Moving up to FX: Best walkaround zoom?

[In the Raw]

So, I'm taking the plunge and buying an FX body, the D850. Although I mostly prefer using primes, I'll also want a general purpose walk around zoom, but am getting conflicting advice from D810 and other FX owners I know.

I don't have good endurance and hills knock the wind out of me, so nothing too heavy for an old fart like me. If I need big gear, I bring the car, lol.

 

[Tom Ames]

For light and good zoom I would chose the 24-85mm vr. It's mostly well regarded.

 

[In the Raw]

For light and good zoom I would chose the 24-85mm vr. It's mostly well regarded.

That was my choice too. But a mate had one and was not all that impressed, his walkaround of choice is the f4 24-120 with his D810.

Any non Nikkor zooms out today that are worth considering, people?

I know it's kinda odd, as I can always use the D7200 and my kit zoom for playing the street photographer. But hell, it's fun seeing what others think on FX stuff.

 

[JacquesC]

So, I'm taking the plunge and buying an FX body, the D850. Although I mostly prefer using primes, I'll also want a general purpose walk around zoom, but am getting conflicting advice from D810 and other FX owners I know.
I don't have good endurance and hills knock the wind out of me, so nothing too heavy for an old fart like me. If I need big gear, I bring the car, lol.

The 24-120 f4 is a pretty decent lens for your purpose, or perhaps the new Tamron 24-70 f2.8 VC G2.

I've been using the 24-120 on a D700, D800, and D750 and am quite happy with it.







--
Jacques
apple-and-eve.com

 

[NikonShoot3r]

I've been been using a 24 120f4 on my d750 for 3 yrs and it does the job...Hopefully Nikon releases and e version soon.

 

[In the Raw]

So, I'm taking the plunge and buying an FX body, the D850. Although I mostly prefer using primes, I'll also want a general purpose walk around zoom, but am getting conflicting advice from D810 and other FX owners I know.
I don't have good endurance and hills knock the wind out of me, so nothing too heavy for an old fart like me. If I need big gear, I bring the car, lol.

The 24-120 f4 is a pretty decent lens for your purpose, or perhaps the new Tamron 24-70 f2.8 VC G2.

I've been using the 24-120 on a D700, D800, and D750 and am quite happy with it.



--
Jacques
apple-and-eve.com

Thanks. I'll look into the Tamron to see how it stands up against Nikon offerings.

 

[ARClark]

Any non Nikkor zooms out today that are worth considering, people?

The most obvious non-Nikon would be Sigma's 24-105, which has gotten positive reviews.

I've got the Nikon 24-120 (refurb) and am pleased with it. But the 24-85 VR is said to be very good for the price.

Alan

 

[lightandaprayer]

From what I can gather I am a contrarian regarding a walkaround lens. . . I prefer a zoom as wide as 18mm with a 35mm "long end." Nikon's 18-35 variable aperture zoom is well regarded for image quality and it meets your size/weight requirements as well. I do a lot of environmental portraiture and I tend to get in close for many subjects. When I travel I usually find myself in countries with tiny spaces and crowded streets. Wide-angle serves me well for a lot of subjects. The 24mm 2.8 was my first WA love but it's simply not wide enough for me.

I use an old 35-70 2.8 zoom as my second travel lens. I bought my copy new circa 1995 and it still serves me well. I also use it with DX Nikons. It's fast, sharp and small compared to current 2.8 zooms. Built like a tank too.

In my early days I used only primes. . . But when f2.8 zooms reached a certain image quality I couldn't wait to relegate my prime lenses to "special occasions."

 

[fishy wishy]

For light and good zoom I would chose the 24-85mm vr. It's mostly well regarded.

That was my choice too. But a mate had one and was not all that impressed, his walkaround of choice is the f4 24-120 with his D810.

Any non Nikkor zooms out today that are worth considering, people?
I know it's kinda odd, as I can always use the D7200 and my kit zoom for playing the street photographer. But hell, it's fun seeing what others think on FX stuff.

