Quan Huafu king of cost performance Nikon 24-85mm ED VR evaluation

IT 168 evaluation 2012 in June, Nikon AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR, a FX-format zoom head, came with the rumor of D600 full-frame camera within 10,000 yuan, which undoubtedly set off a new round in photography? A bloody affair? .

At this stage, the licensed price of this lens in Chinese mainland is around 3,500. Because it has just been listed, according to the market rules, there is still a lot of room for price reduction. The appearance of FX zoom lens, which is relatively inexpensive, is considered by many netizens as a harbinger of the low-cost popularization of digital SLR in Quan Huafu. Some people think that the quality of such a cheap Quan Huafu lens is inevitably not flattering, and it is not worthy of a full-frame machine, which is a big mistake in Nikon's market positioning. What kind of guess is right? Before time gives us a real answer, all we can do is wait excitedly. While waiting, please follow the author's comments and get a comprehensive understanding of this shot.

Small appearance, dust-proof design, but strong sense of plastic, feel general.

Nikon AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR This lens is compatible with FX format, and this focal length can be said to be a practical hang-up lens with both wide angle and telephoto. The equivalent focal length on APS-C is 36- 127mm, which is an embarrassing focal length. So obviously, this lens is specially customized for users in Quan Huafu.

▲ Nikon AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR appearance.

This 24-85 lens has a light and compact design and weighs only about 465g. At the wide-angle end of 24mm, the lens body is only 82mm long and light, which is very suitable for hanging head.

▲ Nikon AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR with D800 installation drawing.

The aperture of Nikon AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR is 72mm. Eyes? Not too big or too small, but not too bad. Connecting the full-length fuselage D800 looks unexpectedly harmonious. But when I picked up the camera, I found that the weight of 465g was a little thin compared with that of D800. After all, in order to reduce the cost, there is still a lot of gap between the lens and the top lens in material, and the plastic feeling is still very strong. The durability and firmness of the fuselage may be lacking, but the portability has increased a lot. To some extent, this brings good news to many photographers who criticize the weight of top zoom lenses.

▲ Wide-angle/telephoto state length comparison chart

Nikon 24-85 adopts telescopic design. The advantage of this design is that it can greatly reduce the length of the lens when it shrinks, but it is relatively easy to fall into dust, so everyone needs to be careful when using it. In addition, the front design of the focus ring makes it easier to zoom in actual shooting. However, what I want to vomit is that the zoom ring of this lens is very damped and awkward to use (perhaps because of individual differences). Generally speaking, the short lens body and the large damping zoom ring make this lens have poor zoom feeling when shooting. Although this new lens is not equipped with a zoom ring lock, the large damping makes the lens barrel length not change due to its own weight when not shooting, which is considered as Theon Of Smyrna's mistake.

▲ Dust apron

It is worth noting that the back of the lens adopts a leather ring design. Many people choose SLR just to experience the fun of changing lenses. Because the lens often leaves the fuselage, the interface between the rearview mirror and the fuselage is easily stained with dust. This apron design can play a very good dustproof role.

Appearance summary: 24-85 focal length is very practical, and 72mmd caliber with UV is not too expensive. Although it has a strong sense of plastic, it should be light enough and expensive. The detail design is thoughtful, but the zoom ring is too damped. Overall, the appearance is small, light and portable, but it feels ordinary to use.

Review of previous editions

The focus of 24-85 should be said to be very common. This is not the 24th-85th of N companies. In fact, two 24-85 models have been released before it. Let's understand their respective characteristics through basic data.

Inventory of lenses with the same focal length in previous dynasties

"lens model

AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR

Af-s 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5g IF-ED

Af-s 24-85mm f/2.8-4g IF

Release time

June 20 12

February 2002

June 5438, 2000+10 month

hole

f/3.5-4.5

f/2.8-4

Lens composition

16/11(1ed 3 aspheric surface)

15/ 12( 1 ED 1 aspheric surface)

15/ 1 1(2 aspheric surfaces)

Aperture blade

7 (circle)

seven

nine

Nearest focal length

38 cm

50 cm (macro mode 2 1 cm)

Filter size

72 mm

67 mm

72 mm

Wide-angle end length

82 mm

72.5 mm

82.5 mm

weight

465 grams

4 15g

545 grams

Specific function

Four-speed anti-shake and tripod automatic detection

not have

microspur

AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR has made remarkable progress compared with its previous generation. In addition to the great optimization of materials and design, the most attractive improvement is the addition of four-speed anti-shake function and tripod automatic detection. But compared with the 24-85 generation, it is slightly inferior in aperture and macro. However, its first generation products are very old, and the structural optical structure and coating are much worse than now, and there is no anti-shake function. Moreover, the lowest price of the first generation products now exceeds 4,000, which is more cost-effective than the new generation 24-85.

