imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

The Tamron 28-300 is 4 years newer design than the Nikon ....

retfyrman

I believe Ken Rockwell uses this lens as an all purpose walk around lens. Check out his review at Ken Rockwell.com https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/28-300mm.htm

Ballangrud Loc: Vermont

I have used my 28-300 as my main walk-around lens. I have traveled to all 7 continents and have never regretted getting a sharper lens. My reasoning is that I never print larger than 8X10. I shoot my D810 in raw and post-produce in Lightroom. My photos look great.

JFBoone

With proper technique the 28-300 is very sharp (unless you get a less than stellar performing sample and that's certainly possible). Close focus-macro-images are incredible.

Argus

I agree with ELNikkor as both reviews for Ken Rockwell (D850 and the 28-300mm) show both a great camera and lens working together. Unless you need super fast primes for low light this combo is great for travel if you want a one lens solution if you can deal with the weight of both. The D850 is great for low light as it is and the 28-300mm is super sharp all around. I'd look at the reviews first and check out the included photos. The photos can be downloaded and are full size. I've checked them edge to edge and can find nothing wrong them. Reviews are here:

D850 (for photos in review as you already have the D850) https://kenrockwell.com/nikon/d850.htm

28-300mm lens review https://kenrockwell.com/nikon/28-300mm.htm

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

I purchased a Sony RX10M4 for travel and found it produced better image quality than a 28-300 on a D800. It has an equivalent 24-600mm F2.4-F4 Zeiss lens, weighs only 2.5 lbs, and is a total joy to use. The compromise of using such a tiny sensor seems less significant than using a soft lens on a high mp camera. And traveling or shooting locally, it has handled all shooting situations I would have used a full frame camera for with ease.

_DSC0026-DSC-RX10M3--(28-11-17) by Gene Lugo, on Flickr

_DSC0061-DSC-RX10M3--(28-11-17) high res by Gene Lugo, on Flickr

_DSC0275-DSC-RX10M4--(10-12-17) by Gene Lugo, on Flickr

_DSC2662-DSC-RX10M4--(22-04-18) by Gene Lugo, on Flickr

_DSC3649-DSC-RX10M4--(17-12-18) by Gene Lugo, on Flickr

_DSC2878-DSC-RX10M4--(19-08-18) by Gene Lugo, on Flickr

_DSC2771-DSC-RX10M4--(23-05-18) by Gene Lugo, on Flickr

_DSC0754 by Gene Lugo, on Flickr

_DSC2148-DSC-RX10M4--(19-02-18) hi res by Gene Lugo, on Flickr

_DSC1369 by Gene Lugo, on Flickr

_DSC1362 by Gene Lugo, on Flickr

_DSC0524 by Gene Lugo, on Flickr

Is it a replacement for a D810 or D850 with an excellent lens? Nope. But I know what I'd rather have in my bag if I wanted convenience with minor compromise.

Pistnbroke Loc: UK

When I got my D850 I was disappointed until I put the sharp up to +9 and adjusted the fine focus adjust.
Applies to all Nikons and all lenses ..if it ain't set right you will think its no good. If you have a new lens then set the FFA and do it again after 1000 shots as they all run in the mechanism getting freed up.

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

After testing multiple cameras and lenses, I no longer fine tune any lenses/bodies. I test when getting a new camera or lens, but with a half-dozen bodies and two dozen lenses, doing AF Fine tune is not how I like to spend my time, just to get a lens "perfect" for a single focal length at a single distance. All my lenses work equally well with all my camera bodies. When a new piece of gear is introduced, or if I suspect something has changed in a lens (due to wear), I do a quick compare between live view (CDAF) and viewfinder (PDAF). If there is a discrepancy, and I think it's a lens problem, I confirm on other bodies. If I suspect it is a body problem (an existing lens is fine on the other cameras), then it's a body problem. Rather than waste my time with extremely limited AF Fine Tune, which is nothing more than a focus shift, I send the likely culprit to repair. Nikon (and others) can fix either one with far more accuracy at far more focal lengths and focus distance than anything possible in camera.

No amount of fine tuning can ever make a 28-300 shoot sharp images.

jlb0725

I use a Nikon 18-300mm and love the lens. It is my primary all around lens and very sharp. I have a variety of lenses also but when you only want to carry one lens, you cannot go wrong with this one.

alexol

Some really nice shots there!

You make a very good case for skipping the 850 entirely and only using the Sony, for most purposes.

Wonder what the RX10 V will be like when/if released...

ta5567

I have the 28-300, the 24-70, 70-200 and the 80-400 and the D850.

I find the 28-300 a very good lens it is great to be able to take a single lens to walk around. The 80-400 is also a very good lens with a little more reach. I find that these lenses are great when I am going to shoot in JPG as the advantage of the 45+ MP is not as important.

The 2.8 24-70 and 70-200 are excellent lenses, their resolving power is able to do justice to the D850. The extra speed is also important as with the other lenses you don't always realize how a stop or two helps. Because of the resolving power I find I can crop to get the 300 or 400 power at better resolution.

You are correct with the weight difference. When so I normally carry both the 24-70 and 70-200.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Except that the OP is using a high resolution, full-frame Nikon D850.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I have used my 28-300mm on both my D7000 and D800. As you said, it's very convenient for travel as one lens that stays on your camera. It's a terrific lens and I have been very happy with the results that I have achieved with it. I must say, however, that I have moved to the 24-70mm f2.8 as the go-to lens on my D800. The 28-300 is fine, but the 24-70 is a finer lens and meets most of my needs. I'm not actually sure what kind of results you'd get with the combination of the 28-300mm with the D850. I would almost recommend using the 28-300 on a crop sensor camera like the D7500 or D7200 for better compatibility. My daughter has a D7500 and borrowed my 28-300 for a 3 week road trip and loved it so much that her husband bought her one for her birthday. The advantage of combining it with a crop sensor camera, ofc, is the extended field of view. You might test the lens out on your D850 and see what kind of results you DO get.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Gene, just a word of compliment. These are super photographs. I loved every one of them.
--Bob

alexol

They really are, and genuinely cause me to reflect on why I need/want all the complication and expense of an 850 and all that goes with it.

There's lots I'd miss, but really?

Maybe the Sony would replace most of the "stuff" and keep only the 850 and a couple of favorite lenses, such as the 85.

I don't use this to make money, it's just a fun hobby, and one which is non-exclusive, not even my main interest. Having said that, I see that as I age, photography will become more important to me - but even then, do I really want a wheelbarrow load of gear?

I don't use the 200-500 for it really to be worthwhile and in that sense the Sony could handle that end of things, maybe, sort-of.

And that's what prompted the 28-300 question in the first place.... Full circle.

The sensible solution is to try and then make corrections as you go along I suppose.

At least, that helps keep the camera companies profitable!