AF-S nikkor24-70mm 1:2.8G ED: Is this a good lens coupled with the Nikon D800. I'm not getting pictures as sharp as I expected and the autofocus seems slow I'm much happier with my D...

ollie Loc: Ogdensburg, NY

Is this a good lens coupled with the Nikon D800. I'm not getting pictures as sharp as I expected and the autofocus seems slow
I'm much happier with my D 7000 and it's a lot cheaper too
should I go to primary lenses instead of a zoom. I use it for general photography (scenics, HDR,casual portraits...)

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Is this the lens you have already or think you want to buy?
I use one on the D700 and love it. Upgrading to the 800 when I can convince my boss we need it.

Hankwt Loc: kingsville ontario

i have this lens on my D7000 its awesome !!!!

dayleft Loc: NYC

One of my favorite lenses actually.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Something's not right. The D800 with this lens should be like Paradise for a photographer.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

What are you shooting? What are the lighting conditions? What are your camera settings? No one can accurately give advise on a general question like this. The D800, when properly used, is one of the fastest focusing cameras ever made, and the lens mentioned is equally as fast and one of Nikons sharpest zooms. Camera settings make a world of difference in AF speed as well as accuracy.

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

As has been said you are doing something wrong. The 24-70 with the D800 is a match made in heaven. Your photos with auto focus should be sharp and clean.

eaglebeak Loc: Adelaide-Australia

I have used this lens on D5000 & now on D7000.
It's a great lens

DaveHam Loc: Reading UK

The lens is one of the best, the D800 is a very good camera. A lot of people have mentioned softness with the D800; in many cases it is a matter of refining technique as the high megapixel count makes the camera very sensitive to small vibrations. Handheld usually means vibration unless you are working very fast. Wherever possible I use my D800, frequently with the 28-70 F2.8, on a tripod as a means of overcoming this. With lenses equipped with vibration reduction this is not such an issue. A final possibility; I had a 28-70 go soft on me after some rough handling. It was repaired successfully; something to do with the silent wave motor vibrating for a few moments after changing focal length. Is this a possibility?

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

DaveHam wrote:

The lens is one of the best, the D800 is a very go... (show quote)

Dave, the 24-70 in question is not a VR equipped lens.

Zero_Equals_Infinity Loc: Canada

I am the exception here. I have used the 24-70, and while it is a very good lens, I would rather have the three F1.8 primes (28, 50, 85). The primes are sharp and offer a creative advantage to me. They force me to foot crop and than makes me much more aware of framing my image. As a result I avoid distracting components in the image more often, and get a better shot more often.

If I were an event photographer, the 24-70 would be a better choice, but I am not, so that flexibility is overridden by the advantages of the primes.

trc Loc: Logan, OH

I bought a used Nikkor 24-70mm lens on eBay from a plastic surgeon in Texas about 6 months ago. I use it on my D800 and love it. I never had any focusing issues or speed issues using that lens. Good luck in solving your disappointment.

FutureLook Loc: Florida, USA

ollie wrote:

Is this a good lens coupled with the Nikon D800. I'm not getting pictures as sharp as I expected and the autofocus seems slow
I'm much happier with my D 7000 and it's a lot cheaper too
should I go to primary lenses instead of a zoom. I use it for general photography (scenics, HDR,casual portraits...)

Sorry that you are encoutering problems with the 24-70. This is the lens I go to when I want to get serious. I use it with my D800 and D7000 with excellent IQ as a result.

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

ollie wrote:

Is this a good lens coupled with the Nikon D800. I'm not getting pictures as sharp as I expected and the autofocus seems slow
I'm much happier with my D 7000 and it's a lot cheaper too
should I go to primary lenses instead of a zoom. I use it for general photography (scenics, HDR,casual portraits...)

This is the main lens I use on my D800e & it's super sharp & fast focusing.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Db7423 wrote:

quote=DaveHam The lens is one of the best, the D8... (show quote)

You should not really need VR in that range. VR is really for telephotos. MT will back me on this one.