An excellent observation: I'd dearly love to retire my 24/2.8 AI Nikkor.
You'll be glad you did
The 330 degree focus throw is a two edged sword: This would be a difficult lens to use with a moving subject but superb for working from a tripod at close range.
I don't think 25mms are ever really used for 'moving subjects' ... maybe if reportage ... but it's still not too bad (if you're in the general range anyway).
Maybe if you jump from trying to photograph a bee on a flower ... to bigfoot in the distance ... you might be delayed (but even there, not so much
).
IMO, 330° of focus throw is a real benefit in 95% of any instance where you'd want to use a 25mm lens ... either for close-up (flowers) or really trying to nail the general area you want in-focus on a landscape (I often focus on the middle-ground, rather than infinity).
It certainly is a more pleasurable exercise (for me, anyway), compared to a typical landscape lens, with a paltry 90° to 130° of focus throw
Now I'll peek at the price of the f/2.8 and have a little cry.
Dave Hartman
They're really not that expensive, David.
Brand-new = $1,100.
I got mine, in mint condition, box + everything else, for $624.95 (free shipping from Japan).
In questioning the seller, I discovered mine was "a storefront example," used for showing to customers, without ever actually being sold or used outdoors.
It still had the unclaimed/unregistered warranty card, which Zeiss just honored by confirmation email this morning, as a matter of fact.
Literally, I got this "as good as new" ... with the full warranty "as if" new ... for about $500 off the new sticker price.
Hell of a deal, if you ask me
