Best 24-70 f/2.8mm for handholding on D800?

I shoot frequently with all 4 Nikon midrange zooms on the D800 and the D4.  I do street, and try to get the environment and the people to work together.

Like you, I generally shoot stopped down outdoors.   Stopping down gives more DOF, and also better resolution in the sweet spot of f5.6-8.

The 24-70 has a wider aperture and better IQ than the other zooms.  But stopped down, the difference is not really important and gets swamped by environmental conditions.

Also it is the heaviest and does not have VR.  I, and many others, find its restricted zoom range a handicap outside.

I think of the 24-70 as a professional wedding lens, ideally used indoors.   (Of course it can used for much more, but that is the lens's "personality.")

It is not my favorite walkaround lens.  For your needs, not shooting people, it is ridiculous.

For a walkaround lens, there is a tendency to favor the 24-120.   Constant aperture, good VR, good build quality, good IQ stopped down (f4 is weak around 85mm.)

There is nothing wrong, for your purposes, with the 24-85G.   Its lighter weight balances nicely on the D800 and is kind to us old people.

With any of these lenses, the D800 has a built in telextender effect that increases the zoom range by 150%, compared to other cameras.

Walking around, especially with a spouse, one is rarely going to get a tripod quality shot.   It doesn't matter what camera or lens we have.    (You might try a little Manfrotto pocket tripod, but I find I never use mine when I take it.)   You have to maximize everything, including the skill of the photographer to get MF level detail.  You can, however, get excellent images that print up very nicely.

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Frank
All photos shot in downtown Manhattan unless otherwise noted.
Thanks in advance for the kindness of your comments or critiques.