Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S ED

Nikon’s new standard range zoom is optimized for edge-to-edge sharpness on a full frame camera such as the D3 or D700, but works superbly on DX format cameras also.
Contains two extra low disperson elements as well as aspherical lenses and Nikon’s new Nano Crystal Coating with Silent Wave Motor for high speed autofcusing. The lens can focus as close as 15 inches.

Roger’s take: It took a bit of time for this lens to grow on me – not because it isn’t great, it is great. But its predecessor, the 28-70 f.2.8 was such an excellent lens that I simply took the 24-70 for granted: a 28-70 with AF-S and a few extra mm on the wide end. But it really is better in every way, just subtly so. The autofocus is clearly quicker and I believe more accurate. Flare control and chromatic aberration are controlled better in the 24-70. The 28-70 was supremely sharp for a zoom, as is the 24-70, but I have to give props to Nikon: usually making a zoom range longer interferes with sharpness and that’s certainly not the case here. If anything the 24-70 is a bit sharper.
The bottom line is a near perfect mid range zoom. Yeah, mid range zooms are vanilla, but there’s a reason vanilla is the most popular flavor. And this is rich, French silk vanilla.