Decided not to chuck the 24-120VR...

Hi All,

Although I have already posted these images in the landscape forum, I wanted to share them with my fellow LLD members. I was extremely unhappy with my demo copy of the 24-120VR lens until I decided to use it on my recent vacation to Niagara Falls. It was the perfect complement to the 12-24DX lens. Anyway, here are a few samples taken with a really low serial number 24-120VR lens:

Aboard the 'Maid of the Mist VII', Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
1/400s f/5.6 at 48.0mm


1/800s f/5.6 at 110.0mm
View attachment 12689

1/500s f/5.6 at 75.0mm
View attachment 12690

Comments are appreciated.

 

Ken,

I was very unhappy with this lens until I read a few posts last week about timing and VR. Apparently I was rushing my shots, not allowing the VR to compensate. All of my previous images appeared to be soft and I thought I was plagued with an infamous 'bad copy'. Thankfully these images prove otherwise, especially when you consider that I was being buffeted by wind and waves on a small ship headed towards the Canadian falls! :shock:

 

Hi Chris,

Wonderlens! I like that. Thank you for the feedback. Those tourists are taking the 'Cave of the Winds' tour on the American side of the Falls. We weren't able to take the tour, but I understand it is really awesome and you can expect to get really really wet.

Regarding the 24-120, my serial number begins with 218. It was a demo lens purchased from Cameta Camera on eBay. I think there is way too much hype out there regarding bad lenses and serial numbers. Its enough to make a person paranoid when purchasing a Nikon lens. I would hope after all of these years that Nikon's quality assurance is better than the negative reports I have read all over the web. I have never purchased a bad copy of a lens, new or used. I should have attributed my soft images to poor technique rather than a bad copy. Shame on me! This lens will definitely stay in my kit along with a 12-24DX lens. :lol:

 

Hi Bob,

I can't seem to find the exact post, but I believe it was in one of the 70-200VR threads.

 

Hi John,

No, I wasn't able to stop at B&H on the way to the Falls. Oddly enough, I stopped by Penn Camera in Laurel, Maryland the day before and found all of the equipment I had previously ordered elsewhere. Imagine my delight when I was able to purchase a TC17EII, 12-24DX lens, and a Pro Roller 1 Bag by Lowe Pro right off the shelf! I blew my vacation budget within a matter of minutes. :twisted: And I would do it again if I could! :lol:

 

:lol: Oddly enough, the camera store in Laurel was very competitve with B&H. I would be afraid to even window shop at B&H; I might leave with a D2X and a screaming credit card...ROTFL!! :lol:

 

See Chris 101 post on 24-120VR -Compensation & Hand hold

Bob,

I finally found the post regarding VR and timing. Chris 101 discussed this briefly in a post on the 24-120VR. I am quoting him below:

 

Hi Bill,

I am very glad to hear additional positive feedback about Penn Camera. They really came through in a pinch. In fact, they had everything I was looking for including that nifty little D70 lens hood. Man, that store made my poor plastic scream. Now I am at it again, selling my 180 f/2.8, 180 macro, 17-55 and 28PC to finance a 28-70 :twisted: Maybe I will have a little left over for goodies.

 

Hi Chris,

Sadly, the 28 does not meter on the D70. It is in pristine condition and has additional accessories such as a gel filter holder. To be honest, I had trouble disconnecting it from my D70. I wasn't sure if it was my technique or the lens. It is an F mount lens, but I am not sure if it is fully compatible with the D70. I could be mistaken.