Parameter summary: The N family obviously has a very mature technical foundation in the focus stage of 24-85, which makes us look forward to it even more. What kind of surprises can the new 24-85 bring us? Start the evaluation of image quality!

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The resolution data is good, but it's actually average.

When choosing a lens, I believe that most people first pay attention to the resolution of the lens. After all, resolution is the most basic attribute of image quality.

With the development of digital camera technology, the improvement of body pixels and imaging quality can't be described by leaps and bounds. On this premise, plus this lens is customized for a full-frame camera, we have reason to question whether its resolution can meet the requirements of a full-frame camera. Therefore, the author chose D800, the king of pixels in Quan Huafu SLR, to test the resolution of this lens.

In the resolution test, we used Nikon D800 equipped with AF 24-85/3.5-4.5 lens to shoot the sample of ISO 12233 resolution standard plate (line 4000), and tested it with Imatest software, and finally got the resolution values of wide-angle end and telephoto end under each aperture. The test results are as follows:

▲ wide-angle resolution

Wide-angle watches are still very good. When the aperture is fully opened, the resolution reaches about 2500 lines, and when the aperture of 2-3 gears is narrowed to F8, the optimal resolution reaches more than 4000 lines. If you want to take landscape photos with wide-angle end, it is recommended that you use the aperture around F8 to get more details.

▲ telephoto resolution

Is telephoto end more important than wide-angle end? A little meat? But the overall level is also good. It can also exceed 2500 lines under the maximum aperture. I believe that the telephoto maximum aperture portrait can not only blur the back, but also get good sharpness. After the maximum aperture is reduced by two steps, the highest resolution still appears in the aperture segment. If there is no requirement for background blur, the best details can be obtained by shooting telephoto with F 1 1

It can be seen from the test results that the resolution of Nikon 24-85, a cheap lens with a price of 3,500 yuan, is quite good, and the highest value of Imatest test exceeds 4,000. But what I want to say is that the resolution of this lens may actually be average. Because D800, the top pixel body, was used in the evaluation, D800 made full use of the performance of the lens and made a surplus. What I want to give you a little reference here is that the D800 equipped with Nikon's 50mm F 1.4G can test the value above 5000 at the highest, but 50 1.4G is not the best matching lens recommended by Nikon. It can be seen that if this lens is placed on some low-pixel bodies, its performance may be lacking.

Distortion control needs to be strengthened.

Distortion is inevitable for lenses with large zoom ratio, which is why the top zoom head always controls the zoom ratio within three times. If the distortion is too large, when we use wide-angle close-range shooting, the picture is prone to barrel distortion, which is mainly manifested in the outward projection of the center of the picture; At the telephoto end, there will be pillow-shaped distortion, which shows a central depression.

This lens uses three aspherical lenses to control the distortion (we should know that Nikon 24-70 F2.8 lens with similar focal length has only three aspherical lenses), so we are very much looking forward to its distortion control.

In the IT 168 evaluation room, we used the 24-85 Nikon D800 shooting distortion test standard, and the results are as follows:

▲ Wide-angle distortion test chart

▲ Telefocal Distortion Test Chart

After the actual test, the author was slightly disappointed. It is not difficult to see from the figure that the wide-angle distortion is quite serious. The pincushion distortion at the 85mm end of telephoto is also a bit unreasonable, and the picture distortion is very severe.

▲ wide-angle real shot

▲ telephoto real shot

In actual shooting, the distortion performance of this lens is not much different from the test results. For objects with many lines, the edge distortion is very serious and the center is barely acceptable.

Generally speaking, as a Nikon powder, I really don't want to use it? Terrible? This word is used to describe the manufacturer I have admired for a long time. But as a camera evaluation editor, I still have to make a fair evaluation: the distortion of this lens is still quite serious. It is suggested that after shooting some more rigorous subjects, or try to avoid the background with more lines, use the medium focus section with less lens distortion to shoot.

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What do you have to complain about?

Anyone who claims to be. Compatible with FX format? Lens, loss of light at four corners is definitely a must.

Under the evaluation environment of IT 168 standard, Nikon D800 fuselage is adopted, and the fuselage dark angle correction is turned off. At the wide-angle end and telephoto end, the light loss at the four corners of the lens is tested with real shots of various apertures.

▲ Contrast Diagram of Dark Angle Test

The test results show that the dark corner of this lens is still obvious. It can be seen from the test chart that the dark angle of the maximum aperture at the wide-angle end is very obvious in actual use, and it is obviously reduced when the aperture is reduced to F5.6; At the telephoto end, the lens also has light leakage, and it is also necessary to reduce the aperture to F5.6 to significantly reduce the dark angle.

