Arguably the most versatile zoom, and lens, in the “consumer” Series-E by Nikon, the 70-210 f/4 also weighs in as the biggest and heaviest. At 25 ounces/730 grams, it’s over twice as heavy as the NEX-7. With that weight comes a useful 3x zoom, a fast f/4 constant aperture, and even a macro mode at 70mm (focusing down to 2 feet/.56 meters). With those features it becomes harder to complain about the front-heavy balancing, but it’s still there.
So far, I’m generally pleased with the optical performance. I haven’t had a chance yet to do any critical testing (or, photography in general) yet, but in real-world use, the f/4 aperture provides adequate depth-of-field control, and images appear pretty sharp straight from the start. With some chart shots, we’ll see just how much pixel-level detail gets resolved.
Until then, I took it out for a photowalk recently around town. I’ll finish up these quick impressions with 9 samples. 🙂
Parkour
70mm, ISO 100, f/4, 1/1600
Empty Row
70mm, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/200
Old Statue
210mm, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/160
Creamy Purple
70mm, ISO 100, f/4, 1/200
EXTREMELY pleased with the bokeh smoothness here
Odd Symmetry
70mm, ISO 100, f/4, 1/160
Stairway to…
100mm, ISO 100, f/8, 1/200
Steps of Water
70mm, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/100
The Look
210mm, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/80 (handheld!)
Double Dorics
210mm, ISO 100, f/8, 1/1000
I can spot a bit of pincushion distortion here
In case it wasn’t obvious, my style of shooting primes still holds true even with this 3x zoom. Rarely in my shooting have I shot this lens at anywhere other than 70 or 210mm. Only one shot (Stairway to…) was at 100mm. What can I say, I’ll always be a primes guy. 🙂
That’s all for these impressions guys and gals, thanks for dropping by. I hope to work on the review for this final Series-E soon. The key, is finding the time. As always, have a great day!
Matthew Durr Photography 
nice shot of the photo “parkour”… that’s what is perfect timing is about.. 🙂
Exactly. 🙂 Thank you Angela.
Nice shots.
Just a curious question. Im thinking of getting an older zoom lens(75-210) for my NEX too,
im always afraid if it can take the weight at full zoom, if mounted on a tripod and if it well cause any long term damage? Any thoughts on that ?
thanks
Hey there Joe, glad you liked the shots. 🙂
Per your question, let me put it this way: I’ve more than a few times accidentally swung around a 300mm f/2.8 AI-s ED with a monopod attached from my NEX-7. The only thing that has become damaged is the mounting adapter itself. So far I haven’t seen any decentering, or my e-mount beginning to pop out. 🙂 These NEXes (especially the NEX-7 with its magnesium-allow body) are built tough, I’m more than positive it can take the weight of your 75-210.
What you want to try to do, however, to minimize stress on the mount just to be on the safe side, is to make sure your adapter has a tripod mount of its own. This way, there is literally no stress on the mount at all, it’s all on the adapter. If in the unlikely event the lens breaks free from the mount, your camera will still be safe and soundly attached to your tripod.
Hope that helps, Joe.
Thanks much Matt! 🙂
Hello,
Like you I have been educated about quality that prime lenses produce. Then I tried Minolta MD 35-105 f3.5-4.5 Macro Zoom and was blown away.
I read this review and several others and I’m hoping I get similar results if I do get this lens. Currently I’m eyeing a few.
Thanks for the review.
Kind Regards,
Tom
I’ve heard some great things about that Minolta. One of those few gems from the legacy film days. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the 70-210 f/4. Only two reasons I sold it were 1) I’m a prime guy and 2) I have a prime lens that covers the gamut of that focal range that is at least one stop faster. I especially loved the bokeh at f/4-5.6 at macro (70mm).