quiet, fast focusing mid-range zoom

[livin4lax09]

What's the equivalent of Canon's USM for Nikons? And is there any third party lens available with a silent AF motor? Nikon's 24-70/28-70 is a bit expensive, eh!

[Kajuah]

What's nikon's 24-70 worth? I know off hand the 24-70 L 2.8 from canon is about 1100-1300 $ now because that's the lens i was thinking of buying. The sigma is slightly less, but generally its pretty high up there. These are canadian prices, which in my experience of being flamed online seem to be significantly higher than american prices (god knows why, our dollar is worth more you yanks!)

[deckcadet]

USM is equivalent to Nikon AF-S, and Sigma HSM. What's available will depend on what body you're going to be shooting.

Thanks to being a new design, the current exchange rates, and generally being the top of the line, the Nikon 24-70 is pretty expensive. Of course it is the best midrange zoom on the planet right now. The 28-70 can be had used for much much less, but if you're going to be shooting on the DX format mainly there are some other solutions.

[Franglais]

The Nikon 24-70 f2.8 and 14-24 f2.8 are starte-of-the art. On the D3 they give maximum resolution right from full aperture. Which makes me think that they were designed for a sensor with many more MPix.

I have the all the Nikon f2.8 zooms from the 2000 generation, including the 28-70 (it's all metal and feels like it's going to last forever). Chasseurs d'Images tested these lenses with the D300 last month - and they said that the 80-200 was reaching the limits of its resolving power with the D300's very demanding sensor (small pixels).

I think that we are about to have a range of high Mpix (24Mpix+) FF cameras that will go beyond the resolving power of most current lenses. If you want to make full use of such a camera then you have to match it with the greatest and latest high-tech lenses. I wouldn't buy the 28-70 or a third-party lens today. I would hold out for the (very expensive) Nikons, knowing that they would still be useful if one day I decided to go for something with a completely silly number of MPix (6Mpix is actually enough for me).

[Kajuah]

I found out that the 24-70 AFS 2.8 lens for nikon is 1900 $ :O!
Though, it does include a coating to reduce ghosting and flaring.. but it's up to you to decide if thats worth the money

http://www.mcbaincamera.com/productd...ain_id=0241604

Still composed of UD and aspherical lenses, just like the L series
Here's a sample quote from mcbain cameras (New and Used/personally i wouldnt go with them but they do offer some of the cheaper ends of lenses).

[AgingEyes]

These are canadian prices, which in my experience of being flamed online seem to be significantly higher than american prices (god knows why, our dollar is worth more you yanks!)

Higher may be but not significantly anymore. If you're talking about shopping on-line, B&H lists 24-70 USD1,699.95, Vistek.ca CAN$1,799.95, Lens & Shutter, a brick and mortar store in Vancouve, is selling it at CAN$1,799.99.

From reading on-line forums, it seems to me in the US, a lot of folks have problem getting some of the lenses (70-200 f2.8 VR, 300f2.8, 200f2, 200-400 f4). I think they should consider shopping in Canada.