The BEST lenses for the D800 / D800E

[UncleFai]

Diglloyd says the absolute best for the D800/E is the new Zeiss 135mm. But MF and a "neither here nor there" length (at least for me).

 

[JacePhoto]

Not sure about you guys but imo, the 14-24 is definitely a no, no. I finally found the AFD-20 mm. Cheap and good so far at about SGD 400-500.

The rest i am using are:
1. 20 mm AFD F2.8
2. 35 mm AFD F2
3. 50 mm AIS F1.2/ 50 mm AFD F1.8
4. 60 mm AFS F2.8
5. 105 mm AFS F2.8
6. 300 mm AFS F4

These are so far my combinations of 'acceptable sharpness' for D800. What's yours?

 

[Hacker]

Not sure about you guys but imo, the 14-24 is definitely a no, no. I finally found the AFD-20 mm. Cheap and good so far at about SGD 400-500.

The rest i am using are:
1. 20 mm AFD F2.8
2. 35 mm AFD F2
3. 50 mm AIS F1.2/ 50 mm AFD F1.8
4. 60 mm AFS F2.8
5. 105 mm AFS F2.8
6. 300 mm AFS F4

These are so far my combinations of 'acceptable sharpness' for D800. What's yours?

Why is the 12-24mm a no, no? Curious.

 

[JacePhoto]

Very soft at 12 mm. It makes the picture unusable/ poor. I am so surprise that Nikon pushes for this lens as a combi for D800. I am afraid to say, it's more a sales thing to up the purchase of this lens. They shld know technically it's a flawed combo.

 

[Luminare]

Photos taken with the respective lens:

Nikon 24mm f/1.4G taken at f/8

Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G taken at 14mm, f/8

Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G taken at 15mm, f/2.8

Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II taken at 200mm, f/2.8, ISO 3200

Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II taken at f/5, ISO 2000

 

[Dfive]

Photos taken with the respective lens:

Nikon 24mm f/1.4G taken at f/8

Great photos !

Where is this one shot from ?

Thx.

 

[Luminare]

One of HDB flats in China Town beside the market. Cant recall the block number though. A buddy and I climbed each one to recce perspectives.

Great photos !

Where is this one shot from ?

Thx.

 

[diediealsomustdive]

Not sure about you guys but imo, the 14-24 is definitely a no, no. I finally found the AFD-20 mm. Cheap and good so far at about SGD 400-500.

The rest i am using are:
1. 20 mm AFD F2.8
2. 35 mm AFD F2
3. 50 mm AIS F1.2/ 50 mm AFD F1.8
4. 60 mm AFS F2.8
5. 105 mm AFS F2.8
6. 300 mm AFS F4

These are so far my combinations of 'acceptable sharpness' for D800. What's yours?

Very soft at 12 mm. It makes the picture unusable/ poor. I am so surprise that Nikon pushes for this lens as a combi for D800. I am afraid to say, it's more a sales thing to up the purchase of this lens. They shld know technically it's a flawed combo.

Surely you meant 14mm.

I have used and found the following to be sharp. Where possible shots are frequently done at base ISO, tripod and at f/8. Not really techie so did not concentrate on CA. Subjective evaluation.

1. AFD 20mm f/2.8. Do not like the light fall-off (darkening) at the corners at wide apertures, and the distortion (correctable in-camera and in ACR). Done many underwater shots with this and happy with it. More limited on-land shots but in real life situations the fall-off do not bother that much. My main complain with this lens is that even when the filter is removed the use of a gradualed neutral density filter will have vignette.
2. Ai 20mm f/4 - beautiful and sharp. (Borrowed lens)

3. K 24mm f/2.8 (modified to Ai) - pin sharp!
4. Ai 28mm f/2 - pin sharp!
5. Ai 50mm f/2 - pin sharp!
6. AFD 60mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor - pin sharp! Mostly underwater shots.

7. AFS 85mm f/1.8G - pin sharp!
8. AFD 20-35mm f/2.8 - sharp and nice! Less light fall-off and distortion than AFD 20mm f/2.8 prime lens, go figure. 77mm filter thread also meant GND is good!

