I actually vacuumed my Nikon AF NIKKOR 28-70mm, I sounds frightening but it was that or toss it so i put the vacuum hose to it and amazingly it sucked 95% of the dust and debris out of the lens...

I still use a set of AF-D lenses on my D90. You can upgrade to the f/2.8 D cheap right now. =) Very nice photos you got here. =)

I own one of these, my d700 really likes it.

I have two of these lenses. I shot about 93% of my photos while working for Volvo Trucks here in the US during the 1990's with these babies.....20 rolls a day....720 frames.... always preformed well, but traveling on airplanes loosened screws and eventually it took it's toll....fantastic lens...

clean it yourself! it's a lovely sentimental piece

Interesting and so sad. I possess a D90 body and four lenses that I use religiously, a 28-70 AF 3.5-4.5D like yours, a 60 AF 2.8D Micro, a 70-210 AF 4.5-5.6D, which have proven their worth on my baby, a Nikon N8008s 35mm film camera. My fourth and newest acquisition, is the 18-70 AF 3.5-4.5 DX. My fav, the 28-70. I cannot tell you why, I'm not a professional just a shutter tripper who enjoys the 28-70 size. Thanks for sharing your experience. I hope to never suffer a requiem for my 28-70. Amen.

I have one that I have used off and on for years. my favorite lens is the 24-70 2.8 but sometimes when traveling it is so heavy. I plan on taking it on a trip to Florida. I only use Nikon lenses for the most part.

Thé sigma f2.8 is good but heavy. If you wanted to stay in the same area you could choose the 28-105 nikkor afd which is excellent and cheap.

You may have a point here. I ran to my photo cabinet and tested the 35-70mm f3.3-f4.5. Alas, no sun stars. Cross star filters reduce resolution too much for me.

Both are so beautiful lenses

BTW it's fun cleaning it, an easy job too. cheers

I've got an older Nikkor, but it's 28-105mm. There is no dust inside, or I'm not seeing it. Not sure how to locate the date of manufacture. It was on a N80 35mm body my client threw in my trash, along with some Cool Pics cameras. I just couldn't dump it.

I normally use canon fit. If you put a filter on the front of thelens it may stop rubbish getting into the lens. However you used to be able to get a bad weather hood. Its like a plastic bag that seals round the camera and lens with a rubber seal. It does not cost much. Hope it helps

I love mine. Reversed it makes an excelent macro lens.

Sigma is generally the worst among the big independent brands. There are plenty of good after market brand lenses, but Sigma is not among them. And many are not very inexpensive. Tamron lenses, on the other hand, generally never disappoint.

Why don't you use a quality UV filter as front element protector? I have this lens since 1999 - it was literally the kitlens with the F100, the other was the newer 28-105, and both my lenses are as good as clean, mint condition. I don't wipe on the front lens element, and especially with things like fingerprints, pollen, dust, grain, etc.....as with every other lens, it's way cheaper to exchange the filter, than the front lens element of lens xy from brand xyz, especially after decades. Of course, this lens never had weathersealing, it was a cheap kitlens, but scoring over its weight. I also own the 28-70/2.8 AF-S ED. The Sigma 24-70/2.8 ART haven't scored that great, is less good than the Tamron 24-70/2.8 SP, and especially less good than the Tamron 24-70/2.8 G2 for Nikon F or Canon EF Mount. Sorry 2 say, but it had a pretty bad score @the 50 MP EOS-5DS-R, and also the score at the 21 MP 5D Mark II wasn't great either way, i had high hopes before it was being tested, and PhotoZone, OpticalLimits for quite some years, is a very reliable, honest review site onto the web, i know them since the beginning, and never bought a lemon. www.opticallimits.com/canon_eos_ff/1052-sigma2470f28art?start=2 Into contrast, not everything with the ART moniker since 2012 the 35/1.4 Sigma came out, was being great. The Sigma 30/1.4 ART APS-C/DX lens isn't that great anyway, i own it for many years, shortly after it came out. For instance, the E Mount 24-70/2.8 ART is worlds better.

What Nikon body do you shoot?