Nikkor 28-300mm f/3.5~5.6 VR: I am shooting with a D810 and a bag full of very good glass. However, when traveling on a pleasure trip I am finding (OK, my wife is finding...) that a...

Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

I am shooting with a D810 and a bag full of very good glass. However, when traveling on a pleasure trip I am finding (OK, my wife is finding...) that a heavy camera bag is a bit onerous. I am thinking about getting a Nikkor 28~300mm zoom for casual photography. Any thoughts, comments? Thanks.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

I have a bag full of lenses as well; but I use the 28-300 when traveling. Clearly a compromise, but completely acceptable at times that changing lenses is not practicable.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I've got one, it's my general purpose lens for my Nikon bodies, even though they are both crop frame. I got the 28-300 because my general purpose lens for my Canon bodies is the Canon EF 28-300 f/3.5-5.6L IS lens. The Nikkor lens is a really nice lens and compared to the Canon, a really good buy, around $950 vs $2600 for the Canon.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Fotomacher wrote:

I am shooting with a D810 and a bag full of very good glass. However, when traveling on a pleasure trip I am finding (OK, my wife is finding...) that a heavy camera bag is a bit onerous. I am thinking about getting a Nikkor 28~300mm zoom for casual photography. Any thoughts, comments? Thanks.

I have a Nikon D7200 and purchased the Nikon 28-300 to use as a travel lens. It has worked out to be very acceptable. The reason for the 28-300 over the 18-300 is that the 28-300 is an FX and I will probably upgrade to a FF Nikon at some point in the future.

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

Fotomacher wrote:

I am shooting with a D810 and a bag full of very good glass. However, when traveling on a pleasure trip I am finding (OK, my wife is finding...) that a heavy camera bag is a bit onerous. I am thinking about getting a Nikkor 28~300mm zoom for casual photography. Any thoughts, comments? Thanks.

Not a great lens on a full frame camera, especially the D810. Center sharpness is ok but edge and corners are pretty bad across the board, at all focal lengths. Look on Nikon's site for which lenses they recommend for the D800/800E to get the most out of the camera. These would be comparable on a D810 as well:

http://nps.nikonimaging.com/technical_solutions/d800_d800e_tips/d800e/

I would not hesitate to pick any lens from their list. I would advise not picking a Nikkor lens that is not on the list. The 28-300 is not on the list. The biggest weakness is the image quality beyond 120-150mm. The 24-120 makes a better, more useful all-around lens, and it is significantly better in the same focal length range than the 28-300. I personally tested 3 different copies of the 28-300, and none were good enough for me. And $1000 is a bit steep for casual shooting.

But a lot of people seem to like it, leaving me shaking my head. . .

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

Fotomacher wrote:

I am shooting with a D810 and a bag full of very good glass. However, when traveling on a pleasure trip I am finding (OK, my wife is finding...) that a heavy camera bag is a bit onerous. I am thinking about getting a Nikkor 28~300mm zoom for casual photography. Any thoughts, comments? Thanks.

The Nikon D810 with the Nikon 28-300 is a very heavy combination for casual carry around with you photography. My thoughts on casual photography and walking around camera's are my pocket Sony's, HX50V (24-750 mm range) and or any of the RX100 series, I, II, III, IV, or V. My favorite here is the II cause I can mount my flash on the top for extra power inside and outdoors. I carry both on my belt and yes, I can walk for several days without getting tired.

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

Fotomacher wrote:

I am shooting with a D810 and a bag full of very good glass. However, when traveling on a pleasure trip I am finding (OK, my wife is finding...) that a heavy camera bag is a bit onerous. I am thinking about getting a Nikkor 28~300mm zoom for casual photography. Any thoughts, comments? Thanks.

Fotomacher, I also have the 28-300 on my D750. With the barrel lock OFF, the barrel telescopes out (all my itself) when the camera is pointing to the ground.
My advise is to read what Gene51 is saying about this lens. He knows what he is talking about. If I could go back in time, I would not have bought this lens.
If you want, I can send you two photos that I took via Private Message (PM). One pix is at 28mm and the other is at 300mm so that you can see both extremes of the lens.
Both taken using a tripod and delayed shutter release (if I recall). ~FiddleMaker

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Fotomacher wrote:

I am shooting with a D810 and a bag full of very good glass. However, when traveling on a pleasure trip I am finding (OK, my wife is finding...) that a heavy camera bag is a bit onerous. I am thinking about getting a Nikkor 28~300mm zoom for casual photography. Any thoughts, comments? Thanks.

If you are taking images while traveling so you can look back on your experience, then go for it. Nothing wrong with that lens. If you are looking for that one great image and you like to go to a special place and spend hours perfecting that picture framing image, not so much.

queencitysanta Loc: Charlotte, North Carolina

I had the Nikon 28-300 on a D800 and D800e. The picture quality was poor and it was very heavy. Sold it. My suggestions look at other lens options.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

I have the D810, etc, bought the 28-300 and it is rarely off the camera. The image quality is amazing with this lens.

dandekarv Loc: Lake Forest, Ca, US

I have combination of D810 and Nikkor 28-300 lens. The lens is not sharp. I thought I had focusing problem. I sent the lens to Nikon for repair. They charged me $350 to repair. Don't know what they did but lens is still the same.

dandekarv Loc: Lake Forest, Ca, US

[quote=Gene51]Not a great lens on a full frame camera, especially the D810. Center sharpness is ok but edge and corners are pretty bad across the board, at all focal lengths. Look on Nikon's site for which lenses they recommend for the D800/800E to get the most out of the camera. These would be comparable on a D810 as well:

http://nps.nikonimaging.com/technical_solutions/d800_d800e_tips/d800e/

Thanks for sharing this valuable information with us.

Any suggestion for 28-300 lens manufactured by others manufacturers such as Tamron or Sigma. I would prefer to use 28-300 lens as walk around lens on my camera.

Dandekar

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Fotomacher wrote:

I am shooting with a D810 and a bag full of very good glass. However, when traveling on a pleasure trip I am finding (OK, my wife is finding...) that a heavy camera bag is a bit onerous. I am thinking about getting a Nikkor 28~300mm zoom for casual photography. Any thoughts, comments? Thanks.

It's my "always-on" lens. It's a good size and weight, and it covers a good range. Good lens.

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

jerryc41 wrote:

It's my "always-on" lens. It's a good size and weight, and it covers a good range. Good lens.

It would be nice if, with this lens, you could zoom in and out without the lens barrel moving in and out - in the same manner that the Nikkor 16-35mm does. Some Nikkor lenses have this feature while most do not.
With the barrel lock OFF I need to be careful that the barrel does not creep outward if the camera is pointing downward.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

FiddleMaker wrote:

It would be nice if, with this lens, you could zoom in and out without the lens barrel moving in and out - in the same manner that the Nikkor 16-35mm does. Some Nikkor lenses have this feature while most do not.
With the barrel lock OFF I need to be careful that the barrel does not creep outward if the camera is pointing downward.

Yes, lens creep can be annoying, but I live with it. When I'm out shooting, I never use the lens lock. I'll use it for walking from one spot to another. It doesn't take long to unlock it if I see something interesting.