Is a Nikon 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6d af lens going to give me good photos on a Nikon D80?

Question

This is the only lens I have, I know theres alot better ones out there......but is this a pretty good one?

Answer 1

You can get many opinions at these sites:

Nikon Lenses and Reviews

http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=5
http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/nikkor.htm
http://www.bythom.com/nikon.htm
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/index.php?cat=1
http://www.nikonlinks.com/equipment_lenses_zoom-normal.htm
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1030
http://www.nikonians.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID6&conf=DCConfID3
http://www.nikonusa.com/fileuploads/pdfs/Nikkor%20lens%20Broch_061017.pdf

Answer 2

The 28-80mm lens is the older kit lens to many film cameras. This lens was very cheaply made, and was just put with cameras to say that it has a lens included.
Might I suggest you look into a newer Nikon 18-55mm kit lens it has a slightly better quality, and is around $150. For even cheaper, you can get the much much better 50mm 1.8 D lens. It is very fast, and very sharp, and is only $100. Very good buy.
If you have a little extra money, look into the 18-70, or the 18-135 Af-S. These are a lot better lenses, but run about $300-$450.

Answer 3

Of course it will!
Nothing wrong with the D80.

I bought the AF Nikkor 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6 lens one year ago. As many of the reviews report; its cheap look and feel is very off-putting! That is until you shoot some photo's with it.
I paid £47 for mine. Had I paid twice or three times as much for this lens, I would have been satisfied with the performance versus the cost.
Do not overlook this cheapo lens. I have three (inexpensive) Nikon DSLR camera bodies, and an N80 35mm SLR.
This lens (and two others which I have; a 50mm 1.8D & a 35-80mm 1:4-5.6) have taught me that looks count for very little. Cheap looking does not necessarily mean poor performance.
I'll be on the lookout for more forgotten heroes.
This one, performs like a champ!

Beauty is but skin deep.

Happy shooting all.

Answer 4

Sure, you can use it. It will be a little long on the wide end, though. I also vote for the 18-55 kit lens, pretty good bang for the buck. Or if you want longer zoom, the 18-135 kit lens isn't too bad. I have it on a D80 myself. It is great for outdoors, not so good inside because of distortion at the wide end. Usable, if you're not shooting architecture or weddings. You can get a 50mm 1.8 to use in low light.
BTW, the D80 is a fine camera, worthy of any lens you want to use. If you want to put a pricey lens on the front, it will serve you well.

Answer 5

This lens is going to be the 35mm equivalent of about a 40-120mm lens on an APS-C sized sensor camera like the D80.

It is a decent lens, but you're not going to get any kind of wide-angle at the low end of the zoom. It will be a normal to short-telephoto lens, not the wide to portrait length lens it is on a film camera.

Answer 6

The lens is not to bad taking into consideration its price. Though, I would suggest that you stick to it for a while. it doesn't make sens to invest thusands of Dollars on another lens using that camera.

P.S. More important than the lens is the photographer.. i've seen awarded pictures taken with point and shot cameras.

Answer 7

It will fit if it has a Nikon F-mount. It won't autofocus if it's not an AF-S or AF-I model lens.

Answer 8

It's probably great but it isn't wide enough for a one-lens kit.

I'd trade it on the 18-70 -- a much more useful focal length range.

Answer 9

Below is a link to Ken Rockwell's review of this lens. Often times even cheaper lenses, if they have less zoom, they will have less distortion and focus errors. So although this is classed as a cheaper lens, it should serve you quite well.

Answer 10

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Answer 11

That's a good question!