Alex Libinson , May 28, 2009; 10:01 a.m.
I have to decide on the mid-tele zoom for NIKON D700:
AF Nikkor 28-85 mm , f:3.5- 4.5
or
AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF)
The speed of the focus is irrelevant. The most important aspects are:
resistance to flare;
distortions at the short focus (28 mm)
sharp imaging in the corners at the short focus (28 mm) and the apertures 5.6 … 22
bokeh
I ask people having worked with these lenses to help me in decision making.
Thanks in advance.
Bruce Margolis 
, May 28, 2009; 10:12 a.m.
From those two choices, I would prefer the faster aperture of the Tamron. That extra one stop + can be very helpful. Personally, my choices in this range would be the Nikkor 24-85 f/2.8-4 over the 28-85. Better range, faster lens and 1:2 macro.
Joseph Leotta 
, May 28, 2009; 10:14 a.m.
If money doesn't come into the decision, go with the Nikkor. Plain and simple Lens from other companies are good but rarely surpass nikkor lens. Don't get me wrong, some other lens are excellent, but most of the time the nikon has the edge. Of course this is in my humble opion and not the only one.
I have a nikon 24-85mm f2.8 AF-D and love it. try looking at that one. It will also work on FX and film cameras.
C. F. , May 28, 2009; 10:31 a.m.
Alex,
I belive Joseph hit right on the money regarding the extra edge!
Adam
Ryan Solti , May 28, 2009; 10:32 a.m.
I have the Tamron 28-75mm and it is an excellent lens. I have not used the Nikon 28-85 you mention but I have to imagince the constant 2.8 would be of great help. This is considered one of the best mid-range zooms (if not the best) of the third party lenses for the Nikon. It is extremely sharp, quiet and the bokeh is magnificent. Stopped down to about 4 this lens is perfectly sharp in all areas. This is a new lens that is specially coated to reduce flare, which I have not had a problem with at all. Distortion is not an issue either. I would highly recommend this lens.
Jim Momary , May 28, 2009; 10:43 a.m.
Can't compare as I own only the former (Nikon).
It's the lens I usually have on my camera for catching my grand daughter running around. It's range was better on full frame than DX sensors, but I still like it. In fact I own two, one on loan to my daughter.
It's a decent size and weight with a good feel to it and is constructed nicely. It focuses accurately for me at all FLs. It is sharp at most FLs over the whole image, but at 5.6 or larger at 28mm I can begin to see softness in the corners (on full frame, not visible on crop sensors). It's superb at flare resistance. It has a tiny bit of barrel distortion at the wide end, but not bad. And, dirt cheap too ... a plus.
All this is based on my sample and my inference, your situation may be different.
I've borrowed & used the 24-85 AFS Nikkor. If I were to buy this range today, I think I'd go with that one for the extra speed as indicated by others.
Jim
Ken Stoecklin , May 28, 2009; 11:59 a.m.
I'm on board with Ryan...have it...love it......(the Tamron that is....)
Eric Arnold , May 28, 2009; 12:46 p.m.
i'd go for the tamron too. it's only real weakness is it's a little long on DX. i'm sure the nikon is good optically, but you cant really overemphasize the value of constant 2.8 aperture.
Hans Janssen , May 28, 2009; 01:11 p.m.
I have the Tamron as standard lens on my D700, it was a temporary(but it isn't anymore) used one and I could compare it with a Nikkor 28-70 2.8 and they were nearly equal in IQ.
Michael Kohan , May 28, 2009; 01:21 p.m.
I also recommend the Nikkor 24-85mm f/2.8-4 D Macro, a very versatile, clean full frame lens. It's my main lens.
