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Nikon D810 newby
- Thread starter StacySol
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- nikon d810
I have recently bought nikon 810 too.
First lens I bought was 50 1.8G it is nice and light and good for lots of situations. Great to walk around with. Great to show you what lens should you go for next.
Next I have bought 24-70 2.8 (non vr version), 20 1.8G and 85 1.8G. These four cover lots of my needs.
I plan to but 14-24 and 200 or 70-200 in near future.
First lens I bought was 50 1.8G it is nice and light and good for lots of situations. Great to walk around with. Great to show you what lens should you go for next.
Next I have bought 24-70 2.8 (non vr version), 20 1.8G and 85 1.8G. These four cover lots of my needs.
I plan to but 14-24 and 200 or 70-200 in near future.
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What camera and lenses have you used up to now?
What do you intend to shoot?
Are you a mountain hiker? (Do you care about size and weight?)
A mid-range zoom would be the obvious candidate. Nikon make a few, among them the 24-85/3.5-4.5 VR, 24-120/4.0 VR and 24-70/2.8.
The 24-85 is light and small. The 24-120 has more range, is bigger but has nano coating and more advanced VR. The two 24-70 is more professionally oriented and the new version has VR. Both are big and heavy.
I have both the 24-85 and the 24-120. I prefer the last one but use the other if I want a smaller and lighter package.
What do you intend to shoot?
Are you a mountain hiker? (Do you care about size and weight?)
A mid-range zoom would be the obvious candidate. Nikon make a few, among them the 24-85/3.5-4.5 VR, 24-120/4.0 VR and 24-70/2.8.
The 24-85 is light and small. The 24-120 has more range, is bigger but has nano coating and more advanced VR. The two 24-70 is more professionally oriented and the new version has VR. Both are big and heavy.
I have both the 24-85 and the 24-120. I prefer the last one but use the other if I want a smaller and lighter package.
larrywilson
Veteran Member
Stick with Nikon lenses. Too many compatibility problems with auto focus third party lenses.
Larry
That is quite a bag of worms to open. Many opinions for something subjective. It is your photography and art form. There is more than just the camera and lens.
Before diving deeper why did you pick the Nikon D810 over the D750 or even the D610.
Why not Nikon D7200
Why Full Frame and not crop sensor
Much of what you do can be accomplished very very well with mirrorless cameras from Sony, Fuji X or Micro 4/3's why a DSLR?
What can't a good point and shoot camera do that you need to spend on a DSLR
SO much depends on
Is this a hobby or are you going into business to make money at photography
What is you background which I assume is very beginner with a question like what lens do I buy and do I need to buy a Nikon brand lens
The best lens is the one you have with you.
I would determine what you are doing and why you need a $3000 camera when you can buy a less expensive camera and get a much better lens and buy it once.
Keep in mind as soon as the lens or camera can't be returned as new the value of the item pretty much drops 50% right away by the time you sell and for profit to be made on who may resell the lens vs does it make sense to pay $200 less for a used lens when it is not much more to buy the same item new.
A sales person should qualify your needs and experience and not over sell or undersell
Many times one buys a camera because they have a photographer friend with the same camera and you ask for advice and the advice is based on their bias on what is good for them. for all you know you should buy the Canon 5Diii, who knows
PHXAZCRAIG
Forum Pro
Why did you purchase that camera - specifically that model? Are you trying to get the ultimate picture quality, or just use the camera for all-around use?
The lens choices really depend on how much sharpness 9and other image quality attributes) you are trying to achieve, at the expense of convenience, speed, price and weight.
Subject matter of most importance? Landscape perhaps?
Will you be using a tripod and a lot of care (mirror-up, remote release, excellent tripod and ballhead - generally trying for excellent shot discipline) or handheld (vr may be extremely important here).
Price range/budget for lens(es)?
In general, any recent Nikon zoom with F2.8 or faster is likely to be fine on the D810. So are many primes, but mostly newer G versions.
Any macro lens should be fine in terms of IQ.
If you want zoom convenience with ultimate IQ, the Holy Trinity is at least a good starting point to compare choices. 14-24 f2.8, 24-70 f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8. I have these three lenses, but I rarely use the 14-24 or 70-200. I use the 24-70 extensively.
