Nikons 24-85mm lens. worth it? is there no aperture ring?

Question

i shoot with a d80 and i need an upgrade from my stock kit lens

soo... the 24-85... its a cheap lens, you can get it for less that half a grand

good focal range

but theres ONE thing i need to get straight

IS IT A G LENS???

i DONT want a G lens, i've heard enough complaints about it having no aperture ring

i've read that this lens has no aperture ring then i read that it does in another article!

am i looking at two different versions of the lens???

i really need a good all purpose lens and i've been looking at the 18-200 and the 24-85

the 18-200 is good becuase of its range, but the 24-85 seems great too!

which one should i get??

i need facts etc

compare!

Answer 1

There's Nothing wrong with G lenses, They just don't have an aperture ring . Some lenses, like the Nikkor 70-300mmG lens, also, come in a 70-300mm ED lens, with an aperture ring, for use on older SLR film cameras. But there's nothing wrong with a ' G ' Lens.

Yes, there are two versions of the 24-85mm Nikkor Lens, however the first one is better because it has a broader aperture range which is great for taking portraits and so one. Also, it's more expensive, and with lenses, you get what you pay for. However, the 18-200mm lens is better than all of these other lenses. It also have VR which is more convenient, and 24-85mm's isn't much of a zoom range.

The 18-200mm lens is a more useful range.  

Answer 2

The lens is a good lens and the optics worth the price. If you are taking about the NIKKOR 24-85mm f/2.8-4D IF it is not a G lens. The 18 to 200 is a G lens and is a well built versitile lens.  I would not have worried if it was  If you put a G lens on an older film camera it may not work on them. Other than that on  your D80 you will probably never know if it is a G lens or not. You will still be able to set the aperature in the camera as you normally do in M, P or A modes. You just do not have a ring on the lens to do it.Its done in camera. If you did have an aperature ring you would have to keep it set at the smallest aperature so the camera could set it and most give you an FEE error message if it is moved from there.

Answer 3

You seem to have just enough information and rumor to make you confused.

All of the new DSLR's and some of the under 5 year old 35 mm Nikon "N" series cameras can use lenses without aperture rings because the aperture is controlled from the camera.

I have the 24-85 mm f/2.8 which can be used on my "old" F4 camera as well as my newest D3 and D300 digital bodies.  It has an aperture ring.