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Archive 2017 · Landscape and travel lens advice.

  
 
Birdchsr
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Landscape and travel lens advice.



Many years ago I bought a Nikkor 24-120 f3.5-5.6 with my F5. It grew with me through the D200, D300 and now with the D810. Last year we went to Niagara Falls and I took some pretty darn fine shots with it. This is where my problem starts. The d810 with all its pixel glory is showing me the age of my old 24-120. I'd like for it to be a bit sharper and wouldn't mind it to be a bit faster either.

Since the kids left home for lives of their own, the wife and I have been doing a lot of travelling and I've been focusing mostly on waterfalls and landscapes/seascapes. Out trip this year is all over New England for the fall colors.

Looking at Lightroom, the vast majority of my shots are at 24 or 120 and not a lot between and the 24-120 is my most used lens.

My current lens stable looks like:
Nikkor 105 f2.8 micro - Wonderfully sharp.
Nikkor 24-120 3.5-5.6
Tamron 150-600 f5-6.3 - Mainly for birds
Nikkor 52mm ai-s 2.8 manual

My budget is about $2,000

So that's the setup.

This is where the fun begins. What do I replace it with? I made the mistake of researching lenses on DxO and seeing all the figures on the various lenses that I'm thinking about and is contributing to my dilemma.

Choice #1 - Nikon 20mm 1.8g or IRIX 15mm f2.4, and a Nikon 35mm 1.8g, Nikon 50mm 1.4g

Choice #2 - Tamron 24-70 f2.8 and IRIX 15mm f2.4 or the Nikon 20mm 1.8g.

Choice #3 - Nikon 24-120 f4 VR and the Nikon 20mm 1.8g.

I like having a good walk around lens.The 24-120 has been that and for years has been sharp enough, until it met the d810.

There are simply too many ways to slice the pie for me to make up my mind. For hiking, is it better to have 2 or 3 smaller lenses or one bigger one? Generally, I slap the 24-120 on the camera and away we go.

I think I've made up my mind on the 20mm 1.8g, the more pics I see from that lens the more I like it, but now it begs the question, what to do about the rest of the range. Go all primes since I have the 105? Lens swapping walking around sounds like a hassle.

halp! ;-)



Jun 26, 2017 at 07:24 AM
jrscls
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Landscape and travel lens advice.


20 f/1.8 G and 24-120 f/4 VR should work well for you. They both take 77mm filters and compliment each other.


Jun 26, 2017 at 08:03 AM
clickmepp
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Landscape and travel lens advice.


My choices for Travel with reasonably Lighter kit:

Choice 1 : Nikon 24-70/2.8G ( Non-VR ) + Nikon 20/1.8G + 70-300 VR

Choice 2: Nikon 24-70/2.8G ( Non-VR ) +Nikon 18-35/3.5-4.5G ( Not D version ) + 70-300 VR



Jun 26, 2017 at 08:04 AM
morris
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Landscape and travel lens advice.


It sounds like the Nikon 24-120 f4 VR is the perfect fit. You did not explain why you want to add the 20mm. For waterfalls, consider adding something even wider.

That 52mm lens may be sweet yet you might enjoy a 50mm f1.4 and you can get used screwdriver ones at a very reasonable price.

Morris



Jun 26, 2017 at 08:05 AM
Chris Dees
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Landscape and travel lens advice.


The Nikon 24-120 f4 VR is my walk around lens on a D810. The lens is at it weakest at the long side (70-120) but still pretty nice
If I want to go wider I use my Nikon 18-35G, a lightweight (385gr.), relatively cheap lens with very good IQ. It's an underrated lens.
This way you have a nice 2 lens setup from 18-120 which both takes 77mm filters.
If you buy both new it's less than $2000, if you buy used it's way less.



Jun 26, 2017 at 08:26 AM
mitchel674
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Landscape and travel lens advice.


Your choice #3 would be my pick. I hiked through the Swiss Alps with my wife last summer carrying that exact combo and a D800e. Worked like a charm. I threw in a 58mm, f1.4 for extra low light giggles.


Jun 26, 2017 at 08:31 AM
Birdchsr
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Landscape and travel lens advice.


Hmm 70-300, I had not thought about that as an option... That might lend a bit more toward the 24-70.

Morris, I had thought about the 14 - 24, but putting it on the d810, it felt really heavy and it's price would kill my budget. All of the pictures I've seen with the 20mm 1.8g are beautiful, great sharpness and excellent colors. I like the 20mm.



Jun 26, 2017 at 08:34 AM
Photozack81
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Landscape and travel lens advice.


Throw in my vote for the 24-120 f/4

It's a great lens! The VR isn't too bad either.



Jun 26, 2017 at 08:37 AM
ckcarr
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Landscape and travel lens advice.


Those new version 24-120mm f/4 lenses are a steal on the used market or when buying refurbished. Usually around $500-$550. Can't beat that.