Why? The 14-24 is simply a bit large to fit in my usual waist bag, so for any kind of travel I put a smaller 16-35 lens in there. The 70-200 is fine, but the 80-400g is about the same size, about the same weight, about the same IQ (some will argue this, but it's close enough for me) and more flexible so I carry that instead.
Some like primes, and really you can't go wrong with ANY of the 1.8g primes, though some like bokeh better from some of the 1.4g primes.
Third party lenses, at least fairly new ones, should definitely be considered. For instance, the Sigma f1.4 ART lenses all seem better wide open than the Nikon versions, and at cheaper price points. The Sigma 150-600 Sport lens is arguably the best 'under-$2000' wildlife lens available, though the Nikon 200-500 is no slouch.
The choices you should be suspicious of are mainly zooms, and especially older wide primes (which are worse than newer zooms).
The lens choices really depend on how much sharpness 9and other image quality attributes) you are trying to achieve, at the expense of convenience, speed, price and weight.
Subject matter of most importance? Landscape perhaps?
Will you be using a tripod and a lot of care (mirror-up, remote release, excellent tripod and ballhead - generally trying for excellent shot discipline) or handheld (vr may be extremely important here).
Price range/budget for lens(es)?
In general, any recent Nikon zoom with F2.8 or faster is likely to be fine on the D810. So are many primes, but mostly newer G versions.
Any macro lens should be fine in terms of IQ.
If you want zoom convenience with ultimate IQ, the Holy Trinity is at least a good starting point to compare choices. 14-24 f2.8, 24-70 f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8. I have these three lenses, but I rarely use the 14-24 or 70-200. I use the 24-70 extensively.
Why? The 14-24 is simply a bit large to fit in my usual waist bag, so for any kind of travel I put a smaller 16-35 lens in there. The 70-200 is fine, but the 80-400g is about the same size, about the same weight, about the same IQ (some will argue this, but it's close enough for me) and more flexible so I carry that instead.
Some like primes, and really you can't go wrong with ANY of the 1.8g primes, though some like bokeh better from some of the 1.4g primes.
Third party lenses, at least fairly new ones, should definitely be considered. For instance, the Sigma f1.4 ART lenses all seem better wide open than the Nikon versions, and at cheaper price points. The Sigma 150-600 Sport lens is arguably the best 'under-$2000' wildlife lens available, though the Nikon 200-500 is no slouch.
The choices you should be suspicious of are mainly zooms, and especially older wide primes (which are worse than newer zooms).
If you are not really using the 14-24 or 70-200 why not sell these lenses should easily be able to get $1000 for each lens. Lots of $100 bills collecting dust. plus you have the 16-35?
If you don't mind manual focusing then consider the Zeiss zf.2 series, either the Classic or now Milvus. The classics are cheaper and great quality.
If you are looking for a good Nikon to start with the 50/1.2 is a wonderful lens, dreamy when wide open and sharp when stopped down.
For a wide angle auto/manual lens I would recommend the Sigma Art 24-35/f2.
Search the threads for reviews on all of the above.
If you are looking for a good Nikon to start with the 50/1.2 is a wonderful lens, dreamy when wide open and sharp when stopped down.
For a wide angle auto/manual lens I would recommend the Sigma Art 24-35/f2.
Search the threads for reviews on all of the above.
S
shadowfax123
Guest
After a disastrous experience with the D800, I reluctantly exchanged my new D500 for a D810. It's 1000x better than the 800, but not nearly as good as the D750. It's a fine camera, just too sluggish to be called "all around."
That being said, I CAN'T recommend the Nikon 24-70 (e.g. old version). It was the weak link in Nikon's trifecta. It's almost always on my wife 610. She seems to do just great with it. However, I'm a PP, so I notice all of its shortcomings. Maybe the new 24-70 II?
While limited in focal length, the Sigma 24-35 f/2 Art excels on FF cameras. It's currently my go to, walk around lens. It's comparable to having two primes (24 and 35) in one lens. Additionally, it's fast, razor sharp, built like a tank, and has a close MFD. As such, it does a great job at landscapes as well as closeups of flowers. Yes, I said closeups. Too many people question why you would need a fast, WA lens. At 35mm and wide open, this lens takes great pix of flowers — sharp with a beautiful bokeh.
I think the Nikon 24-120 f/4 also gets rave review on the D810. I wished I would have purchased it along with my D750.
Ji and gratz to your camera purchase. Its a great camera but also be warned that it has a steep learning curve to get your images sharp and also learning the best settings etc.
