Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D lens is great for Video

By Vien
5 February, 2016
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Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D FX

So I was in the market for a wide zoom lens that would work with my Panasonic crop factor for shooting video and also work with my Nikon still cameras. I came up with two options: Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 and the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D lens?

I already have the Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8, which acts more like a medium to super zoom lens on a 2x crop factor on the Panasonic mirrorless camera use to make video. This lens focus ring is really touchy and when using zoom, it extend the lens out, which don’t work very well on a rig with a matte box.

The Nikon 17-35mm f2.8, Nikon doesn’t make anymore, so it’s very expensive for a brand new one. If you get lucky you can buy a use one for around $800. But this lens is built like a tank, all metal casting instead of plastic. All the zoom is internal, so it doesn’t breathe when carrying it on a sling. It also takes a 77mm lens filter and its a little on the heavy side.

The Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 looks awesome and with super low light ability with constant f1.8. The only problem with this lens is it’s a DX lens. And I vow to never to buy another DX lens or M4/3 lens again!

So of course I decided on the Nikon 17-35mm lens. Its sharper all around than the Tamron 28-75mm lens. For video it’s the perfect range I used with my Panasonic gh3/gh4 camera with an 2x crop factor. I was also told that its the only lens in its class that doesn’t distort at any range from 17-35mm. It’s a really special lens that is kind of hard to beat! Therefore you don’t have to waste time in post trying to get rid of distortions. Since it a Nikon D series lens, it comes with an outer f-stop ring. Which its nice to have for video, because everything is set to manual and it’s at your finger tips. Oh yeah, did I mention this is a FX lens.