Nikon AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6D : Specifications and Opinions

Reviews

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The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.

Renzo Tramaglino

sent on 19 Giugno 2025

Pros: Very light, excellent optical performance, smooth zoom ring.

Cons: Resin bayonet.

Opinion: Quite a few years ago, when I was still using film, after a defective Nikon 28-105 and various Sigma pro that gave me back focus, I used it in an emergency for some services and it turned out to be impeccable. I took it some time ago (vers. mkII) to have a walking lens for the D700, the 24-120 f4 is excellent but heavy and bulky, in good light situations with this you do 90% the same things. The rendering is typical of the series prior to digital, contrast a little softer, with negative film it is better this way, rendering at TA not perfect but already closed at f5.6 (at 80mm you are still at TA) is more than fine, at 8 it improves further. Compared with other "serious" lenses it shows a behavior that is not typical... the performance in the center is always more than decent but easily surpassed by the other lenses tested, the beauty here is that the quality remains very homogeneous up to the edges, where it makes up for and exceeds much more expensive lenses (example the 28-70 AFD f3.5-4.5). A homogeneous rendering on the frame is a significant advantage. The bayonet seems fragile but in reality with a little attention it has never given problems. Compared to its G series counterpart it loses on the wide angle side but for more than half of the range from 40 to 80mm the G loses a lot, it has found its place as a cap on a defective D50. To keep in mind the probable lack of constancy of production, optics to be tried considering them almost unique pieces as a yield. If you are looking for a light and cheap all-rounder it is super recommended, if you also want the top of optical performance you are better on the 35-80 AF D (which strangely does not seem to me to be on the list to be able to review it, not very bright but optically gorgeous) otherwise you have to open your wallet, hoping you will really find better.

Fabiocicognati

sent on 22 Aprile 2022

Pros: very light, sharp, excellent focal range, colors, price

Cons: nobody

Opinion: Bought for 35 € on the bay, mounted on my d610 to travel, when I'm around I never detach it unless I need a canvas or a wide angle pushed for some more studied photos. As for me sharp at all focal lengths, distorts and vignettes a little at 28mm but it corrects itself quietly in post, it really gave me some interesting travel photos even in low light conditions, if you are interested you can look at my travel gallery to get a direct idea. At this price find silly flaws, of course it has, the plastic bayonet terrifies me for example, or the fact that it is super plastic in general, but otherwise how would it be possible to find it at that price? And in any case, the optical quality remains fantastic so plastic is welcome to have it at that figure.

Alesrog

sent on 05 Settembre 2021

Pros: Lightweight and very cheap

Cons: Well it's not a blade

Opinion: I found it in kit with the f70 given to me by a relative, having an apsc (d7100) I did not find the focal lengths adequate to my needs so I sold it, I'm sorry to keep what I do not use.... From what little I tried I can say that if I had had an FF (maybe the d700) I would have kept it, at the level of sharpness it does not seem evil and given the low weight and the good focal excursion on such a car can have its say, if you then consider that you can also find it at about 50/60 euros in good condition for me it is a bargain ... Among the cons the noisy and slow autofocus typical of the D series (compared to today's) ..... In short, considering the price you know that you do not take a top lens but on machines like d700 can safely say his without spending unnecessary money for overcostous and heavy goals to take pictures in Sunday picnics .....

Alex170290

sent on 22 Gennaio 2021

Pros: good, light, good focal hike, balanced contrast

Cons: plasticose

Opinion: great for doing almost anything, except if you want to blur the background.. otherwise at f 8 is quite sharp. Even at f 5.6 it's not bad. It does slightly barrel distortion but at 28 mm for a zoom is normal. otherwise go like a train! Even for the very light holidays and you bring it very well. The only drawback is the economic construction with plastic grafting.

Anna Brun

sent on 22 Maggio 2020

Pros: Interesting focal excursion, sharpness even too honest for price, size.

Cons: At 28 mm tends a coat to vignette

Opinion: I use this lens on d810 and sanctually. It gave me natural greens and not bad, the sharpness that has for the ridiculous price at which you find it is also too much so it is a classic small lens to take with the reflex in a walk. In the long exposures he gets away with it and I can not complain even if he vignettes a little at 28 and f 3.5. In essence, in my opinion, it is a good versatile and comfortable lens with which you can do more things than you think.

Marcellino Massimo

sent on 21 Dicembre 2019

Pros: Cost, weight, focal excursion, autofocus

Cons: Nobody

Opinion: Bought on Ebay at a ridiculous cost to have a lighter optics when I go out on my bike and backpack, I rarely use it but mounted on the D750 surprised me by the quality of the images it returns. Only at 28 mm is less efficient, however acceptable. I tried to make some shots comparing it to 24-120 N and the difference you notice, I would like to see, but it's just thin. I showed the shots to a friend who delights in taking pictures like me unpretentious as a professional and it didn't seem possible. A lens that given its lightness advice for excursions.

Leo_Pistone

sent on 27 Aprile 2019

Pros: Ridiculous cost, versatility, excellent performance, lightness, AF very fast.

Cons: None, not only at this price but even if it cost much more.

Opinion: Taken on the bay for a ridiculous figure, it has an astonishing rendition. With the D80 is an excellent combination, which allows you to have fun and practice with an expense accessible to anyone. Factor this that I consider essential, in times when if you do not present with the FF by Hermanastra Megapizze and the lens signed Bulgari make you feel a bum. Excellent colors and well saturated, sharp and definite, is a lens that finds its place in every outfit, to be used whenever you do not want to have the worry of ruining more expensive lenses but not only. It deserves a lens hood, with which it improves further. The risk is to pay it more than the lens itself.

Lucio24

sent on 10 Giugno 2018

Pros: In terms of quality compared to the market value of the

Cons: For what it costs impossible to find

Opinion: Logically can not be compared to a "professional" optics but in my opinion is a lens that having it in its kit never hurts, 9 shots out of 10 are always good and sometimes you can pull out even excellent shots even in conditions of L UCE scarce works well, small and lightweight is ideal to make the exits read if especially you do in conditions where you do not want to risk ruining a much more expensive lens

Catello Manfredonia

sent on 20 Aprile 2016

Pros: Focal excursion. AF accurate and fast enough. Satisfactory sharpness.

Cons: As much as I paid him, nothing.

Opinion: Bought recently, for a few pennies, in perfect condition. I took a few shots with the Nikon D750, with results of a quality that I never expected: even in low light conditions, at 3200 ISO, it behaves very well, with excellent color yield. Keep in mind that I am in possession of a very respectable optical park, so when I say that catastrophic judgments on many economic optics are often dictated mainly by snobbery and the search for minutiae to very high enlargements of prints, that the 99.99% of amateurs will never do, it does not happen because I have no possibility of comparisons... If you find it in good condition at a low price, buy it, if only to use it as a spare target.