The 24-85 f2.8-4 macro (1:2) is a little better optically than the VR, though it is overpriced when new. I tended to use it well stopped down for landscape.

I would also choose the Sigma 24-105 over the 24-120, even just after handling it. But it's a bit heavy.

Tamron 24-70 is also heavy but good if stopped down, i.e. you're not bothered about wide open consistency. It will be better at the edges than the 24-85 VR.

 

[In the Raw]

Some interesting replies here, especially as I am not up for long walks with heavy gear. I like the ideas of "contrarian" lightandaprayer with an 18-35. Not having a wide enough lens can be a real pain in city and indoor environments, and they are lightweight, and for shaky hands, give better image quality with or without VR (I tend to use anything solid available to rest on when shooting hand-held these days).

Another idea of course, is to simply use my super light weight DX kit zoom, as in DX mode the D850 is essentially a D500, in resolution and (hopefully) low light noise.

If I want something a lot sharper as well, I can pop my 2.8 55mm macro lens in a pocket and still weigh less than a wider range zoom. Food for thought.

Some of you may well question why I'm getting a heavy D850 and not staying with lighter DX gear. Well, because I still can and it will probably be my last, great, DSLR purchase. Also, it's one hell of a camera

 

[Tom Ames]

For light and good zoom I would chose the 24-85mm vr. It's mostly well regarded.

That was my choice too. But a mate had one and was not all that impressed, his walkaround of choice is the f4 24-120 with his D810.

Any non Nikkor zooms out today that are worth considering, people?
I know it's kinda odd, as I can always use the D7200 and my kit zoom for playing the street photographer. But hell, it's fun seeing what others think on FX stuff.

Didn't suggest the 24-120 as it is soft at the long end, and assumed all 2.8 zoom was out of the question as you did not want anything heavy.

But if I where to buy a 2.8 zoom these days, I would look at the new Tamron 24-70 G2

 

[KR Photo]

Another vote for the 24-85 VR. I love mine. It's quite a bit smaller and lighter than the 24-120, and it has performed really well for me.

 

[UGFujiKon]

So, I'm taking the plunge and buying an FX body, the D850. Although I mostly prefer using primes, I'll also want a general purpose walk around zoom, but am getting conflicting advice from D810 and other FX owners I know.
I don't have good endurance and hills knock the wind out of me, so nothing too heavy for an old fart like me. If I need big gear, I bring the car, lol.

I didn't see any noticeable differences in IQ between 24-85VR/24-120f4/Sig24-105, except the extra reach by two of them. For walk around and travel anyone of them should be fantastic, with 24-85 being the best in terms of weight, size and price.

If you are very very particular about landscapes, or portraits or macros then you need to forget about the word 'walkaround' as they are all seperate genre, you may need to go for specific lenses that too different lenses like 20mm 1.8 or 1.4 for best landscapes, 85mm or longer telephoto prime lens with f1.4 for best of the best portraits and other specialized lens for Macros(and i see that you already have a couple of macro lenses).

So, bottom line is, since you are looking for a 'walkaround' then 24-85VR without expecting super landscapes/portraits/macros. But it can do everything with acceptable IQ or even better then acceptable pictures if shoot RAW and process it to your taste and liking.

 

[In the Raw]

So, I'm taking the plunge and buying an FX body, the D850. Although I mostly prefer using primes, I'll also want a general purpose walk around zoom, but am getting conflicting advice from D810 and other FX owners I know.
I don't have good endurance and hills knock the wind out of me, so nothing too heavy for an old fart like me. If I need big gear, I bring the car, lol.

I didn't see any noticeable differences in IQ between 24-85VR/24-120f4/Sig24-105, except the extra reach by two of them. For walk around and travel anyone of them should be fantastic, with 24-85 being the best in terms of weight, size and price.

