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Lens choice: 24-85 or 24-120 on D850?
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Aug 12, 2019 12:52:54   #
alexol
 
I'm considering the AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G ED VR or the AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR.

Does anyone have any experience with both lens? I'm familiar with the first but not with the second. This would be as a general use & leave-it-on-the-camera lens unless I'm doing something that requires something quite different.

The real and only question is why one and not the other? D850 btw.

Please DON'T bother reply recommending any other lenses such as the 2.8 (which is a great lens but huge, heavy & expensive, doesn't suit my purposes and I'd rather spend the money on other lenses). Would really appreciate it very much if replies could be specific to the original question.

Thanks!

Reply
Aug 12, 2019 13:03:32   #
larryepage Loc: North Texas area
 
alexol wrote:
I'm considering the AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G ED VR or the AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR.

Does anyone have any experience with both lens? I'm familiar with the first but not with the second. This would be as a general use & leave-it-on-the-camera lens unless I'm doing something that requires something quite different.

The real and only question is why one and not the other? D850 btw.

Please DON'T bother reply recommending any other lenses such as the 2.8 (which is a great lens but huge, heavy & expensive, doesn't suit my purposes and I'd rather spend the money on other lenses). Would really appreciate it very much if replies could be specific to the original question.

Thanks!
I'm considering the AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G... (show quote)

Alex--

I do not have any experience with the 24-85mm zoom. I have fairly recently bought the 24-120 that you reference. My intention is primarily to use it as an all-day lens on my D500 as an alternative to the 17-55mm f2.8. (My reasoning parallels your own.) While my D500 was at Nikon for service, I used the 24-120 on my D850 for three weeks or so just as an experiment and to check it out a little, since D500 and D850 sensor density and characteristics are very similar.

I was very pleased with the lens on the D850 and will very likely use it on that camera from time to time in the future. It is sharp, lighter and more "nimble" than the 24-70 mm f2.8, and gets results that are not really that much different. I found a very nice used one for $425, and have seen others around that price since (you might check KEH, if you aren't set on paying a little over $1,000 for a new one). The major complaint that I have is that the lens hood that is made for the 24-120 isn't nearly as nice as the one that comes with the 24-70. It is a professional grade lens that operates adn performs very well.

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Aug 12, 2019 13:09:16   #
MT Shooter Loc: Montana
 
alexol wrote:
I'm considering the AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G ED VR or the AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR.

Does anyone have any experience with both lens? I'm familiar with the first but not with the second. This would be as a general use & leave-it-on-the-camera lens unless I'm doing something that requires something quite different.

The real and only question is why one and not the other? D850 btw.

Please DON'T bother reply recommending any other lenses such as the 2.8 (which is a great lens but huge, heavy & expensive, doesn't suit my purposes and I'd rather spend the money on other lenses). Would really appreciate it very much if replies could be specific to the original question.

Thanks!
I'm considering the AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G... (show quote)


I was unimpressed with the 24-85 on my D850, but the 24-120mm F4 VR NANO is a bargain of a Pro Nikon zoom lens on the D850's high resolution sensor.

Reply
 
 
Aug 12, 2019 14:18:41   #
alexol
 
You silver-tongued devils are just out to make me spend money! And I may just have to give in unless there are people out there who hated the 24-120?

A used sounds sounds like a great idea as I have no interetsed in spending more than necessary. My only concern with a used lens is that it seems that people who end up with a not so great copy of a lens dump it on the used market

Thank you for the opinions.

Reply
Aug 12, 2019 14:36:00   #
via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP
 
alexol wrote:
I'm considering the AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G ED VR or the AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR.

Does anyone have any experience with both lens? I'm familiar with the first but not with the second. This would be as a general use & leave-it-on-the-camera lens unless I'm doing something that requires something quite different.

The real and only question is why one and not the other? D850 btw.

Please DON'T bother reply recommending any other lenses such as the 2.8 (which is a great lens but huge, heavy & expensive, doesn't suit my purposes and I'd rather spend the money on other lenses). Would really appreciate it very much if replies could be specific to the original question.