In this era of pursuing individuality, many photographers can pursue some dark corners to make photos look full of literary atmosphere. And even if we don't want dark corners, we can correct the loss of light in the four corners by correcting the dark corners of the fuselage or later software. Therefore, the existence of this degree of dark corners is not a big problem in my opinion. But from a scientific point of view, from a design point of view, the loss of light at the four corners is a technical difficulty that needs to be overcome.

Wide-angle telephoto, giving consideration to macro

Although Nikon 24-85 does not have macro shooting function, it can still shoot some short stories under some special circumstances if the magnification is good.

The magnification of this lens is 0.22 times and the nearest focal length is 38cm. From the parameter point of view, it has certain macro function. So what is the specific effect? Let's take a look at the shooting test effect of the nearest focal length.

▲ Wide-angle end closest focal length shooting

It can be seen that the picture taken at the wide-angle end is difficult to catch other people's eyes because of too many details, but shooting at the telephoto end of 24mm, we can cut the whole picture to the area shown in the red box:

▲ The telephoto end is shot at the nearest focal length.

The picture taken through the telephoto end is not only concise and neat, but also the background blur effect is better under the F4.5 aperture of this focal segment. So we can also shoot some still lifes and macro sketches with Nikon 24-85. As long as you are not a professional photographer with professional macro requirements, the cost of purchasing a special macro lens can be completely reduced after owning this lens.

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Good glare resistance

In addition to the distortion and loss of light, glare is also one of the inherent characteristics of the lens, which is mainly determined by a large number of lenses in the SLR lens. Generally speaking, glare will interfere with the picture to some extent when shooting in backlight.

This lens adopts Nikon super comprehensive coating, which can provide good picture performance, but there is still a gap with the top coating, which can also be seen from the anti-glare test of the lens facing 1500w incandescent lamp.

▲ Anti-glare test

From the test, the backlight performance of this lens is still very good, and there is no obvious fog and ghost. But sometimes when shooting landscapes or small fresh portraits, the glare effect of backlight can increase the charm of photos. But it needs glare to look good, and the angle and size of the halo are too high. Deliberate shooting in the early stage is basically not feasible. In most cases, we'd better try to avoid bright light.

The purple border is well controlled.

Many shots are shot in a large light ratio environment, and there will be a dazzling purple edge phenomenon at the junction of light and dark. The ugly purple border will obviously directly affect the picture quality. What about the purple edge suppression of this shot? Let's actually feel it.

Use the 85mm end to shoot at each aperture, and then sample the red frame of the picture with 100%.

▲ Purple edge test chart

It is not difficult to find from the test results that the purple edge inhibition of 24-85 is still very good. There is no obvious purple edge in the whole picture. When the picture is enlarged to 100%, there will be a slight purple edge phenomenon at the junction of light and dark. When the aperture is reduced to F 1 1, the purple edge will be slightly improved, but it still exists. Generally speaking, this is a lens that can be used boldly in a large light ratio environment.

Jiao Wai effect

The AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR has seven circular aperture blades, which should theoretically achieve a very round and soft Jiao Wai effect. But, like most readers, I don't believe it or hate it? Theoretically? These three words, and firmly believe? Theory? Is it? Unrealistic? Synonym of. So there is the following real shot test.

▲ Jiao Wai test

Under the maximum aperture at the wide-angle end, the background can achieve a certain blur effect, but it is not obvious. After all, there is no big aperture. Jiao Wai transition is natural and mild, and there is no obvious bilinear.

At the telephoto end, although the maximum aperture is only F4.5, the longer focal length creates the effect of shallow depth of field. Can shoot a good background blur works, very suitable for portraits. Similarly, Jiao Wai is round and beautiful, and there is no obvious bilinear.

Generally speaking, the Jiao Wai of this lens is quite round, but it is really a bad injury without a large aperture. The shallow depth of field effect can only be achieved by telephoto.

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"Super four-speed lens anti-shake

The lens anti-shake function can often win a lower shutter for users, so that users can take clear photos with a slower shutter even in low light without sacrificing ISO image quality. The 24-85 is equipped with Nikon's second-generation lens anti-shake technology, which can theoretically reduce the four-speed shutter.

Using the longest focal end of 85mm, the theoretical safety shutter 1/85s, and holding 1/5s after four steps down should get a clearer picture. In this regard, the author used D800 camera to turn off and turn on VR to shoot the same scene manually, and then compared the 100% screenshot of the picture.

▲ 100% matting of ▲85mm picture.

It is not difficult to intercept the contrast image from the sample, and the four-speed anti-shake is worthy of the name. Even the limit shutter such as 1/6S can get a clearer picture when held. I suggest you make full use of the powerful anti-shake function of this lens.

