NYjoe Loc: US/UK

I've been very pleased with my recent d800e/Tamron 24-70 zoom purchase....but...despite it's optic limitations, I miss the reach of my old canon 27-135 zoom. Can anyone suggest an additional d800e lens with IS that would fill this void? Thanks, all.

j

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

My favorite lens in that range for my D800E is the Nikon AF-S 24-120mm F4G VR II with NANO coated glass. Extremely sharp. This post has a couple shots I took with that combo just a couple days ago:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-223477-1.html

Frapha Loc: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Nikon 24-120 f/4 or Nikon 28-300 f/3,5-5.6

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

The Nikon 24-120mm f/4 is also my choice.

When the D3 came out I picked up a used Nikon 28-105mm for FX use, which wasn't exactly bad. It has no VR, and has a limited zoom range for my use. But it does have a nice macro mode, and the diaphragm has 9 rounded blades.

However, the 28-105mm suffers a type of flare that required something different. When shooting with a very bright background (a person inside with a window behind them) the flare is intolerable.

So I bought a Tamron 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 (with a 7 blade non-rounded diaphragm) . The Tamron has flare too, but that shows up when the sun is shining directly into the lens, so I could switch between the two depending on the scene.

But the 24-120mm is a vastly nicer lens than the other two. Less flare, it has VR, and a diaphragm with 9 rounded blades. It only goes to 1:4.2 magnification while the Tamron is 1:3.3 and the Nikon 28-105mm is 1:2.

I'd like a little more zoom range, say 24-150mm. But I'm not a fan of superzooms and a 6x zoom that would meet my other needs would also no doubt be vastly expensive.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Quite honestly I moved away from zooms once I purchased the D800e, I now have only have prime lenses.

Yes it is less convenient, yes it it heavier (if I want to carry 5 lenses vs a single one).

If you observe your behavior when 'shooting' you will quickly realize that when on job or for yourself you select a specific zoom ration and distance and basically use that for the duration. That is what I did anyway. So selecting a prime lens for a specific job has been more productive for me simply because I do not waste time trying the zoom ratio I need and walk forward/backward if I want a different result.

The lens I use most is the 35mm.

Please be aware that I use only the central part of the lens as I almost always crop after PP. With a D800e you have so much 'real estate' that you can do that. Lens distortion? I have no idea what that beast is, it is stamped out by the central cropping area beside, using this method also allows you to have a PP control on composition so a greater latitude in the end.

Yes, I shoot raw only. as I plan for PP. I also shoot to the right.

So the lens? Forget the zoom, any range, and go for high quality prime lenses that bring you back to an era where we were not afraid of moving around and be 'close and personal'.

amehta Loc: Boston

In principle, I agree with the idea of the primes. But if you really need something more, isn't a 70-200mm lens the next choice? The Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 is not much more expensive than the Nikon 24-120mm f/4.

NYjoe Loc: US/UK

Thanks...I'll research the Tamron 70-200....I was thinking that a prime 150 lens with VC might fit the bill...but not sure which manufacturer has anything close.

JS

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: for the 24-120 F4,

but :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: for the 28-300 on that camera - it was disappointing enough on a D800, I only expected to produce even worse results on a D800E - besides, Nikon does not include it on their list of recommended lenses for the D800 series - that speaks volumes about that lens.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Nikon 70-200mm F/4 VR.

amehta Loc: Boston

I don't think that prime lens exists, at least for the Nikon mount. There is the older Nikon 180mm f/2.8D AF ED-IF, but it is not even an "AF-S" lens.

I think, in this range, Nikon knows that most people are so happy with the 70-200mm options that few will get primes except for specialty lenses like the macros, DC (defocus control) lenses, and then the first of the exotic telephotos, the 200mm f/2.

winterrose Loc: Kyneton, Victoria, Australia

Second rate lenses for a top of the line camera? Shudder.......

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Don't feel that IS is going to help. It often robs sharpness, at the expense of motion blur.

This may help you understand:

http://photographylife.com/tag/image-stabilization

http://www.bythom.com/nikon-vr.htm

I have several lenses that have it, and my experience is that the tradeoff is not worth it. I am better off raising the ISO on my D800 than I am using VR. A little more noise, but as long as I am not at ISO 6400, far greater detail is recorded when VR is off.

Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

I use the Nikon 24-70/2.8 quite a bit with the 800e and it performs quitewll. Pricey though

Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

Sorry I misread your question. In that range I use the 70-200, often with a 1.4x extender.

When I really want reach, I will pair this with a dx sensor, like the 7100

Hirogen

I have a nikon d3200. It came with 18-55 & 55-200. If I want a lens for a wider field of view for night sky shots do I have to spend $500-$1000