If you are very very particular about landscapes, or portraits or macros then you need to forget about the word 'walkaround' as they are all seperate genre, you may need to go for specific lenses that too different lenses like 20mm 1.8 or 1.4 for best landscapes, 85mm or longer telephoto prime lens with f1.4 for best of the best portraits and other specialized lens for Macros(and i see that you already have a couple of macro lenses).

So, bottom line is, since you are looking for a 'walkaround' then 24-85VR without expecting super landscapes/portraits/macros. But it can do everything with acceptable IQ or even better then acceptable pictures if shoot RAW and process it to your taste and liking.

Oh yeah, a walkaround lens for me means something light, not too big a range and "acceptable" quality.

For more serious photography, such as landscapes and of course macro, I only use primes.

 

[In the Raw]

Thanks everyone for your input, It's been very informative and interesting to read.

Oh and the big news is that I am now the proud owner of a D850. I got the last one in town and, I think, my State (Tasmania in Australia).

I rang my local camera store at 9:02am when they open, just to see when they were getting some in and....they had one left from the four they had that came in the previous night.

I have never driven into town that fast and I promise not to do it again, lol.

 

[Vince P]

Didn't suggest the 24-120 as it is soft at the long end, and assumed all 2.8 zoom was out of the question as you did not want anything heavy.

I think it's unfair to suggest that the 24-120 is soft there are sharper lenses out there but very few lenses these days are soft. I have the 105 1.4 70-200E 300 2.8 VRII and a couple of Sigma Art all of which are supposed to be pretty sharp. In this range I have the 24-70 E and the 24-120. It is capable of being plenty sharp enough and is very versatile and light.

Here is a 100% crop from first shots with my D850 at 120mm and wide open F4



And Here is a link where Benjamin Kanarek is shown using it for cover shoots.

 

[UGFujiKon]

Thanks everyone for your input, It's been very informative and interesting to read.

Oh and the big news is that I am now the proud owner of a D850. I got the last one in town and, I think, my State (Tasmania in Australia).
I rang my local camera store at 9:02am when they open, just to see when they were getting some in and....they had one left from the four they had that came in the previous night.
I have never driven into town that fast and I promise not to do it again, lol.

And a kind request to post some pics.

 

[In the Raw]

Thanks everyone for your input, It's been very informative and interesting to read.

Oh and the big news is that I am now the proud owner of a D850. I got the last one in town and, I think, my State (Tasmania in Australia).
I rang my local camera store at 9:02am when they open, just to see when they were getting some in and....they had one left from the four they had that came in the previous night.
I have never driven into town that fast and I promise not to do it again, lol.

And a kind request to post some pics.

Will do. I have it on layby. I'll pick it up on Monday, when some more money comes through.

 

[calson]

First choice for me would be the 24-70mm f/2.8 and second choice the Sigma 24-105mm f/4 OS lens.

I was disappointed with the 24-85mm lens on my D3 and certainly would not bother with it on the D850 anymore than the even less sharp Nikon 24-120mm lens.

Check out DXOmark.com website and review the sharpness ratings of various lenses on the D810. It will help to avoid disappoint with a less sharp lens.

 

[ARClark]

So, I'm taking the plunge and buying an FX body, the D850. Although I mostly prefer using primes, I'll also want a general purpose walk around zoom, but am getting conflicting advice from D810 and other FX owners I know.
I don't have good endurance and hills knock the wind out of me, so nothing too heavy for an old fart like me. If I need big gear, I bring the car, lol.

If you're concerned about weight, you might want a lighter camera like a D7200, which can use correspondingly smaller and lighter walkabout lenses. However, since you're set on the D850 , but still want "nothing too heavy", I would rule out the 24-70 f2.8 zooms, especially the Nikon versions. They are VERY heavy, large and bulky. The lightest option, which still has very acceptable sharpness, range and VR would be the Nikon 24-85 VR. Read Tom Hogan's review.

Alan