Jun 26, 2017 at 08:51 AM
2of9
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Landscape and travel lens advice.


I would go with #3. I go on a few hiking trips and I always pack light or just bring what I have. Light is best because last time I lugged around the 70-200, 24-70, and the 50mm 1.8G, it got real heavy after 30minutes! But definitely, I would bring the 24-120 and the 20 1.8G.

Sometimes, I just have the wide lens. Strictly just for traveling too. It's light, it's super wide and it pretty much challenges myself without switching out the lenses several times during the trip/day.



Jun 26, 2017 at 09:15 AM
milkod2001
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Landscape and travel lens advice.


20/1.8G is great lens. Can't go wrong with it.

24-120/f4 is OK but nothing really special. I'd rather go with Nikon 24-70G non VR (it renders much nicer) or if not in rush wait for reviews of upcoming Tamron / Sigma 24-70.



Jun 26, 2017 at 10:36 AM
Birdchsr
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Landscape and travel lens advice.


Thanks for the replies all. You've helped a bunch.

I picked up the 20mm 1.8g last night. Great lens, just playing with it around the yard. You'll see more on this one later.

I'm pricing the 24-120 f4 now and should have something coming in soon. I figure Nikon wouldn't have made that lens the kit lens on the D810 for nothing.

Your input as always is greatly appreciated.



Jun 27, 2017 at 07:10 AM
Two23
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Landscape and travel lens advice.


About the only lens I use for waterfalls is the 24mm PC-E. The shift movement works very, very well for that! For everything else, I suggest the latest 24-120mm VR and the Nikon 20mm f1.8G. I have that last lens and it is very nice, and compact/light for travel & hiking. I tend to use the 24mm PC-E as my wide lens though, making three shot ultra ultrawide panos with it.


Kent in SD



Jun 27, 2017 at 10:08 PM
nick53097
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Landscape and travel lens advice.


I had few Nikon 24-120 f/4 lenses and then I tried Sigma 24-105 Art and it was better on my D810. Since then it is my go to combo for travel/family pictures.
Friend of mine has a very sharp copy of Nikon 24-120, so I guess it depends...



Jun 29, 2017 at 12:37 PM
the solitaire
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Landscape and travel lens advice.


Birdchsr wrote:
Thanks for the replies all. You've helped a bunch.

I picked up the 20mm 1.8g last night. Great lens, just playing with it around the yard. You'll see more on this one later.

I'm pricing the 24-120 f4 now and should have something coming in soon. I figure Nikon wouldn't have made that lens the kit lens on the D810 for nothing.

Your input as always is greatly appreciated.


Congratulations on both purchases. I think you made a choice that fits well with the information you gave us.
The old 24-120 was a very versatile lens indeed, and there is no reason to assume the new zoom will not give you more of the same, but now sharper and with new technology.

A PC-E lens would be a fabulous tool for landscapes, but it costs a fair penny as well (exceeding your set budget) so it might be something to consider for the future.



Jun 29, 2017 at 03:32 PM
the solitaire
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Landscape and travel lens advice.


Birdchsr wrote:
Thanks for the replies all. You've helped a bunch.

I picked up the 20mm 1.8g last night. Great lens, just playing with it around the yard. You'll see more on this one later.

I'm pricing the 24-120 f4 now and should have something coming in soon. I figure Nikon wouldn't have made that lens the kit lens on the D810 for nothing.

Your input as always is greatly appreciated.


Congratulations on both purchases. I think you made a choice that fits well with the information you gave us.
The old 24-120 was a very versatile lens indeed, and there is no reason to assume the new zoom will not give you more of the same, but now sharper and with new technology.

A PC-E lens would be a fabulous tool for landscapes, but it costs a fair penny as well (exceeding your set budget) so it might be something to consider for the future.



Jun 29, 2017 at 03:32 PM
Birdchsr
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Landscape and travel lens advice.


A little update. I got the 24-120 f4 VR for $535 - it was from a good seller and was separated from a D750 kit. I shot with it and I think it may be a bit underrated. Its noticeably sharper than my old version. It's not not prime sharp but the clarity is significantly improved.

I broke down and bought the 50mm f1.4, man I like that lens. Yeah it put me slightly over budget, but I don't/won't regret it, it's what happens when you go to the LCS with $$$$ in your pocket.

Something I've recently learned through this experience is that clarity is not talked about as people tend to talk about sharpness. I don't think those terms are synonymous either. From what I see in the 20mm and the 50mm, they both are very sharp, but they are also very clear as in crystal clear, there is a very noticeable difference between my older lenses and these new ones when I compare similar images. It's sort of like buying drinking glasses that look clear and then when you buy real crystal you understand that glass isn't as clear as crystal. I wonder if this is a function of the nano coating.



Jun 29, 2017 at 07:45 PM





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