Prior to buying the D810 i had the D700 and the Df. And both cameras are easier to handle ( the df was easy for me but i know others think it has its drawbacks.)
My recommendations are use it best for landscape photography were the D810 really shines. Use it for sports etc with the 3D metering and try get the shutter speeds to around 1000 or so to make sure you get sharper images.
If you are able to try to always use a tripod for the best results. If handheld try to use higher shutterspeeds for the sharpness etc again.
The lenses to use is also a big choice since the D810 is a demanding camera when it comes to getting the best out of it.
The ones i used for mine that worked best was the sigma 50 art, the Zeiss 21 Distagon, the nikon 85 1,4 G, the 70-200 Vr2( probably my favorite combo with the D810), also the 58 1,4 works well imo. The 24-70 should be fine as well. About Nikon or not to Nikon, well the sigma art lens had worked well for me.
In the end i traded my D810 for a Nikon D4 and has been very pleased. But after 1 year using the D810 i started getting to know it better and better and took some great photos with it. Still the D4 suited my needs more and im very happy with it.
One other suggestion even when shooting portraits with the D810 is using the 3D metering, works great putting the focus point in the eye and then refocus and the dot will stay at the eye for best sharpness there.
Good luck!
/Martin.
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I have a D750 and the new 24-70 f2.8E. It could very well just be my bad luck with a bad copy but after half a year of ownership so far I am of the view that the lens is a let down especially on the D750 at f2.8. If you mostly shoot at f4 or f5.6 then that's fine but at f2.8 it is just an experience which, for me at least, will live in infamy. And honestly, I do not think we spend $2,000+ on a lens that can do f2.8 but only really works at f4 / f5.6.
S
shadowfax123
Guest
larrywilson
Veteran Member
Yes, best to explain a general no fact statement. The d810 in 1.2 crop mode will have approximately 24 mp, same as the d750. In the crop 1.2 mode the d810 can do 6 frames a second where the d750 is at 6.5 frames a second. Not much difference I would say.
Larry
PHXAZCRAIG
Forum Pro
I don't use them much, but I do use them. What am I going to do with another $1000 in my camera budget? I'd just buy more lenses. Might as well keep the ones I have now!
My most-used lenses are the ones I can fit in my travel bag because most of my photography these days is travel-related.
anotherMike
Forum Pro
Too broad a question:
1) Budget?
2) Subject Matter?
3) Do you intend to print, and if so, how large?
4) Are you quality minded, high quality minded, obsessive about quality minded?
There aren't really too many "bad" lenses, but there are ones that vary from "average okay" to "excellent" and in some cases, it's more of fitting a lens choice to what you shoot than anything else.
-m
1) Budget?
2) Subject Matter?
3) Do you intend to print, and if so, how large?
4) Are you quality minded, high quality minded, obsessive about quality minded?
There aren't really too many "bad" lenses, but there are ones that vary from "average okay" to "excellent" and in some cases, it's more of fitting a lens choice to what you shoot than anything else.
-m
just Tony
Senior Member
Hear are some good starting points:
This first list was made entirely on the basis of lens resolution but it does take into account corner performance, not just on-center. Note that these are peak values which means that for zoom lenses things can be rather different at the wide, middle, or narrow parts of the zoom range. For example the 16-35 rates well on this list which it certainly deserves in the range of 20-28mm.
https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/03/d800-lens-selection/
Mr. Hogan takes many additional factors into account:
www.dslrbodies.com
For wide angle through short tele lenses one of the best resources has already replied in this forum: anothermike. He has posted a great deal of information in various threads. Do a forum search on particular lenses of interest and go right away to his postings.
This first list was made entirely on the basis of lens resolution but it does take into account corner performance, not just on-center. Note that these are peak values which means that for zoom lenses things can be rather different at the wide, middle, or narrow parts of the zoom range. For example the 16-35 rates well on this list which it certainly deserves in the range of 20-28mm.
https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/03/d800-lens-selection/
Mr. Hogan takes many additional factors into account:
Thom’s Recommended Lenses for FX Users | DSLRBodies | Thom Hogan
Recommended lenses for Nikon FX cameras
For wide angle through short tele lenses one of the best resources has already replied in this forum: anothermike. He has posted a great deal of information in various threads. Do a forum search on particular lenses of interest and go right away to his postings.
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