping down is necessary. Colours is not bad, contrast a little warm. Kenrockwell also reviewed this glass on his website. I do agree with him on most of the points like if you use it on digital body, it's good because the crop factor factored out the sides whereby it's not the perfect areas, just like using f/8 to get the sweet spot, the 18-35 is good on DX bodies. Comparing with the 18-70, at least wide open, I don't get light fall off, distortion control is also better. Pity I no longer own it

12th May 2005	#10
mpenza Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 13,397	alternatively, you could consider the Tamron 17-35 f2.8-4 Di. It's around US$450 though.

12th May 2005	#13
espn Deregistered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Planet Nikon Posts: 22,045	CP is retailing it at 950. TCW grey set at 900. Well, the 17-35 is really good IYAM, but when one has no budget, the 18-35 is the next way to go in the Nikkor line.

13th May 2005	#19
F5user Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: B.Timah, New york, SoCal. Posts: 834	yah lor.... sian... you can indeed tell a lot about our economy when we're starting to be able to afford things from the usa and NOT from our own country. even for film... for those who still shoot. A pack of 10 x 135 velvia 50s here going for around 28 usd. FRESH (exp in 2006 dec) Though i do buy stuff from adorama and bh sometimes, their prices are still terribly expensive compared to some parts on the west coast, and a few hidden shops online too..