D800 walk around lens?

[ndevlin]

I, too, found the 24-120 to be obviously weaker than just about all of the other Nikon lenses I have.  That makes the 'sharpist' in me reject it. However, it is the perfect 'walk-around' lens. And it is no worse than the Canon 24-105. Will you miss that 20% of quality more than the missed picture? That's what we all struggle with.

Personally, I'd like a tack-sharp 35-105mm f3.5 VR. If they can make the 16-35 and 14-24 as good as they are, this has to be possible...

- N. 

[Ellis Vener]

I've shot with both lenses but not simultaneously and i am leery of making comparisons of the type you ask of two lenses used in completely different circumstances including different bodies.   I'm also not a bokeh fiend -for me what is in focus and crisply rendered is more important than what is out of focus unless the OOF areas distract you from where I want your attention to go.

Without looking at the EXIF I am pretty sure that the portrait of the gentleman against a green metal door on the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem in my portraits/people gallery of my website (http://www.ellisvener.com)  was shot with the 85mm f/1.4G on a D3s or D3X.

[Colorado David]

I really want to like the Nikon 24-120 lens.  I keep hoping someone will review it favorably.  It would be the perfect lens to stay on the camera for a lot of situations.  If it weren't for this fear and trepidation.  I have a copy of its less than stellar predecessor which mostly lives on the shelf.

[Ellis Vener]

The 24-120mm f/4G is far better than I expected it to be based on the earlier versions of this lens.

[Colorado David]

The 24-120mm f/4G is far better than I expected it to be based on the earlier versions of this lens.

Ellis, do you own one or have you just used one?

[Ellis Vener]

I've been using one on a D4, D800, and D800E since early April; "Otis" (I'm  trying ro stop calling cameras and lenses by techno jargon nomenclature) is on loan for review from Nikon. Same with the 85 Nikkors.

[Colorado David]

So are you saying you've named this lens after the drunk on the Andy Griffith Show?

[marcmccalmont]

So are you saying you've named this lens after the drunk on the Andy Griffith Show?

I've already knicknamed my 800E "Niki"
Marc

[Ellis Vener]

So are you saying you've named this lens after the drunk on the Andy Griffith Show?

Not that Otis, but after my neighbors 5 month old Chocolate  Labrador Retriever.

[marcmccalmont]

I, too, found the 24-120 to be obviously weaker than just about all of the other Nikon lenses I have.  That makes the 'sharpist' in me reject it. However, it is the perfect 'walk-around' lens. And it is no worse than the Canon 24-105. Will you miss that 20% of quality more than the missed picture? That's what we all struggle with.

Personally, I'd like a tack-sharp 35-105mm f3.5 VR. If they can make the 16-35 and 14-24 as good as they are, this has to be possible...

- N. 

Nope if the 800E ends up a 18 mpx walk around camera in my hand and with my Leica R's on a tripod a 36 mpx mini MFDB I'll be happy!
I think from reading reviews the 24-120 suffers from distortion and CA more than lack of resolution, I'm hoping DxO should correct most of that?
Marc

[Ellis Vener]

I've already knicknamed my 800E "Niki"
Marc

I'm thinking of naming the D800E "Sidd" short for "Siddhartha" for the clarity with which it sees the world.

[dturina]

Why even attempt to use D800 as a walkaround camera when it's not realistically going to show its maximum resolution? IMO it's better to get a lighter walkaround setup, m43 or NEX, and save yourself both money and trouble.

[ErikKaffehr]

Hi,

I have seen some reports saying that the 24-120 is pretty good. Most lenses are decent at center but loose out at the corners. Lloyd Chambers ("Diglloyd") has tested a lot of lenses on his DAP page, may be worth a few dollars.

I'd suggest that Lightroom makes decent work on vignetting and chromatic aberration, at least with lens profiles. I prefer LR to DxO, but that's just me.

Personally, I use a 16-80/3.5-4.5 (Sony lens with a Zeiss label) on my Sony Alpha 77 (at 24 MP / APS-C) and it works decently.


