Technical Comparisons:
1) Specs:
- As barely seen, 24mm is 4 mm wider than the 28-70mm.
- 24-70mm (900 gr) is 35 grams lighter, which is not a big deal.
- 24-70mm has 2 more ED (Extra low dispertion) glass and one nano crystal coated glass which eleminates the ghosts and flares (inner reflections) much better.
- 24-70mm is 11 mm longer than the 28-70.
- 28-70mm has the aperture ring, which makes it usable with all the non cpu SLR cameras like old film cameras. Nikon removed all this apertures and made the new generation GELDED lenses.
- 24-70mm can focus 10 cm closer than 28-70mm. And it has better macro ratio (1:3,7).
2) Vignetting:
- Fastest aperture : @2.8 > Both lenses has the same values (appx. 0,5 pixels) at wide angle. but at 70mm, 24-70mm has better value.
- After f/2.8, the vignetting is not negligable for both lenses. No winner here...
- The 24-70mm f/2.8G N produces excellent results in the center, even at f/2.8. But the borders are not that good at fast (large) apertures as they are in center. As mentioned before, the field curvature is fairly visible at 24mm. If you go up to f/5.6, it is less visible. But if you are a building, flat object photographer, this lens may give you some headache with large apertures in wide angles. if the light is dim, you may go up to f/5.6 at higher iso's if you own a D90,D300s,D700 or D3 series. Field curvature is more visible in FX cameras and less in DX cameras because of the crop.
- The 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED has appx. 5-10% less sharpness (higher at telephoto end) values in center like the 24-70mm. But in the borders, the values are almost same. As a positive side, 28-70 has no field curvature problem like 24-70mm has in wide angle and large apertures.
4) Distortions:
- No winner here either. The distrotion level at widest angle is same, around 1% pincushion.
- The distrotion level at 70mm is same, around 0,2-0,3% pincushion, which is field irrelevant.
5) Chromatic Abbreviations:
- Here, we have an obvious winner, the 24-70mm, thanks to Nano Crystal coating. the purple fringing is almost around 1 pixel for the 28-700 mm at wide apertures, only the half at 24-70mm.
6) Price:
- The 24-70mm f/2.8G N has a heavy price tag as itself weighs. Around 1.700 US$, not easy to touch with bare hands. With two major flaws;
- Missing "VR" property on such a pricey and handy lens is a big loss.
- Field curvature is also a major flaw for such high tech lens. Photographers who buy such a lens mostly have FX high end cameras and look for excellent quality. In the new series Nikon engineers may handle that.. i hope..
- The 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED is discontinued and will be a classic soon. With 800-1.200 US$ second hand price, it is less hot than the 24-70mm.
7) General:
- The bokeh is quite smooth on 24-70mm.
- Both has a very fast focusing system, but the 24-70 has more silent and faster motor.
- Both built quality is perfect. Feels real, not like the plastic kit lenses.
VERDICT :
For a little more wider angle, a little more sharpness and better chromatic abbreviation results, i do not think it worth to pay double of 28-70mm. For the same price, you may buy a 28-70mm + 20mm or 24mm f/2.8D and still have 400 bucks in my pocket. If nikon corrects this field curvature problem and add a VR on the lens, then i may highly recommend the 24-70mm. But, my poits go to 28-70mm this time...
Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G N ED > 8/10 Recommended
Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED > 8,5/10 Highly Recommended
For the obsessive–compulsive personality disorder photographers: Ok, do not change the order of 14-24mm , 24-70mm and 70-200mm series. 28-70mm does not fit your range, right.. Nothing to say for you.
