The Nikon 24-70 is a true workhorse. It covers a very useful range from wide-angle to moderate telephoto all while maintaining a fast f/2.8 aperture.  And that, truthfully, is the point of a f2.8 zoom.  You want it to be fast, perform well optically and cover a good range.  That utility is what makes the Nikon 24-70mm such a popular choice for a wide range of photographers.  There's a good reason that this lens is the one that's "parked" on most photographers bodies when they grab their camera to shoot.   

You get the usual features for a lens in this price range such as weather sealing & superior flare resistance both in the optical coating and the generously sized hood.  All of this performance does come with the obvious downside of size and weight.  While not a back breaker, its certainly not light.  Our biggest pet peeve is the diameter of the hood and the amount of room swallowed by its diameter in a camera bag.  Sadly, Nikon doesn't offer an alternative f/4 lens with equal optical performance so your choices are limited to a selection of primes to maintain image quality, or compromise a bit for convenience with a lens like the Nikon 24-120 f/4 VR.

You pretty much know if you need the 24-70 f/2.8 for your photography, so just rent it already!  Plus don't forget the obvious complimentary lens, the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8.