9. E 75-150mm f/3.5 - wonderfully sharp and beautiful colours. I get over the zoom creep by using scotch tape on the opposite side of the lens barrel, taping several layers long the lens axis until just the right amount of resistance is felt. Removed the scotch tapes when I come back to ensure no residual on lens barrel.
10. Ai 80-200mm f/4.5 - a legendary lens that lives up to its legendary reputation. Very sharp! Have not tested the AiS 80-200mm f/4.
11. AFD 80-200mm f/2.8 - sharp and nice, don't know if the AFS 70-200mm f/2.8G VRI, VRII and the f/4 lenses could be better, no personal experience.
12. Tokina ATX 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 DX Fisheye zoom used as FX lens at 16mm - surprisingly sharp! Used extensively underwater and on land, no complaints but have not had a chance to check out the AFD 16mm f/2.6 Fisheye.

Very limited shooting with AFD 50mm f/1.4, AFD 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5, AiS 105mm f/2.5, AFD 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 (borrowed lens), can't comment yet on them.

Got me a new AFS 24-120mm f/4VR - so will figure out if there could be significant compromise - right now the distortion (without in-camera correction) is disturbing.

Over the next year I will test the following:

1. Ai 28mm f/2.8, non-Ai 28mm f/3.5
2. AF 35mm f/2
3. AFS 50mm f/1.4G, AFD 50mm f/1.4
4. AFS 60mm f/2.6 Micro-Nikkor, AFS 105mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor, AFD 105mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor and AFD 200mm f/4 Micro-Nikkor
5. AF 85mm f/1.8
6. AiS 80-200mm f/4
7. AFS 28-200mm f/4-5.6G (borrowed lens)

 

[diediealsomustdive]

K 24mm f/2.8 (Ai'd)

Ai 28mm f/2

E 75-150mm f/3.5

 

[JacePhoto]

You are right about the light fall off on the 20 mm. In fact, it affects most of the AIS lenses.

 

[Dfive]

You are right about the light fall off on the 20 mm. In fact, it affects most of the AIS lenses.

The 20mm AF-D has not changed in its optical design since the manual lenses...... "when" it was release it was state of the art..... sadly behind the times now.

I look forward to a FX AF-S Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G N in 2014

 

[Hacker]

Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 VC pips the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 according to the latest DXOMark score.

 

[andykyaw]

Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 VC pips the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 according to the latest DXOMark score.

It's a bit hard to take... but all credit to Tamron for such a great piece of lens with VC somemore..!!

 

[Dfive]

Yeah I think the three lenses that may take tops spots are the new ZEISS 58 f1.4, the new manual 135mm f/2 and the cheap but amazing Sigma 35mm f1.4 ART.

 

[Hacker]

Yeah I think the three lenses that may take tops spots are the new ZEISS 58 f1.4, the new manual 135mm f/2 and the cheap but amazing Sigma 35mm f1.4 ART.

Think the Zeiss is 55mm.

 

[Kit]

I've never had any issues with the 14-24mm. Sharp throughout and great colour rendition, under the right light. Just a tad of curvilinear distortion but its quite easily fixed.


academic facility by arkitectural photography, on Flickr


academic facility - exterior by arkitectural photography, on Flickr

I did had it replaced with the Distagon 15mm f/2.8 and 18mm f/3.5 because these 2 lenses are easier to transport around and take filters. For now, these together with the PC-E 24mm are my staples and I use them for 95% of my work. These have better control in curvilinear distortion.

Distagon 15mm f/2.8

central business district by
arkitectural photography, on Flickr

Distagon 18mm f/3.5

academic facility - exterior by arkitectural photography, on Flickr

PC-E 24mm

academic facility - exterior by arkitectural photography, on Flickr​

 

[sjackal]

I've never had any issues with the 14-24mm. Sharp throughout and great colour rendition, under the right light. Just a tad of curvilinear distortion but its quite easily fixed.


academic facility by arkitectural photography, on Flickr


​

I used to say; 14-24mm, the world is prettier thru it. And its true. Its one of Nikon's best lens ever made. Heck, its still undisputed one of the best wide angles currently. I don't give a hoot about D800 or what lens good or not, but this lens rocks.

 

[Kit]

yes, I consider the 14-24mm a revolutionary product.

 

[JacePhoto]

yes, I consider the 14-24mm a revolutionary product.

nice. which aperture did you shoot with?

I tried it with F5.6 and the edges were very soft.

 

[Kit]

Most of the photos were taken at f/11. I've done some shots taken at f/2.8 and did not detect any significant fall in image quality across the frame. To be honest, the 14-24mm is the first and only UWA zoom I've used which is so consistent.