Convenient automatic tripod detection

Generally speaking, lens anti-shake technology is realized by looking for jitter and then compensating in the direction of jitter. Now it is generally recognized that the anti-shake function of the known lens does not find jitter, and the lens search jitter itself will lead to slight jitter. So many times, turn on the anti-shake and shoot the camera with a tripod. It is better to hold down the anti-shake function with the shutter speed. So in general, shooting with a tripod is to turn off the VR function of the lens.

In view of the fact that many photographers forget to turn off VR when they are on the tripod (whether you forget it or not, I forget it every time anyway), Nikon added the automatic tripod detection function to this lens. Even if VR is not turned off, the lens can be automatically detected to avoid unnecessary jitter.

Let's observe the contrast effect between the sample 100% screenshot at shutter speed when the camera is put on the shelf and the VR function on/off at 85mm focal length.

▲ Automatic tripod detection test chart

From the above picture, it is difficult to find the difference between the two kinds of sharpness by naked eye observation. It can be seen that the automatic tripod detection function carried by Nikon lens is quite effective.

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"Real samples.

▲ Portrait sensitivity: ISO 100 Focus: 85mm aperture: F4.5 shutter: 1/800s.

▲ Macro sensitivity: ISO 400 focal length: 85mm aperture: F4.5 shutter:1160s

▲ Portrait sensitivity: ISO 200 focal length: 85mm aperture: F4.5 shutter: 1/200s.

▲ Portrait sensitivity: ISO 200 focal length: 52mm aperture: F4.5 shutter: 1/2000s.

▲ Portrait sensitivity: ISO 400 focal length: 24mm aperture: F3.5 shutter:1160s

▲ Macro sensitivity: ISO 400 focal length: 85mm aperture: F4.5 shutter:1160s

▲ Portrait sensitivity: ISO 200 focal length: 36mm aperture: F4.5 shutter: 1/320s.

▲ Scenery sensitivity: ISO 100 Focus: 24mm Aperture: F 1 1 Shutter:1100s.

▲ Portrait sensitivity: ISO 200 focal length: 85mm aperture: F4.5 shutter: 1/80s

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"Editor's General Comment: The King of Full-length Cost-effectiveness"

Excellent hardware configuration and mature technical foundation have created the good optical quality of 24-85. Generally speaking, this lens is above average except for a little distortion. At present, this lens has just been listed, and the licensed price in Chinese mainland is around 3,500, which means that the price of Hong Kong goods may be in the early 3000 s after a while. Except? Cost performance? I really can't think of another word to describe it.

But interestingly, the low price is an advantage of the lens, but it is controversial on this lens? 3,000 Yolanda, Hua Fu. Isn't it awkward?

Although there have been rumors that N companies will launch the Quan Huafu SLR D600 within 10,000 yuan recently, the latest full-frame machine at this stage is the D800 with more than 20,000 yuan or the more expensive D4. Even the cheap predecessor D700 costs far more than 10,000 yuan. Many people didn't care about the quality of this shot when they first saw it. They just thought it was unprofessional and too cheap to install a lens of several thousand yuan on a 10,000-yuan Quan Huafu machine, so they gave up the lens. It's really ironic.

However, it is undeniable that this kind of lens with D800, D4 and other main models will lower the performance of the fuselage. Or let's put it this way, the lens with this price and optical quality is completely tailored for D600, a cheap full-frame camera within 10,000 yuan. Speaking of which, in fact, the core elements of this lens controversy have been highlighted? Are the people who buy Quan Huafu SLR professional photographers who demand high lens quality or enthusiasts who are not short of money? If this is the case, Nikon's FX lens and even the D600 to be launched later will definitely have problems in the market positioning; If not, then we have reason to believe that this lens with D600 will be welcomed by non-professional Quan Huafu players or Quan Huafu photographers who are temporarily short of money.

Summary of advantages and disadvantages

Summary of advantages and disadvantages of camera models

superiority

1, small and portable.

2. Glare and purple edge are well controlled

3, four-speed anti-shake and automatic tripod detection are very practical.

4, the price is not expensive (and there is room for price reduction)

"shortcomings

1, the zoom ring is slightly damped.

2. The lens has obvious plastic feeling.

3. The pincushion distortion at the telephoto end is obvious.

4, there is no big aperture

5, the clarity is average

Purchase suggestion

Because Nikon 24-85mm F3.5-4.5 ED VR is an FX lens, it has no wide angle when used in half of the fuselage. Players are advised to buy full-length video as a hanging head for daily home or travel. Of course, for players who don't value wide angle, buying this lens is also a good choice.