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

What is a sharpness brigade?

Is that meant to be a pejorative for people who you believe are obsessed with sharpness? Hmm. . . I would expect that someone buying a 45 mp camera body might like a little more contrast and acutance in their glass. Don't you agree?

One of the wonderful, but barely understood testing methodologies is DXOMark, which rates the overall performance of the 28-300 on a 36 mp body to perform no better than a perfect lens on an 11 mp camera (11 P-Mpix or perceptual megapixels). In contrast, the Nikkor 105mm F1.4 AF-S gets a score of 33 P-Mpix) - which is almost a perfect score. There is no question that higher megapixel cameras can produce sharper and contrastier images with better lenses, and that using a lower quality lens will negate any image quality benefits that a high mp camera can provide.

It's like getting an Audi R-8 and putting cheap bias belted tires on it. Yes, it will run, but it won't be nearly as rewarding as using a $4000 set of Pirelli PZero Corsa tires on it. But you are right, a person's driving style may not need an all-out high performance tire. Which begs the question, why did that person buy a $180K, R-8 when something more modest would have sufficed. But its their money. Maybe I'm not seeing its value as a fashion accessory.

DJCard Loc: Northern Kentucky

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

My favorite two Nikon landscape lenses are the 16-35 f4 and the 24-120 f4. I carry both lenses with me as they both take my 77mm filters.
For landscapes I like foreground background shots. So I tend to use the 16-35 most of the time. If I need more reach I will mount the 24-120.
Below is a sample of the 16-35 with a 10 stop filter to slur the water. It's a shot of an old falls in a small Vermont town, in the background is the old mill.

Flash Falasca Loc: Beverly Hills, Florida

How about the 24-300 with a D800 ?

Flash Falasca Loc: Beverly Hills, Florida

How about the 24-300 with a D800 ?

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Yes, a BIG consideration for many peoples !....
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camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

In my humble opinion, if the lens you are looking for is to be used for landscape photography my first question would be what camera are you using? If it is a "full frame" camera you have a couple of good choices, a 24mm f2.8 prime or the 24-70 f2.8.
You can certainly use the 70-200 f2.8 to isolate a part of the landscape if that is what you want to do.

If you are using a DX body now things are a little different. For many people the 18mm side of kit lenses is all the wide angle they will ever need while others prefer the wider views offered with lenses like the 12-24 f4 or the 10-20 f3.5-5.6. Independent lenses make excellent wide angle lenses in the form of primes or zooms and the Tokina 11-16 f2.8 comes to mind. I favor the lenses made by the manufacturer for their cameras but that is me.

photoman43

The sensor in the D 850 requires the highest quality lenses if your objective is to get very sharp high quality images. This means that you need to upgrade your glass too as you upgrade your camera.

Here is one person's list of top quality lenses for different camera brands:

https://ejphoto.com/Quack%20PDF/Quack%20Autumn%202019.pdf

The list appears near the end of the newsletter.

I also recommend that you rent any expensive lens you are thinking of buying and try it out. Only you can make the final judgement if it is worth it for you.

Bill P

"

I have a car that requires tires rated to somewhere around 150mph. Do I want that option? Will I ever drive that fast? I know one thing, I'll never buy another car that puts me in that position. Did I buy that car as a fashion accessory? you obviously don't know me. I got the car to get the retractable hardtop, and there is no other tire choice available for that size of wheel. I will be coming into a bit of moneyy in a few months and the first thing I'm doing is shopping wheel and tire combinations.

Actually we have both made fatal mistakes here. We are equally guilty, but will you admit it? You have assumed that the OP wants ultimate sharpness over all else, although his statements question that, and I've assumed that he values the convenience over ultimate sharpness, which he has not indicated.

So who's wrong?

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

They don’t make a 24-300.
28-300, yes.

PhotoDerek Loc: County Durham, UK.

You have a great camera use good Nikon glass- 24-70 f2.8 and 70-200 f 2.8. They are heavy lenses but optically excellent. Use a good tripod and look for easy carrying solution- wheeled bag, rucksack etc could add a polariser and you are nearly complete.
Happy photography

PhotoDerek Loc: County Durham, UK.

You have a great camera use good Nikon glass- 24-70 f2.8 and 70-200 f 2.8. They are heavy lenses but optically excellent. Use a good tripod and look for easy carrying solution- wheeled bag, rucksack etc could add a polariser and you are nearly complete.
Happy photography

xrunningman1

The 28-300 and similar long range zooms are fine for posting or for family memories, but if your goal is art, then it just isn't up to the D810 or D850 sensors. Go with shorter zooms. Even the 24-85 is better than the longer zoom. You can also look at the new Tamron 24-70 as it is less expensive and a shade lighter. The 70-200 f2.8 is quite good but heavy and for travel, the 70-200 f4 is much more sensible.

xrunningman1

Take a look at Thom Hogan's sites for D850 lens suggestions.

xrunningman1

The Sigma Art lineup of lenses for Nikon are incredible! Get your lenses at B&H or Adorama and you can return them if you aren't happy. I have the 35mm 1.4 Art lens and it is extraordinary! The Tamron 24-70 f2.8 (latest version) is also exceptional and easier on the wallet than Nikon's.