jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Let the money start flowing!

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/

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

OK, lets cut to the chase. You just bought a $3300.00 camera and you want to CONSIDER using third party glass. Really, that's one of your options. Glass makes the body, a body can never make the glass.
And, really, a backpack camera bag for the D850 and three lenses. Now your really dreaming. Unless you get equipment carriers like in the old Tarzan movies.
OK, time to get serious, three lenses and a D850 for under $10,000.00. Really, do you really have that money, I believe this is a troll post, or a want-to-be post.
Here are my personal picks, D850, Nikon 16-35 f4, Nikon 70-200 2.8 FL, Nikon 35 1.4 G. And, since I am still under your proposed threshold, I'll throw in a Nikon 20mm 1.8 G. There, all for the mere sum of $9660.00. Good luck getting this into a backpack you can carry. Better make sure you get a back pack with padded shoulder straps.
When you get the money, let me know, I'd like to go to the store and watch you buy this outfit.

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

According to your first site.
Oh gee, my 200-500 nikon lens is not on the list. Looks like I cannot use it on my new D850 body. What a shame. All because Nikon does not recommend it. And further, I see that my new Nikon 500 5.6 lens in also not on the recommended lens list for my new D850 body. Yet another life disappointment.
Life is such a bummer. Oh, what to do, what to do.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

The selections of lenses is something very subjective and it is based on the subjects most frequently photographed. There will be many different answers to your questions.
Primes in general are sharper than zooms although professional zoom lenses are of excellent quality, case in point the 24-70 f2.8. Street photography and many landscapes are well served with a 35mm f2.8 lens.
Many photographers use the 50mm f1.8 or 1.4 and I happen to be one of them. The 85mm f1.8 is an excellent optics for portraits and the 70-200 f2.8 is well known for its performance and sharpness. Good for portraits also but heavier than the 85.
The 14-28 f2.8 forms part of the trinity of lenses for Nikon. It is a great optic and excels for photography at night. The 28-300 is a practical walk around lens and from what I know after 200mm it softens in the corners and somewhat at the center.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I’d go with the 24-70 2.8, 70-200 2.8 for sure, and a nifty 50 1.4 or 1.8

ksmmike

Like some others have suggested, it really depends on what you like to photograph. I would go back and look at your past images and see what focal point you took the majority of your images and start there when selecting lenses.

Some wrote about the Nikon 16-35 F4. I own that lens and don't use it nearly as often as the Nikon 20mm 1.8. I don't see a large difference in image quality. I think it ends up being that the 20mm is smaller and lighter. Either would be a good choice.

Someone suggested the 40mm 2.0 Voigtlander. I own that lens as well as the Voigtlander 58mm 1.4. Again, both are great lenses, but I use the 58mm far more. The 40mm is a pancake lens, so its smaller, but I find I like the length of 58mm more for my tastes. The 58mm is a fantastic lens. It's manual focus, but its a fantastic lens.

I once used almost all zooms, when I was shooting sports and wildlife. I now do more landscape and portraits, so I use primes 90% of the time. So again, I would think it depends on what you like to photograph. I have not used Zeiss lenses, but I know they have a great reputation. The Voigtlander is made in the same factory and is less expensive. I would bet the Voigtlander would hold up against any comparisons to the Zeiss. I'm sure the 58mm would.

I have owned (still have one) Tamron lenses. They have improved but in my opinion the Nikons are still better. I owned the Nikon 28-300 for about 2 days. I didn't find the quality to be close to my older Nikon 80-200. I have the latest Nikon 50mm. Its a good lens, but the color and micro contrast is better on the 58mm Voigtlander. I rarely use the Nikon and might sell it. I recently sold a Nikon 85mm too, only because I was using the 58mm and 105mm more for my tastes, but the Nikon 85mm 1.8D is a fantastic lens too. I regret selling that one.

Some might disagree, but it might be worth looking into some of the older Nikon manual focus lenses. I have the 105mm 2.5 that I use all the time for portraits. I think I paid about $150 for it. Was well worth it. I also have the older Nikon 135mm manual focus. Another good older lens for not a lot of money.

I went to Europe this past summer and 90% of the images I took were with the Nikon 20mm 1.8 and the Voigtlander 58MM 1.4. At home with my kids and grandchild I use the Nikon 105mm and the Voigtlander 100% of the time. For sports I use the Nikon 300mm F4 or the Nikon 80-200 F2.8 (another older Nikon lens but takes wonderful images). Again it really depends on what you shoot, but I much prefer primes over zooms now.

Some might wonder why I went through so many lenses lately. I had heart surgery and then blood clots last year and couldn't do too much for a few months and did a lot of researching into new and older lenses (mostly Nikon) and bought and sold several lenses until I finally settled on a few to use. I kept my Nikon 80-200 that I have owned for many years. I pretty much sold off all my other lenses and picked up the Nikon 16-35, the 20mm, the 50mm, the older 105 and 135 and the 2 Voigtlanders and the 300mm F4. I'll probably keep trading around and settle on 3 or 4 lenses. I doubt I'll ever sell the 80-200 (its a tank). I know I'll never sell the Voigtlander 58mm or the Nikon 20mm.


