Old Nikon 35-70 f/2.8

greybeard · Nov 2, 2018

I have read Ken Rockwell's review of this old lens several and he really loves it so I pickup one off ebay, Roberts Camera for $150 and it came in yesterday. It was listed as (good) condition but from the looks of it, it has been babied like I treat all my gear. Glass is clean with not marks, fungus and the body looks new. All I've gotten to do with it so far is shoot the scene from my front porch at 35, 50, and 70mm at f/2.8, 4, 5.6, and f/8. All I can say is that I'm pretty impressed. Here are the shots at f/2.8 from 70, 50, and 35mm

jcdeboever · Nov 2, 2018

Yes sir. That Roberts camera sells good stuff. There prices are decent too. Everything I have bought from them has been better than listed.

greybeard · Nov 2, 2018

Shot with the 35-70 in Macro mode f/8. Very easy to use and pretty darn sharp

along buffalo creek 11-2-14 by TOM STRAIGHT, on Flickr

https://kenrockwell.com/nikon/3570.htm

JTPhotography · Nov 4, 2018

Good little lens. Nikon has done really great old glass, arguments can be made that many of them beat the newer high element count lenses. For example, the 105 f1.8 ai matches the 105 f1.4 and destroys it in sooc contrast and saturation.

shadowlands · Jan 31, 2019

I've been considering it myself one day. I sold all of my former, big fat heavy 2.8 zooms. Not a fan these days, but I could travel/hike with the 35-70.

ac12 · Jan 31, 2019

I always thought a 35-70 zoom made more sense than a 43-86.

Call_me_Tom · Feb 26, 2019

The 35-70/2.8 has always received high praise, my only grip is the push/pull (shotgun) design. I was happy when the industry moved away from it, the design is also a dust magnet.

ac12 · Feb 26, 2019

Call_me_Tom said:
The 35-70/2.8 has always received high praise, my only grip is the push/pull (shotgun) design. I was happy when the industry moved away from it, the design is also a dust magnet.

For a MANUAL lens, I prefer a push/pull zoom over a 2 ring zoom.
With a 2-ring zoom, you can only zoom or focus at one time, cuz you have to move your hand to the other ring to do the other.
With a PP zoom, I can zoom and focus at the same time. This is especially valuable when following the subject in fast moving situations like sports, or following a fast moving kid as he runs around the park.