So here is the problem, I want to replace my Nikon 18-70mm DX lens. I really like this lens, sharp throughout all focal lengths, quiet not hunting around to acquire focus. What more could you want? So why replace it? Simple, the DX lens while it will fit on to a Nikon film body, it produces a cropped images with serious vignetting that look as though they were taken through a porthole.
Since I had great success in replacing my 70-300mm VR lens with the much older manual focus 80-200mm, found here, I decided to look again at an older AF lens to solve this problem. After some research I decided to go for the Nikkor AF 28-85 f3.5-4.5. There are two versions, a 1986-90 version which has a thin plastic focus ring and the one I have, made from 1990-1999 which has a wider more rubberised focus ring.
An additional feature of this lens is that it has a dedicated macro mode, (M)
So how does this lens compare to my previous choices?
First 28mm
Nikkor 18-70mm AF-S DX 28mm f16
Nikkor 28-85mm AF 28mm f16
Nikkor 28mm AF D f16
Moving on to f8
Nikkor 18-70mm AF-S DX 28mm f8
Nikkor 28-85mm AF 28mm f8
Nikkor 28 AF D f8
Finally f4
Nikkor AF-S DX 28mm f4
Nikkor 28-85 AF 28mm f4
Nikkor 28mm AF D f4
What conclusion can I draw? There really is not much if anything to differentiate all three of the lenses I have. They are all sharp where it matters. So I am more than happy to leave my Nikkor 28mm AF D lens at home and to use the 28-85mm safe in the knowledge I’m not sacrificing any quality. My back will appreciate the lighter load too! Of course I will be losing the f2.8 of the 28mm prime but I think its worth it.
How does the 28-85mm AF compare with the 18-70mm DX lens when at 50mm?
Nikkor 18-70mm AF-S DX 50mm f16
Nikkor 28-85 AF 50mm f16
Now f8
Nikkor 18-70mm AF-S DX 50mm f8
Nikkor 28-85mm AF 50mm f8
Once again the two lenses perform almost identically. In fact through the rest of the focal lengths the story is the same.
So in the Nikkor 28-85mm AF lens I have a lens that will perform as well as both 28mm prime and 18-70mm DX lenses. Additionally I can happily use this lens on both digital and film bodies, mission accomplished🥳
arhphotographic 
If using a lens between f5.6 & f11 and print upto 12×16, Nikon has some excellent manual/AFD lenses.
As you have found from your tests, there are some great options when it comes to choice.
A lot of people want the latest version because they think it must be better: not necessarily true, from a construction (an Ai/Ais lens was built to last) or image point of view, because IMHO newer lenses can be quite clinical. Then there is the cost incentive, near mint can be got at a fraction of the cost for the equivalent ‘modern’ lens and most people could not tell the difference when looking at a print and certainly not an on screen jpeg.
I could be biased in my point of view 🙄 as I use both a Nikon F2sb/f4 and Df, but in the end it’s the image produced that counts.
Sorry for a rather long reply, your post got me thinking.
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Exactly my conclusion to. I’m soo pleased Nikon kept their lens mount for so long.
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