Best regards
Erik 

Nope if the 800E ends up a 18 mpx walk around camera in my hand and with my Leica R's on a tripod a 36 mpx mini MFDB I'll be happy!
I think from reading reviews the 24-120 suffers from distortion and CA more than lack of resolution, I'm hoping DxO should correct most of that?
Marc

[HarperPhotos]

Gidday,

My walk around lens I use on my Nikon D3x and eventually my new Nikon D800E is a Tokina ATX Pro AF 28-80mm F2.8 lens.

Its built like a tank and at 28mm will out resolve my now sold Nikon AF28mm F2.8 D lens.

They come up for sale on EBay occasionally.

http://www.photographyreview.com/cat/lenses/35mm-zoom/tokina/at-x-280-af-pro-28-80mm/prd_84797_3128crx.aspx

http://www.tokinalens.com/products/tokina/afl-04.html

Cheers

Simon

[marcmccalmont]

Why even attempt to use D800 as a walkaround camera when it's not realistically going to show its maximum resolution? IMO it's better to get a lighter walkaround setup, m43 or NEX, and save yourself both money and trouble.

Yes good idea but I have a K5 and a 17-70 f4, what I'm looking for is the equivalent to the 24-105 I had on my 5DII and used a lot. I guess that's the Nikkor 24-120 f4 for the D800
Marc

[marcmccalmont]

Gidday,

My walk around lens I use on my Nikon D3x and eventually my new Nikon D800E is a Tokina ATX Pro AF 28-80mm F2.8 lens.

Its built like a tank and at 28mm will out resolve my now sold Nikon AF28mm F2.8 D lens.

They come up for sale on EBay occasionally.

http://www.photographyreview.com/cat/lenses/35mm-zoom/tokina/at-x-280-af-pro-28-80mm/prd_84797_3128crx.aspx

http://www.tokinalens.com/products/tokina/afl-04.html

Cheers

Simon

I love Tokina glass (Hoya) but I'm looking for a stabilized lens, I wish Tokina had gotten into IS/VR One of my best lenses is the Tokina 100 macro unbelievable bokeh and as you focus the image size stays constant so focus stacking is easier.
Marc

[ihv]

For me the Canon 24-105 F4 was quite a popular lens for compact travelling. So I did not hesitate long to get the Nikon 24-120 F4.
While it is not a very bright aperture lens the stabiliser is pretty good. At 24mm the distortion was even stronger compared to Canon 24-105 but as this is more of uniform type it can be easily fixed. I don't have yet much experience with the lens but initial tests seem to be satisfying for me.

Not a striking subject but considering relatively slow shutter speed pretty decent.

Handheld at 120mm f8 1/50 iso6400:

modified: hum, doesn't seem to show the bigger image, it is not clickable?

[marcmccalmont]

For me the Canon 24-105 F4 was quite a popular lens for compact travelling. So I did not hesitate long to get the Nikon 24-120 F4.
While it is not a very bright aperture lens the stabiliser is pretty good. At 24mm the distortion was even stronger compared to Canon 24-105 but as this is more of uniform type it can be easily fixed. I don't have yet much experience with the lens but initial tests seem to be satisfying for me.

Not a striking subject but considering relatively slow shutter speed pretty decent.

Handheld at 120mm f8 1/50 iso6400:

modified: hum, doesn't seem to show the bigger image, it is not clickable?

Nice B&W conversion the bird feeder reminds me of a bird house I made, carved the face of a cat on the front with the hole the cats mouth. Just ordered a 24-120 (newegg had them in stock) I'll give it a try my 24-105 was pretty darn good maybe I'll get lucky with a sharp copy of the 24-120.
Marc

[marcmccalmont]

I'd suggest that Lightroom makes decent work on vignetting and chromatic aberration, at least with lens profiles. I prefer LR to DxO, but that's just me.

Maybe I should give lightroom a try? I've been using C1 for my phase one DB's and cameras w/o DxO lens modules and DxO for most of my DSLR stuff because of the lens modules but perhaps it's time to give LR a try
Marc

[JohnBrew]

I really want to like the Nikon 24-120 lens.  I keep hoping someone will review it favorably.  It would be the perfect lens to stay on the camera for a lot of situations.  If it weren't for this fear and trepidation.  I have a copy of its less than stellar predecessor which mostly lives on the shelf.

Check out Moose Peterson, he seems to be in love with this lens.