Thanks!
I'm considering the AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G... (show quote)



I use my 24-120 all of the time, in fact, most often no matter what I am shooting except for wildlife or airplanes in the distance, when I use a long lens.

Reply
Aug 12, 2019 16:50:48   #
Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.
 
alexol wrote:
You silver-tongued devils are just out to make me spend money! And I may just have to give in unless there are people out there who hated the 24-120?

A used sounds sounds like a great idea as I have no interetsed in spending more than necessary. My only concern with a used lens is that it seems that people who end up with a not so great copy of a lens dump it on the used market

Thank you for the opinions.


For a used 24-120 I'd first check with UHH member MT Shooter to see if he has one. If not a good source for used equipment is "KEH". Their inventory fluctuates but they are an honorable company.

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Aug 12, 2019 17:03:13   #
Pistnbroke Loc: UK
 
The 24-120 is junk . terrible focus breathing ...I owned and sold two ...the 24-85 VR version is far superior

Reply
 
 
Aug 13, 2019 07:33:52   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Some suggestions -
https://www.dpreview.com/news/5585760175/nikon-releases-official-d850-lens-recommendation-list
http://www.dslrbodies.com/cameras/the-d850-blog/the-best-lenses-for-the.html
http://cameratimes.org/best-lenses-nikon-d850/

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Aug 13, 2019 07:34:51   #
yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey
 
dxomark.com may be able to help you - here's their ratings on these 2 zooms. The optical performance seems roughly equivalent.


(Download)

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Aug 13, 2019 07:37:36   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
alexol wrote:
I'm considering the AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G ED VR or the AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR.

Does anyone have any experience with both lens? I'm familiar with the first but not with the second. This would be as a general use & leave-it-on-the-camera lens unless I'm doing something that requires something quite different.

The real and only question is why one and not the other? D850 btw.

Please DON'T bother reply recommending any other lenses such as the 2.8 (which is a great lens but huge, heavy & expensive, doesn't suit my purposes and I'd rather spend the money on other lenses). Would really appreciate it very much if replies could be specific to the original question.

Thanks!
I'm considering the AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G... (show quote)


I use and recommend the 24-120 f4 mainly because of it's greater range and very good IQ especially on the D850. And, it is nice when I am in manual because the 24-120 is f4 throughout it's range. I also like the balance of this lens on the D850.

Reply
Aug 13, 2019 08:37:30   #
Pistnbroke Loc: UK
 
24-120 has Terrible dip in IQ at 85mm
Terrible focus breathing .
You need to check the back focus about every 200 shots when its new as it run in.
My 24-84 VR cost $40...but I cleaned the elements in about 10 min ..beautiful.

Reply
 
 
Aug 13, 2019 08:51:02   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
Pistnbroke wrote:
24-120 has Terrible dip in IQ at 85mm
Terrible focus breathing .
You need to check the back focus about every 200 shots when its new as it run in.
My 24-84 VR cost $40...but I cleaned the elements in about 10 min ..beautiful.


I shoot at 85 mm with the 24-120 and have seen no dip in IQ. Have you personally seen this on your 24-120?

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Aug 13, 2019 08:53:31   #
Pistnbroke Loc: UK
 
Check your DXO
If you have not done the back focus or turned the sharp up to +9 then everything you take will be a soft mush

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Aug 13, 2019 08:56:08   #
Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket
 
via the lens wrote:
I use my 24-120 all of the time, in fact, most often no matter what I am shooting except for wildlife or airplanes in the distance, when I use a long lens.


Depends on which version of the 24-120 you buy. I hated the first version. It was soft and pretty much useless. The latest version is much better. The D850 is a demanding camera. I think you will be much happy with the 24-120, as long as it is the newest version.

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Aug 13, 2019 09:19:20   #
RKL349 Loc: Connecticut
 
MT Shooter wrote:
I was unimpressed with the 24-85 on my D850, but the 24-120mm F4 VR NANO is a bargain of a Pro Nikon zoom lens on the D850's high resolution sensor.


Absolutely agree!

Reply
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