Nikon AF Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D Lens

Like all camera lenses, the Nikon 28-105 is about compromises. For film shooters the 28-105 range has long been considered the "ideal range" and Nikon was almost the last of the big manufacturers to bring out a consumer zoom lens in this focal length. For the digital shooter, who is dealing with the multiplication factor of a smaller sensor, the "effective" focal length of 42-157mm (assuming 1.5x)may not work for you. It all will depend on whether you "see" better wide or tele.
Optically, Nikon has crammed a lot of performance into a small package - especially when it comes to distortion (the bane of all zoom lenses). Distortion in this lens is as well or better controlled than in some of my "professional" Nikkor zooms costing three times as much. Therefore, for general photography or stock shooting distortion will not be an issue and only the most critical of users will even notice it. Images shot on film with the lens are sharp and contrasty at all apertures, with maximum sharpness at f8. Vignetting (dark corners due to light fall off) is noticable on film wide open at 28mm but disappears either by zooming out slightly or stopping down 1/2 stop. For the digital user both sharpness and vignetting are not even an issue as you will be using only the center of the len's projected circle (where it is the sharpest and brightest).
Auto focusing is reasonably fast on both my F100 and D100 but slower than Nikon lenses with "silent wave" internal motors. Build quality is fairly typical of Nikon's consumer line but tends to be a little more robust than average. Mine has been in constant use since the lens was introduced (I bought it sight unseen when it was first announced)and is holding up fine. My only gripe is the lens hood, which is not supplied with the lens but is an added $20 or so. The hood is a huge circle of plastic that reminds me of the business end of a WWII bazooka. It does it's job but would likely get me shot at were I to use it on assignment in, say, somplace like Iraq.
Finally, I have always considered the "macro" capabilities of most zooms as nothing more than market hype and generally usless. This lens however, while not as sharp on film in the corners as a true macro lens like my Nikkor 105, is pretty darn close in the center at comparable apertures and shooting distances. For the digital shooter this is a real score since you are only using the center of the lens circle on your sensor anyway.
In summary then, owning a closet full of Nikon glass as I do, when I feel like carrying only one lens around this is invariably the one I reach for. For me, and the way I "see" and shoot, the compromises work.

I will give it an excellent rating based on the following:

Excellent build quality, very fast focusing with my D50, superb results at just about all focal lengths, 62mm filters and accessories, fairly decent close-up capability and not overly heavy or large. A very good lens for general picture taking...

I have previously owned a Nikkor 35-70/3.3-4.5 (unexciting focal length range, mediocre quality) and a Nikkor 18-35/3.5-4.5 (over-exciting focal length range, but not overly versatile).

This lens starts at a good and usable wide-angle length and goes all the way to a medium telephoto which, combined with its macro capability an pull in close enough for a face shot (Nikon claims a macro magnification of 1:2.74)
The lens's maximum aperture is nothing to write home about, but manages to produce a relatively shallow depth of field at 105mm and the image quality is really very good: sharp, good contrast and color reproduction.

All in all a very good lens and in any case exactly the lens I was looking for!

I've had this lens for a couple years at least and used it for my first "all digital" trip recently to Italy where - although I had a 70-300 and a wide angle in my kit with me, this lens pretty much rode my D200 the whole time and I got some great "general" shots and some perfect "pro" shots.

focus nit: It focuses "ok" - there are times I wished it focused faster, especially in low light where you may find more AF hunting going on (but maybe not more-so than other AF lenses (not counting the newer AF-S verions)). Usually once locked in, I can take several shots without it re-focusing. Some changes in focus groups or focus points usually fix AF-hunting aberrations for me, however.

aperature nit: Yes, it only opens to 3.5 and in a perfect world, this focal range with a 2.8 would be ideal, but I'm sure the cost would far outweigh the benefit. Throw on a flash or use your speedlight for anything inside 12 feet in a dark area and this lens rocks.

I bought this full price and think it was well worth it and when I'm travelling now and don't know what I'll find on the way, this is the lens I leave on my camera to grab for a fast shot when needed.

Whether shooting portraits or landscapes, the Nikon 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 AF scores high marks for versatility. If I were limited to a single lens to tote on a shoot, this one, no doubt, would be the choice, hands down. Even if I had to pay "full price" on this, it's a great deal.

For landscapes the choice is the 24-85mm.

The 35-70mm provides: medium range wide-angle shots to the medium range close-up portraits.

I am sp pleased with my purchase. It was all and more than I expected...Seller was very prompt and accurate,...thanks

This is a good general use walk around lens for myself. I use it with my D100 and D300. The only short coming is with the DX factor it is limited in the wide angle spectrium. The macro switch does make up for this for general close up work though.

I bought this lens as a second one so I can have a lens on my D100 all the time and not have to worry about which one I am using on the D300. That is how much I like this lens.

great service lens was as advertised would buy from again.decided to buy becuse pictures looked good and description was good.

I bought this nikon 28-105mm len 2 weeks ago,an was very pleased with how it funtions has a beauty lens (i shoot head shots for hair Mag's)it has good weight an works well with my D1x,however its a little out dated for my D2x.

This is a great lens. Clear crisp pictures as you would expect from any Nikon Lens and the Macro works great. You can get within inches of something and still focus. Great lens to carry on the camera.

The 28-105mm D Nikkor zoom lens has a very solid build quality with an excellent optical formula which allows full frame coverage with a great all-purpose, carry around zoom range. It is just as useful for digital APS sensors also. This lens is built to resist internal dust, moisture and haze due to the sealed element design typical of older Nikkor lenses. Newer Nikon sub $600.00 lenses do not used sealed air surfaces and allow dust and haze to gather on the internal optics very easily. Examples of the "unsealed" inner element lenses are the 24-120 VR, Both 24-85 G series and the 18-70 DX zoom.
The 28-105 D lens makes a beautiful full length and 3/4 portrait lens when stooped down to f4 or 5.6. The Macro mode is basically a close up feature which is not very useful for true Macro work, however if you add a 1.4x Teleconverter, the Macro mode becomes very useful.The HB-18 lens hood is a very strong, thick plastic hood which would be very hard to break.It snaps on to the front bayonnet mount with a solid click. My company has used this lens for Event Photography and we love it.