steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

I cannot recall another lens for which I have seen such contradictory opinions here as this lens. While review sites on the internet rate it as, shall I say, only so-so, UHHers seem to either love it or hate it.

I have only owned mine for a few months and my personal jury is still out. In my defense, if you will, I believe I am muddying the waters in that I am learning to use it on a new camera as well, a D7100. So I am experimenting with this new lens while I try to master this new-to-me and very intricate focusing system while shooting moving subjects.

In addition to the 7100, I also own a full frame 700, which is why I opted for the 28-300 instead of the closest comparable lenses, which are DX format. But expected deployment of this lens on the 7100 requires a very wide zoom range. I do own the 17-55, which might lead one to suggest the obvious supplement of 55-200, but unless I am mistaken they are all DX, and I would prefer not to switch lenses as moving subjects get closer.

I know most of the review sites and have looked at them ad nauseam. I would like to hear opinions from those with FIRST HAND experience with the 28-300, and if mounted on the D7100 even better, but any first hand experience would be appreciated.

kurtinnj Loc: Rio Rancho, New Mexico

I have never used one, except to look through one at a camera store. I did meet a guy in Hawaii last year that was using one and was in love with it. He was using a Nikon D600 with it. I also have a D600.

Peter W Loc: Kent, England

I have a D600 and the 28-300 is the main lens I use. It meets most of my purposes generally, being changed to an 18-35 for a wider view or a 105 macro for a closer one. OK, the lens is not perfect but that applies to any 10+ times zoom. Using the lens distortion correction facility in software helps. As a carry round all day lens it is great!

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I have used that lens for over 3 1/2 years on the D90, D7000, D7100, D600, D800 and D800E. It is by far my favorite "grab and go" lens on any body for its range and sharpness. I find the fact that with the DX bodies utilizing only the center 2/3 of the optical glass of this lens, you are using the BEST portion of the lens at all times. There are some distortion issues at the corners with the full frames, but it is EASILY correctable in post. I have never experienced any of the reported "softness" at the long end personally and feel the lens is highly under-rated and poorly reviewed by most. In the time I have owned this lens it was the lens used in more than 50% of the images I have sold. Not because it is my BEST lens, but because I am never without it.

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

The DX crop to which you refer is something I considered when I bought the lens, having seen the reviews on corner softness.

I strongly suspect that unsatisfactory results I sometimes get are telling me I need to get more familiar with the proper uses of the various focus modes on the 7100.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

I have had problem with that lens but this about one lens that became loose inside it. Otherwise I rarely use the extreme zoom nor wide angle so...

Yes, I am ok with it.

Ok because I use prime lenses when I do anything of 'importance'.

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

Yes, I would concur.

Trabor

I have previously posted my experience with D800 and 28-300
It makes a good all purpose carry around combination
It has noticeable distortion and chromic aberration which are mostly correctable in photoshop
If one does very large prints or crops a lot (as I do for birds) the softness definitely shows up wide open at max zoom even in the center , on a body with fewer pixels this would not be as noticeable (you would see the pixels before the softness)
DXO rates the lens at 5 effective Mpix this is enough for many but not all uses
I have bit the bullet and ordered the new 80-400 which is claimed to be much sharper, but now I will have to worry about motion blur

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

The distortion and CA do not disturb me since they are correctable, as you stated. I was mostly concerned about softness, but it seems to me now I need to fine tune my focusing methods under certain conditions.

drmarty Loc: Pine City, NY

I have used the 28-300 for the last two years or so. I love the lens! I am, however, realistic and understand that one lens does not suffice for all my shooting. When I am doing landscapes or macro I much prefer prime lenses. If I am walking around (ie: one camera, one lens) the 28-300 and my D600 wins hands down!

Dave Chinn

I have had this lens about a year now without any problems. It pretty much stays on the camera 85% of the time.

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

Thank you. While I do not intend to use it 'for everything', I was striving for a lens/camera combination with which I can track moving subjects as they approach me. One that allows a reasonably tight shot at a distance with minimal cropping, but still wide enough to keep shooting as they reach me.

Now I've got to work on my technique...

Joan DC Loc: Washington DC

I bought this lens for my D800. It's pretty spectacular. I shoot almost always long -- portraits and photojournalism -- where any diminution of sharpness would be readily apparent. The photos I'm attaching were shot with the 28-300, very long somewhere between 220-300, then enlarged and severely cropped. So you're looking at about 2/3s to 1/2 of the image.

Nikon D800, lens: 28-300; SB-800; shot between 250-300mm (c) Joan Shaffer


Nikon D800, lens: 28-300; SB-800; shot between 250-300mm (c) Joan Shaffer

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

Great shots, Joan. Thanks for sharing.

amehta Loc: Boston

I am curious why you have to worry about motion blur with the 80-400mm when you did not have to with the 28-300?