I hope that helped even a tiny bit. Like some have suggested, for a Nikon D850, get the best glass you can. The most expensive doesn't always mean the best. I have a Nikon D700 and D750. I would love the own the 850 but I spent all my cash on lenses in the past year. After I sell off some lenses maybe I'll get the 850, but for now, I prefer having more lenses than the advantages of a D850 over a D750. Just my preference, but if I could afford getting everything, I'd get the D850 and get the best lenses I could find between the Nikon family, the 58mm Voigtlander and I'd check into Zeiss.

I guess I should have ended it with for landscape either the Nikon 16-35 or the 20mm, I prefer the 20mm
for city, the Nikon 16-35 or the 20mm and the Voigtlander 58mm
for people the Nikon 85mm, older Nikons like the 105 or 135 and the Voigtlander 58mm.
I'd look at Zeiss too if I could afford them.
Mike

ksmmike

The top image was taken with the Nikon 105mm 2.5 no flash. The bottom was with the Voigtlander. The voigtlander is great at collecting light. These were taken straight from the camera with no adjustments. They were taken within minutes of each other. In low light there is no comparison with the same settings.

mscott842

With a D850 stay with Nikon Gold Ring series of lenses.

Festus Loc: North Dakota

Please go to Thom Hogan’s site (bythom.com) and search for his recommendations for lenses that pair well with the Nikon D850. He gives reasons why some lenses are better than others.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

For landscapes, interiors, architecture, and photographing parties in tight spaces, a 14-24mm zoom is handy. But unless you photograph those sorts of things, that lens will get the least use of all, so buy it last.

In general, a 24-70mm lens will handle 60% to 75% of your daily needs. Get the very best one you can afford. It's great to have as your "default" lens.

A 70-200mm will handle a large chunk of the rest of your needs. It's a great portrait lens, handy for street and travel photography, and long enough for some family sporting events. Get the best one you can both carry and afford. They're heavy and expensive.

60mm or 105mm macro is great for close-up work. The 60mm is great on a copy stand or for photographing flat art. The 105mm is great for getting close to critters, although some prefer the 200mm for those.

Or, you can always get a set of primes such as a 24mm, 35mm, 85mm, and 105mm macro. Single focal lengths will generally provide the very best performance. They can be sharper, faster, and better corrected. But then you're changing lenses often, which introduces dust into the camera body. That wasn't an issue with film, but with digital interchangeable lens cameras, it is a big issue.

Better dealers can direct you to the best performance lenses. Don't be afraid to consult with B&H, Adorama, Cameta Camera, KEH (used), or MPB (used). They have experts. Get several opinions. But be prepared to tell them in detail what it is you intend to photograph!

In general, if you have a super-high resolution camera like the D850, 10X and similar extended range zooms (28-300, etc.) are not going to give you the best images the camera can produce. If quality is your main goal, keep the zoom range to about 3X or less. Extended range zooms are for travel, usually with a DX camera body. They attempt to do everything, but they do nothing particularly well, other than providing convenience.

Bags are very personal items. I like Lowe Pro, Tamrac, and Pelican gear. If you can get to a major dealer in NYC, try a bunch of them.

Finally, RENT TO TRY, BEFORE YOU BUY. http://www.lensrentals.com and http://www.borrowlenses.com are great resources to use.

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

Sorry Charlie, I have owned and used the 105 2.5 for many, many years in photojournalism and that has to be the WORST shot I have ever seen with that lens. Those two shots were taken under VERY DIFFERENT lighting situations. This is one of the worst comparisons of lenses I have ever seen.
The "all time famous cover for National Geographic" was taken with the 105 2.5. SHAME ON YOU.

jackpinoh Loc: Kettering, OH 45419

For the D850, I would buy Tamron 24-70mm f2.8, 15-30mm f2.8, and 70-200mm f2.8, plus a RRS tripod and head, and a polarizing filter and step-up ring (if required).

SteveR Loc: Michigan

f2.8 is great, but you'll get blown away by a 1.8. Pick up the best buy out there, the Nikon 50mm f1.8D...not the G, for about $134. It sucks up light like a vacuum.

I also wouldn't hesitate to try some old manual focusing wide angle prime lenses in lieu of an expensive zoom af wide angle. There are great lenses out there for a bargain....if you're willing to focus yourself.

And that 28-300mm is just darned convenient for vacations. I find it best used on crop sensor cameras, however. I'd give it a test drive on an 850.

Indiana Loc: Huntington, Indiana

If I were to look at glass as an assignment based issue, I would select the Nikon Holy Trinity, i.e. the 14-35, 24-70, and the 80-200 to compliment the D850. Otherwise, the 28-300 Nikon walk-around, all purpose, any situation lens is very good and allows me the opportunity to capture the unexpected, that might not be the case with the other lenses mentioned. Just my thoughts.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

To be clear, at the risk of argument: the Nikon Holy Trinity is the 14-24mm 2.8, the 24-70mm 2.8, and the 70-200mm 2.8. While there are now different versions of two of those lenses; there are otherwise no personal substitutions.
It is what it is.