The camera manufactures are terrific. One camera can replace all of the film that you have ever shot. No changing film in mid-roll to change ISO (ASA). Even built in light metering. No screwing on a filter as the lighting changes. One zoom lens can replace a bag full of lenses. I suggest that you grab your new DSLR, the hand book that came with it and try something new. It's called learning. Film had it's place but that place is nearly gone, thank god and the Camera manufactures. The world is changing, try to catch up.
For traveling, the big zoom range lenses are hard to beat. In the past I carried two bodies, five lenses. My bag weighted thirty seven pounds. It would not be legal on airlines today. The big plus is you seldom miss a shot changing lenses.
I realized there would be those that this simple exercise would be over their head and would play down their ignorance. To this I say, go play with your year old camera and all the experience it you have gained with it. I'll fall back on my 65 years of experience.
A great way to practice hand held shooting. Use an old slide projector in a dark room. Shine the light toward you and your camera. From about 6 feet. The reflected light from the front of your lens shines on the wall behind the projector. Try releasing the shutter without moving the spot on the wall.You may need to install a polarizer or tape a small mirror to the front of the lens to get a proper reflected spot on the wall.
A great practice. Use an old slide projector in a dark room.Shine the light toward you from about 6 feet. The reflected light from the front of your lens shines on the wall behind the projector. Try releasing the shutter without moving the spot on tbe wall.
Another item to think of. With the 1.4X teleconverter you lose on f stop. With the 2X TC you lose 2 stops. Something to concide when conidering them. As mentioned before there a cheap TCs and there are high end 7 element TCs made by a few camera manufactures.
For overseas travel , look into Grand Circle Tours, aka GCT. We have been from New Zealand to Finland with them. They make the reservations, get the tickets, move the luggage. All youhave to do is look, shoot pictures and eat.
I agree with Ton D. The hard cases are a real pain if you are travelling in a plane. Go Tamrac or LowePro.
Try the Owens Valley, Eastern Sierra, Bodie Ghost town and Death Valley then slip over to Yosemite, Morro Bay and Big Sur area. Sequoia NP and of course the Redwoods. That is just a start and it's not that far fron Utah.
I have one and really like it. I don't use it as much as I would like to or as much as I should.
Feel sorry for those out there that "know everything" for they are stuck in time. There are to many advances in photography to "know everything". Learning is a life time trip.
Having owned a Yashica 124G, a Mamiya 6X7 w/ a couple of lenses, and a pair of Pentax 6X7s w/5 lenses. I am glad they are gone and the back breaking cases that they traveled in. To heavy to be candid.
Back in film days, The 85mm was known as a portrait lens. I seem to recall soft focus lenses were popular. (That was to specialized for my taste.) Could it be that your lens is in that group?? If you aren't into portraits, I agree with everyone send it back. Nikon was known for super sharp lenses. Yours must be damaged or one of the rare soft focus lenses.
Amen to StevenG. If they always have to "find you", you are being a pain in the rear to the whole group. Learn to shoot on the run, stop, shoot and go. Your lack of speed is not the rest of the group's problem.
Definitely go monopod. The universal sign all over the world is "no tripods". Most monopods will double as a walking stick, good camouflage.
I gave up on added support years ago. Just raise your ISO and use your cameras Image Stabilization feature, then just hold your breath and shoot. There is usually something to brace yourself or the camera nearby.