I considered this one great when it was released, but others have narrowed the gap quite a bit since then. It is sharp, the autofocus is quick, and flare control and chromatic aberration are well controlled. It’s a bread-and-butter lens that no one is ever unhappy with. However, it’s pricey for what you get and the Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 VC offers image quality that’s close at a much better price and with vibration control to boot.

Not so much for those renting, but for those purchasing, one thing really irritates me: the zoom ring. The inner and outer barrels seem to catch on each other and the zoom mechanism becomes rough in older copies. It’s a little thing, but in a lens of this price its a little thing that bothers me. For those considering purchase, Tamron service and warranty is far superior to Nikon’s.
May, 2013