Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED Zoom Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras

First, let me say I've been researching and even testing wide angle lenses for the FX (full frame) format. My stipulations hunting for a new wide angle were: it had to accept filters, it had to have acceptable to excellent optics, and it had to be affordable (had to be under 1K). I am a serious amateur and certainly want decent glass but can't justify $2K. Two pluses would be that it was constant aperture (f/4 or f/2.8) and great build quality.I have looked at the Tokina 16-28 and haven't tried it, as it accepts no filters. Most of Nikons are too expensive as they are well over $1K. I like Tokina as I have the excellent f/2.8 11-16mm ATX lens for DX, and have taken some nice pictures with it. I have used it on my Nikon D90 and tried it on my D700. I can use it at 16mm as a prime, but it isn't that useful and the corners degrade somewhat. I was looking for the equivalent in FX format. I purchased and tried the Tokina f/4 17-35mm. I had high hopes because the reviews were decent. The lens, at least my copy was not. It was horribly mushy at the corners, and just didn't seem like it could get sharp even stopped down. Back to Amazon it went.Eureka! after performing more Google and Amazon research, I found this recently released (in March 2013) wide angle "cheap" ($750-ish) lens by Nikon. The AF-S 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED Nikkor lens. With beautiful reviews. Can it be? Can this lens actually meet my needs and be as good as some folks say? I had to find out for myself and order this lens from Amazon!After only having this lens for a day, and taking a few snapshots around the house, I can say this lens in optical quality IMO way surpasses the Tokina f/4 17-35mm I have tried. It is very sharp, with not much distortion, no vignetting, no glare (even shooting in the sunlight) or CA that I could tell so far. It is made of plastic and is pretty light, so Tokina build quality easily surpasses it on "looks and feel"... Although the Nikon focus and zoom rings are nice and smooth and well damped. Most of the lenses today are plastic unless you buy a $$$ professional or older lens type. between 18mm and 20mm the aperture is f/3.5 - 3.8, which is low-light enough for those interior and dark pictures. At f/8 and above this lens is perfect for those landscape pictures. And it takes 77mm filters, which is a very common size especially for the "pro series" of lenses and my old Tokina 11-16mm.What is there not to like?? Maybe build quality if you get hung up on plastic (although the plastic isn't "cheap" feeling like some thord-party lenses) or constant f/2.8 aperture (which I don't believe you need in a WA lens). This lens starts at 3.5 at the wide end, so if you primarily shoot around there you aren't missing too much and can still shoot inside and in the dark with a little bump in the ISO.I would highly recommend this lens to anyone looking for a Wide Angle lens on FX and being able to use filters. I think it is a great value with excellent image quality. At 18mm-35mm, this lens is functionality equivalent to a DX 12-24mm WA lens. Like another reviewer here said, "Run, Do Not Walk, to buy this lens"!In the comments section I posted a link to a set of pics that were shot with this lens. I will add to these as time and travel allow. Please ignore the composition or horrible subject matters ;-) . A number of these will be test shots.

There are already so many good reviews for this lens it's hard to add anything that has not been said already. On my D600 this lens is sharp, corner to corner with no noticeable vignetting, even wide open. (In a laboratory maybe, but not in the real world...) This is great because it means you can crop aggressively and not worry too much about IQ. And that means fewer lens changes.There have been some complaints about the lens is light, but since I travel with it, I see this as a plus. Despite being light, it does not give the impression of being cheap. It feels well-constructed and nicely balanced on the D600. Some reviewers have given this lens 4 stars for being 'plastic'. In this price category, it does not seem sensible to my mind to mark a lens down for having a polycarbonate barrel. If Nikon offered this lens in metal with a higher weight and a higher price, I bet it wouldn't sell. What I want is IQ and this lens delivers way above expectations. The step-up in barrel diameter is strangely comfortable to grip - almost makes me wish my other lenses were shaped this way too.What confused me a bit at first, is that unlike the similar-sized 24-85mm I have, the zoom ring is closest to the camera and the focus ring is way out in front. I got comfortable quickly, but changing back and forth between lenses may take a bit of getting used to.The front lens element does protrude a bit, so get a filter to leave on the lens for protection. A negative for me is the 77mm filter size. It seems the days when a 62mm filter fitted most of your lenses is long gone. I got the Hoya HMC UV slim frame and it does not vignette at all as far as I can see. Some have commented that the lens is not fast, but remember fast = shallow depth of field. Since I mostly use this for landscapes, f3.5 is way fast enough and I actually like the fact that I do not have to remember to keep switching the VR on and off as I move from tripod to handheld and back.Shot into the bright tropical sun, with the sun in frame, I can see no ghosting or flaring. Not at f3.5, nor at f14. The ED coatings must therefore work as advertised, though I suspect a low winter sun might cause minor flaring. However, I have seen some wide angles that seem to flare no matter where the sun is, so I think this is really well-controlled.If like me, you already have the 'kit' 24-85mm and are worried that getting this as well will be over-kill, don't. At the wide end 6mm makes more difference than would think. I photographed a country lane at 24mm and 18mm to compare and the 18mm shot draws the eye in much further - giving a far better impression of a receding tunnel of greenery.I am delighted with the lens. It cannot compete with the 14-24mm for IQ. But compare apples to apples and tell me if you can beat the IQ for the price. If you plan to travel and don't want to drag along a collection of primes, this light-weight is a great companion to the 24-85mm and 70-300mm.

Nice lens. It feels a little cheaply built, you feel the plastic and the movements can feel sticky. But for the price it delivers more than you can ask for. I've found it most useful for urban photography, but have used it for waterfalls and some nature in Iceland and Switzerland. It is light, which is nice and of course a tradeoff of having more plastic and less glass. If you need a wide angle nikon lens on a budget this is a fabulous choice.