AF-S Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR Review

Friday, June 15, 2012

Lens Review
 

A middle-of-the-line lens, the AF-S Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR integrates an ED glass lens and three aspherical lenses, as well as a coating against flare. Its focal-length range extends from wide-angle to traditional lengths for taking portraits. The autofocus is driven by an ultrasonic (SWM) motorized internal focus (IF design). This lens’s lightness (465 grams) is particularly appreciated as a counterweight (so to speak) to the 830 grams of the APS-C reflex trans-standard lens announced at the same time, the AF-S DX Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR.

Price and availability

The 24-85mm FX is being offered at 599 euros, an attractive enough sales price that may be a precursor to a medium-format camera that will be a bit more accessible to everyone than the D800.

Principal characteristics

  • Focal length: 24–85mm
  • Zoom range: 3.5x
  • Maximum aperture: f/3.5–4.5
  • Nikon VR lens image stabilization
  • Circular diaphragm with 7 leaves
  • 3 aspherical lenses
  • 1 ED glass element
  • SWM ultrasonic motor and IF design
  • Minimum focus distance: 38cm at all focal lengths
  • Maximum reproduction ratio: 0.22x
  • Filter diameter: 72mm
  • Lens diameter: 78mm
  • Lens length: 82mm
  • Weight: 465 grams
  • Price: 599 euros (tax included)

Comments
Added by vitaly |  May 02

Thanks!

Many thanks for the review.
One question about these measurement: are the sharpness results reported for a certain distance taken from single spot or averaged over all points at that distance?
The reason I'm asking is that I've used several copies of the lens and they all had unusualy high decentering with at least one of the quarters of the image looking much worse than the other ones. This is most obvious at the long end of the zoom and can be also seen in many other tests done online.

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First replies for this comment
Added by parrysights |  May 10

Re: Thanks!

Great question, I hope you get an answer. My experience is that lenses aren't all 'perfect' they are arguably good, but some sort of 'averaging' analysis would be great, whether that is for different areas of the image or focus distance, or even different units.

The bottom line is that these analyses are good, and permit reasonable inter lens comparisons. On the basis of DxOMark's analysis for the Nikkor 24-85 VR, and a similar analysis of the Nikkor 24-120 f4 VR, there was no reason to go for the far more expensive 24-120. This was particularly the case when I was able to pick up an unopened 24-85 VR for about $900 less than the 24-120 from an individual who bought the D600 package with the free 24-85, and wanted to get some of his original purchase price back.

I'd love to see more detail on the testing procedure, but at some point you need to just move ahead and do the best with what you have and can afford. 

Reply
Added by Emilie_DxOMark |  May 14

Re: Thanks!

Hello,

Thanks for you comments.

To answer your question, sharpness is measured at a distance close to infinity (basically 40 times the focal distance).

Hope it helped.

Best regards,

The DxOMark team

Reply
Added by mangoja |  May 01

Where are the promised tests for lenses for D600?

At the end of April, you promised to have a lot of tests for lenses to be used on Nikon D600. I am especially interested with a tests for Sigma 35mm f1.4 not only on D600, but also on D7100.

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Added by Emilie_DxOMark |  May 02

Re: Where are the promised tests for lenses for D600?

Hello!

Sorry for the delay, the reviews are coming very soon!  :)

Best regards,

The DxOMark team

Reply
Added by ttfatt |  April 22

Expecting measurement

April is almost over. Have been waiting to see the measurement result for months. I wonder DxOMark will still do the measurement.

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Added by Emilie_DxOMark |  April 23

Re: Expecting measurement

Hello!

Thanks for your interest in DxOMark.

The review is coming very soon! :)

Best regards,

The DxOMark team

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Added by vitaly |  March 29

March is almost over

Still hoping to see the results.

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Added by Emilie_DxOMark |  April 04

Re: March is almost over

Hello,

Thanks for your interest in DxOMark.

We are a bit late but it should arrive in the next weeks.

Sorry for the delay.

Best regards,

The DxOMark team

Reply
Added by vitaly |  February 22

When will we see the measurements

This is a very popular lens, so it would be great to see how it compares to other standard zoom options for Nikon. Please review it.

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Added by Emilie_DxOMark |  February 25

Re: When will we see the measurements

Hi,

The results should be available in march.

Best regards,

Emilie

Reply

Further readings for the AF-S Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR Review

To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.

Lens Review  |  June 15, 2012
AF-S Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR: an affordable and versatile full-frame lens

Nikon is stepping up its efforts by expanding its FX-format lens range. Now an affordable and versatile full-frame lens has arrived in the Nikkor line: the AF-S Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR.