lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Interesting comparison. "But why put bias-ply tires on a luxury car?" Luxury car, when is the last time you've seen bias-ply tires for sale other than for some old restored Classic car? Radial Tires have been around for a long time now. That is more like comparing a Wet Plate to Kodachrome Film.

Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

I am “old” to photography and have a D810. Your lens selection(s) will depend on what type of photography you are interested in and what situations you find yourself pointing your camera at. My suggestion is that start slowly and get either a 50mm prime lens or a 24-70mm zoom lens and add lenses as you find yourself limited. You can get some great deals on used PRO quality gear. You don’t need the latest/greatest if you buy the best. Also, make sure that any lens you buy is either denoted FX or made for a “full frame” sensor. The lens you mentioned is a “DX” lens and made for a camera with a smaller sensor than the one in your D810.

Idaho

Start off with the Nikon FX 28-300. It will be all you need for a time. Maybe forever . As a beginner you don't need to invest a small fortune in a glass collection you have to carry around and constantly change. This lens has it's limitations but not nearly as many as you will have as a rookie. You may some day get good enough to buy more technically superior lenses but I doubt it. There may be a 2.8 lens in your future if you shoot in low light very much. You don't need a Rolls Royce and you don't need anything more then the 28-300 for now.

markbusinsky

The 28-300 is a good lens, not great, but a good lens to keep on the camera. The D810 is a great camera. I've been shooting Nikon for many years and have many lenses to choose from, but the 28-300 stays on my D810 most of the time.

Elsiss Loc: Bayside, NY, Boynton Beach, Fl.

The 24-120 is a perfect range for a walk around lens. Mine works superbly on my D750.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

The 16-80 is a DX lens designed for a cropped sensor cameras like the D500 or D7500. The effective range provided on that lens is 24-120 on the D500 or D7500. Nikon makes a 24-120 f4 lens for the D810. It is a very good range and would serve you well. I own the D810 and one of my favorite lenses is the 24-120 f4 lens. My other favorites are the 16-35 f4 and the 70-200 2.8.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Gene, I've seen you make this or similar comments about the 28~300. I must have purchased the one in a million because the images I get are quite sharp at any focal length.
--Bob

RickL Loc: Vail, Az

I agree with others. Buy only fx lenses. I have a nikon 70-300, Tamron 150-600 mm, 50 mmm and a few smaller zooms. They all work great with my D810. I shoot action nature and landscape.

Check out usedphotopro.com and robertscamera.com both except sources for used equipment

Your lens choice is based on what you primarily photograph. You have an excellent camera

Rick

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

It might work on a D700 but not on a higher resolution sensor.

DxOMark also gives it poor marks. Tested on a D800E it produced the equivalent of 11 MP for sharpness. That's not surprising for a 10x zoom.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

It's a really good walking around lens.

Idaho

It should be pointed out that an 810 for a beginner is a very poor choice. Whoever gave you this advice was not doing you any favors. You can buy a cheaper, much lighter camera that will suit you much better and provide excellent results. Sell it, do your homework, and buy something more practical for a beginner. If you insist on lugging this heavy thing around for no good reason, just buy the one zoom and cut your loses. I have the 850 and love it, but I also have other cameras and have been shooting for 50 years. Too bad you didn't get some guidance earlier. These big, expensive cameras are not for everyone.

ksmmike

I agree with David and others who suggested it depends on what you want to photograph. Those who suggest to take a look at the Holy Trinity, it would be hard to argue with in terms of the quality of the lenses, but it might not be what you need. If you prefer landscapes, look at the Nikon 20mm F1.8, if you want a good walk around lens, there are many to chose from, including the 16-35 F4, though it can be considered by some a big heavy lens. There are smaller. If you like wildlife then the 200-500 would be better suited. For indoor sports with low light, then the 70-200 or even the 85mm might be better. I could go on and on. I've bought and sold many Nikon and various brand lenses over the years depending on what stage in my life and photographing I was at in my life. For years, I mostly had large lenses from 200mm on up. Now I have mostly 58mm and down.

Lastly, for those who said good and bad about 28-300 are both accurate. I had a copy that was horrible and one that took good images. Primes at say 20mm or 35mm will always beat the image quality of the 28-300 zoom in a similar 30mm range (assuming its a good prime) and my Nikon 300mm F4 is superior to the 28-300 at 300mm, but for walking around town, I'm far more likely to take the 28-300 than a 300mm prime. So again, I'm not suggesting anything that 95% of others here wouldn't tell you. But it does come down to what you want to photograph. I've gotten rid of many of my large lenses and now shoot with a $120 manual focus lens I bought on Ebay to photo my grandson. I'm off to Europe later this week, and I'm taking a 16-35 F4, a 20mm F 1.8 (for inside of churches), 58mm F1.4 (because its the best quality lens I own) and the 28-300 in case I need a longer reach. If I was shooting a little league game or a high school football game, all of those lenses would stay home. I probably over did it with my answer, but its a holiday and I had the time. lol :)

Oh, and yes, stay away from DX lenses with the 810. You want the FX lenses to take advantage of the larger sensor.
Mike

JGW30033 Loc: Decatur GA

I agree about the 28-300... now that mine has been to Nikon to be serviced. When it's properly tuned it's an excellent walking-around lens. Just a little heavy for all day.
Gilbert

dugeeeeeee

Hey I have the d810. Mine came with the 24-110 and it is an excellent lens for this camera. I was like you and did not realize full frame meant all new lenses. I’ve went the older cheaper route and have been quite pleased. I have a nikkor 80-200 2.8 ed ($500 used Ebay)that is super sharp and as I have read used to be the pro go to lens many years ago. If you can find one with clean glass it’ll last you your lifetime. Doesn’t have vr but good holding technique or tripod can overcome that. I also have a nikkor 300mm f4 ed ($350 eBay) the all metal one with the built in hood. Takes great pictures. I’d recommend a nikkor 50mm 1.8 also, think that was maybe $50, for low light situations. You don’t have to spend a fortune for good glass. Check out the angry photographer on YouTube and Ken Rockwell’s cheapskate lens section.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

selmslie....do you or have you had one?