What is the ultimate lens kit for the nikon d700? Finally bought the d700 and want some suggestions to cover it all, and lenses that just work great with the camera.
Lots of different ways to answer this question that depend heavily on what you shoot and your budget.
In the world of MF Nikon lenses, I happen to love the 28/2 AI or AI-S, 28/2.8 AI-S, 50/1.2 AI-S, and 105/2.5 AI or AI-S. The 20/3.5, 28/3.5, 35/1.4, 35/2, 85/1.4, 180/2.8 ED are also rather enjoyable.
The Zeiss ZF.2 and Milvus lenses are also great. Some Milvus lenses are updated from the older designs where others are not.
In the AF world, I always liked the 28/1.8. The 28/1.4 E is very special. The 58/1.4 is lovely as is the 105/1.4. The latest FX 70-300 is a gen. The 70-200's are all wonderful, the latest E version especially. Of course any super teles are great.
My base set is: Sigma 15-30(because I find the Nikkor 14-24 too expensive), Nikkor 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8. For light travel a Tamron 70-300 and Nikkor 35 and 50.
When I owned the D700, I was happy with
Zeiss ZF.2 21/2.8,
Zeiss ZF.2 35/2,
Zeiss ZF 100/2 Makro Planar.
The AF-D 180/2.8 was great too (see picture below), but swapped it for the AF-S 70-200/4 VR; no regret: with the 180 I couldn't have taken the 2nd picture below.
I use the same Zeiss lenses today (+ Zeiss ZF.2 135/2 Apo Sonnar) with my Z6.
I recomment taking new lenses for wide angle. Thats one of the areas in which lenses really have improved. I own the AF-S 20mm f1.8, AF-S 24mm f1.8 and AF-S 28mm f1.8 and I would definitely recomment picking the AF-S 24mm f1.8.
Both the 20mm and 24mm are sharp to the corners wide open. At least my own 28mm isnt really sharp though, stopping it down just 1/3 or 2/3 stops helps.
The 24mm also has quite little vignetting and a more "alife" rendering compared to the somewhat sterile 20mm.
The old AF 24/2.8 is a nice lens, but its neither sharp nor low on vignetting. These old wide angles are supposed to be stopped down to f/8 all the time, really.
50/1.8D (sharper than 50/1.8G)
Its a much better lens all around really. The AF-S 50/1.8G is a bore. No real weakness but very bla in output.
The only 50mm which really makes me happy is my Voigtländer Nokton though. The only 50mm I would trade it for would be a radioactive seven element Pentax Takumar 50mm f1.4 converted to Nikon F.
P.s.: I'm joking of course. The only thing that will part me from my Voigtländer Nokton is death. Of the lens (stolen, lost, broken beyond repairability) or me.
Would love to get a Nikon F converted Pentax Takumar as well though.
Sauseschritt wrote:
Its a much better lens all around really. The AF-S 50/1.8G is a bore. No real weakness but very bla in output.
Hm character / rendering may be one thing, but the 1.8G is definitely the sharper lens of the two. Just check out Nikons own MTF charts or any review really.
The 1.8D is the same optical formula as the series E. I think I‘d rather go with the oldschool more symmetrical f2 or the „long nose“ f1.8 Ai-S.
fjablo wrote:
I think I‘d rather go with the oldschool more symmetrical f2 or the „long nose“ f1.8 Ai-S.
I have both the "long nose" f/1.8 AI-S and the AI 50/1.4. I use the latter more; I prefer its rendering at the wider apertures. At intermediate apertures (f/5.6-f/11) I can't detect meaningful differences.
Both with Z6 and AI 50/1.4:
Sauseschritt wrote:
I recomment taking new lenses for wide angle. Thats one of the areas in which lenses really have improved. I own the AF-S 20mm f1.8, AF-S 24mm f1.8 and AF-S 28mm f1.8 and I would definitely recomment picking the AF-S 24mm f1.8. The old AF 24/2.8 is a nice lens, but its neither sharp nor low on vignetting. These old wide angles are supposed to be stopped down to f/8 all the time, really.
Compact, lightweight, and inexpensive, the 24/2.8D has the same optics the AI/AI-S 24/2.8 had, with which Galen Rowell, a legendary landscape and outdoors sports photographer, created many of his best-known iconic images.
You can read Nikon's development history of their 24/2.8 lenses.
For the 12MP D700, the 24/2.8D is a no-brainer. It's far less distortion than the AF-S 24-70/2.8 at 24mm, and it means to be used as a landscape/architecture lens, so it's supposed to be stopped down for greater DOF. If you're into out of focus blurs, you'll want to use longer focal lengths for the compression effects can create more out of focus blurs. Thus, this is not your ideal tool for that.
fjablo wrote:
Hm character / rendering may be one thing, but the 1.8G is definitely the sharper lens of the two. [...]
Well, the AF-S 50mm f1.8 is also not really that sharp wide open, or at least my copy isnt. Thats from looking at images, not from studying any charts.
Even if it was, I wouldnt use it. If I merely wanted sharpness, I could happily stick with zooms. My AF-S 70-200mm f4 VR for example is super sharp.
D700 pairs well with 35 f2, 85 1.4D and 180 2.8D. Good times. If that kit wasn't such a boat anchor I would still be lugging it. Nothing compares to the D700 coupled with screwdriver lenses' feel, sound and nostalgia. It was all the rage in 2008.
Any "ultimate" lens kit depends on you and what you shoot. We can post here and pretty much recommend any Nikon or 3rd party lens over the last several years. What is ultimate for me may or may not be good for you. You have to decide based on what, when and where you shoot. I have gone to shoot wildlife with a 400MM lens and a 24MMM for capturing the entire area.
A great lens is great on any camera. A poor lens is poor on any body. Even a mediocre lens can do well enough for someone who is just shooting for enjoyment and uncaring about technical perfection. I look at pix from my childhood. That old Kodak Brownie did well enough because it is the childhood memories that matter far more than technical excellence.
Ultimately 'ultimate' means what is best for you, not someone else. I started with an N60 with a cheap lens and moved up to a Quantaray 70-300 that worked well for me looking at 4x6 prints. Now I print at 13x19 using a D800 and Z7 with carefully chosen glass. A D500 helps bring critters closer. Whatever works for you may not work for me.
