bobburk3 Loc: Maryland

I have a AF-S Nikkor 24-85 lens for my D7200 which I use fairly regularly. It is ok but not the sharpest lens. I recently ran into a photographer who was using a Sigma 24-105 who said he loved it and it was very sharp. Since this is a fairly expensive lens (for me at least), any suggestions on where I can pick up a good used Sigma? Also other opinions about this lens?

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

eBay has them $418-899. Check KEH, B&H, etc. for used ones, too.

Bill_de Loc: US

The reviews on the Sigma seem pretty good. You may want to rent/borrow one first. Could be the photographer who was using the Sigma is a better photographer. Did you actually see any of their work?

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bobburk3 Loc: Maryland

No, did not see any of his work so I guess that isn't the best referral for a lens. That's why I am asking the experts here for opinions.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

PM me, I got one for sale...

stan0301 Loc: Colorado

In this era of computer designed and ground lenses it would be really unusual to have a less than extent lens - but it could happen - try photographing something like a newspaper or a billboard with your camera on a tripod, using the timed release and see if the problem is the lens - if not think about things like a dirty lens, camera shake, or stray light hitting your lens (no lens shade - the one I use cost $450)

bobburk3 Loc: Maryland

Thanks, I'll try that.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...I have a AF-S Nikkor 24-85 lens for my D7200 which I use fairly regularly. It is ok but not the sharpest lens..."
bobburk3 I have and shoot this lens... it's superb (provided you use it as designed a.k.a. on FX (full frame). It does not realize it's potential on an APS-C body... Experience is a brutal teacher...
Below is a beauty editorial with the AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G VR ED on a Full Frame Nikon D3x

Since you use this focal length regularly may I ask what genre you work in. Why? So I can make a relevant recommendation otherwise I'm guessing.

What do I use on my D7200 in the same range as your AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G VR ED?
The Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Lens for Nikon F which is vastly superior...
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/802366867-USE/sigma_583306_17_50mm_f_2_8_ex_dc.html

This lens is so good that B&H is selling a used copy (condition 9+) for over a $150 more than the price which I purchased it new. Life's a challenge... Sigma isn't making this lens any more. Really a bummer... Below is an image I shot with the Sigma AF 17-50mm f/2.8 of an epic AF 24-120 f/3.5-5.6D on a Nikon D700. Another fabulous FX vintage lens. But not for your APS-C D7200, it's fine on FX though...

Check out the acuity on the image shot by a D7200 with the Sigma AF 17-50mm f/2/8 OS HMS APS-C optic. Nikon doesn't make any DX lens that even comes close... albeit their AF-S 40mm f/2.8 DX Nikkor is rather good but no VR... and it's a cheap plastic build.

Also best to avoid the AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G Nikkor, it's a beast... It's old school and the Sigma offering in this range is lighter and has far better acuity. Albeit there are a lot of die-hards that purchased this when Nikon first went digital... guess it's feelings of nostalgia that comes into play here.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/300490-USA/Nikon_2147_17_55mm_f_2_8G_ED_IF_AF_S.htm

Hope this helps bobburk3...
All the best with your Nikon D7200 it's an epic tool!
.

AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G VR ED on a Nikon D3x (Full Frame)

(Download)

Shot with the Sigma AF 17-50mm f/2.8 on a Nikon D7200 of the epic AF 24-120 f/3.5-5.6D on a Nikon D700.

(Download)

flyboy61 Loc: The Great American Desert

Well, Thomas, I may have stepped in it again! I had the Nikon 24-85 3.5-4.5, non-vr version which I used on my D 7100. I noticed it was not really sharp during a shoot at my Granddaughter's wedding.
At 82, I figured the lack of VR was the culprit...although I was using a shutter speed above the minimum for the lens. I have bought a Nikon 24-120 f/4 with VR, hoping it will give a bit more steadiness to the endeavour.
I should have it next week, and we will see.
The Sigma seems like a fantastic lens, and reports of much better build quality than earlier may make it a goood choice, if the Nikon doesn't work out.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...I had the Nikon 24-85 3.5-4.5..." "...noticed it was not really sharp during a shoot at my Granddaughter's wedding" flyboy61 was this an indoor event? If so shooting ambient is a bear... especially without VR...

What SS were you using? Hopefully above 1/250 if there were people moving within the frame. Remember even at twice the focal length (i.e. angle of view of a 170mm lens) typically isn't enough to assure a high degree of acuity (unless you're using flash).

