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It is generally considered to be one of the finest zoom lenses ever produced, comparing favorably with many wide-angle prime Nikkor lenses. As of 2006, Photozone.de ranks the lens in 4th place among all Nikkors both prime and zoom, and in first place among all zoom lenses by any manufacturer.
It replaces the older AF Zoom-Nikkor 20-35mm f/2.8 IF lens.