Here are the two lens compared by DxOmark.
The AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G VR ED is considerably more uniform in performance... a.k.a. highly predictable results. While the Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED scores much better from 24 to 60mm then it falls apart... and is unacceptable at 85mm out to 124mm... It's a well known bad actor... See the sharpness curves and decide for yourself... I certain went with the 24-85... it's a 3.5X zoom while the 24-120 is a 5x zoom...
My very best Nikkor is a 2X zoom... the wider the zoom range typically the worse the optical performance...

https://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Nikkor/Nikon-AF-S-NIKKOR-24-85mm-F35-45G-ED-VR-mounted-on-Nikon-D3X---Measurements__485

https://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Nikkor/AF-S-NIKKOR-24-120mm-f-4G-ED-VR-mounted-on-Nikon-D810---Measurements__963

Might go with a APS-C optic flyboy61 for your D7100...
FX glass will likely never reach it's potential on a corp sensor.

Hope this helps...
All the best on your journey...

uhaas2009

I used the Nikon 17-55 2.8 on my 7000. This lens is more heavy but it works like a beast. My focus engine on the 7000 slowly broke down and wasn’t the strongest ether. When other lenses failed this lens was still getting sharp focus....

leftj Loc: Texas

All the usual places. KEH, mpb, Used Photo Pro (Roberts Camera), Amazon, BHPhoto and many more.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I recently purchased the Sigma 24-105 f4 art lens in Sony A-mount for the A99 from KEH. It IS a very GOOD lens. It is also big and heavy - very well made. One of the few good zooms in A-mount.
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Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...I used the Nikon 17-55 2.8 on my 7000..." Sorry to hear the the focus motor on your D7000 died uhaas2009... I shot that body for quite a while, it's image quality was remarkably better than my D300 at higher ISO's albeit it's built quality was substandard... The D7000 isn't even close to the build quality of the D300 which is actually at a true professional level... it has a 10 pin remote connector like all of Nikon's other "Pro" bodies... the prosumer D7000 like the D7100 and D7200 don't have this, only the "Pro" grade Nikon D500 does.

The follow Nikon Professional Cameras have a 10 pin connector and can use the MC-37 Connecting Cord: D2X, D2Hs, D2Xs, D3 series, D4 series, D5, D6. D200, D300 series, D500, D700, D800 series, D810 series, D850. All other Nikon bodies are "Prosumer" at best... sorry folks the D750 isn't a Pro Build camera... nor is the D780 for than matter... Yes the marketing hype would like you to think otherwise...

Best Advice uhaas2009? upgrade to a D7200 which is vastly superior in IQ to your 17 mega pixel D7000. mpb has lots of them at very competitive prices... And mpb is the ONLY vendor who lists shutter activation on each body... Kudos to mpb!

As for your AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G Nikkor yes since it has a built-in motor it could care less about your boken screwdriver motor... Yes it is sharp in the center, albeit when was the last time you looked at the edges? The lens is the only "Pro" build DX Nikkor ever released by Nikon. Why? Because when Nikon final went digital it entered this market with only DX (crop sensor) bodies Think the D2x (Nikon's flagship DSLR of 2005).

However the AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G Nikkor simply isn't sharp, not even close on a D7000
Here are DxOmark sharpness scores on that beast.

https://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Nikon/AF-S-DX-Zoom-Nikkor-17-55mm-f-2.8G-IF-ED-mounted-on-Nikon-D7000__680

https://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Nikkor/AF-S-DX-Zoom-Nikkor-17-55mm-f-2.8G-IF-ED-mounted-on-Nikon-D7000---Measurements__680

As you can see it's terrible on a D7000
https://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Nikkor/AF-S-DX-Zoom-Nikkor-17-55mm-f-2.8G-IF-ED-mounted-on-Nikon-D7000---Measurements__680

At f/2.8 it's absolute garbage at the 55mm long end...
https://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Nikkor/AF-S-DX-Zoom-Nikkor-17-55mm-f-2.8G-IF-ED-mounted-on-Nikon-D7000---Measurements__680

And don't shoot me, I'm only the messenger here uhaas2009

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I own and use on a regular basis a Nikon 24-85 AF-S, VR lens. We all know there could be small variations among lenses of the same focal distance, something common to optics. In my humble opinion this lens is a very good performer like so many other modern lenses.
I believe that the OP should pay attention to his shooting technique. It is very possible that the lens does not seem sharp enough because of poor shooting techniques. There is always the possibility that a lens could come defective but in my experience this is not common.

Set camera and lens on a tripod, set VR off and shoot the same subject at different focal lengths and apertures under unchanged lighting conditions. Take notes. Most probably some of the best images will come at apertures like f8 or f11. If in the computer you enlarge those images to 50% of the original size that means you will have a pretty large size if you enlarge it. Look for details and if you are a perfectionist look at the corners. For portraits, if you select that subject, corners are not that important as they are for landscape photography.

In my humble opinion the 24-85 has been an excellent performer...if I did my part.