Nikon 70-200mm 2.8 lens vs 18-300 mm 3.5-6.3 G ED VR Lens for a Nikon D850: I shoot landscape photos, Sunsets and Sunrises! What is your thoughts or suggestions in using these...

alexskoz Loc: Scottsdale, Arizona

I shoot landscape photos, Sunsets and Sunrises! What is your thoughts or suggestions in using these lenses? Is the quality of the photo any more or less with these lenses. Thinking of switching from 70-200 to 18-300. Thinking the 18-300 is more versatile. My photography is a serious hobby!

Thanks
Alex

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

A serious photographer wouldn't consider using a DX lens on their 45MP full-frame body ....

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

IMHO, the 70-200 is FAR superior in quality, and that is needed with a body like the D850. Best of luck.

alexskoz Loc: Scottsdale, Arizona

Thank You!

marty wild Loc: England

alexskoz wrote:

I shoot landscape photos, Sunsets and Sunrises! What is your thoughts or suggestions in using these lenses? Is the quality of the photo any more or less with these lenses. Thinking of switching from 70-200 to 18-300. Thinking the 18-300 is more versatile. My photography is a serious hobby!

Thanks
Alex

I have the 70 to 200 @2.8 . Now then to be completely honest I love my glass but I need the DOF. But in landscape you do not need F 2.8! You need length, so in that case I would go for the 18 to 300. But are you on crop sensor? Remember the calculations, 1.5 Nikon and 1.6 canon. You are shooting Fx so the calculation is not an issue. My answer is across the spectrum of FX & DX Systems

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

If your photography is serious, don’t use an 18-300 DX lens on an 850.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I have and love my Sigma 18-300mm zoom lens. However, for a 45.7 MP camera I have to suggest you must take into account not only the difference in optical quality but also the dramatic loss of used pixels. Unless there is some new trick, the camera must crop down to the size of a DX sensor which leaves 45.7 MP / 1.5² = 20.3 MP. That defeats most of the advantage of the 45.7 MP FF sensor.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Someone should take your D 850 away from you if you are asking this question.

alexskoz Loc: Scottsdale, Arizona

LOL

SteveR Loc: Michigan

The fx version of the lens you're looking at is the 28-300mm which is liked by many on UHH. I have used it to satisfaction on my D7000 and D800. For the most part now I use my 24-70 f2.8 on my D800. As much as I've liked my 28-300, however, I'd have to question using it on a D850 for anything but casual use. Why buy a D850 and not use the best lenses available? If on vacation and you want to use a 28-300, use a crop camera like the D7200.

CO

I would only use the DX 18-300mm on a DX sensor Nikon like my D500 or D7000.

It sounds like you want a shorter focal length range for your sunrise and sunset photos. Check out the Nikon 24-70mm AF-S f/2.8 or Tamron's new 24-70mm f/2.8 G2 lens. The Tamron is fully weather sealed and gets great reviews. You'll have the large f/2.8 maximum aperture that will help for low light shots.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

CO wrote:

I would only use the DX 18-300mm on a DX sensor Nikon like my D500 or D7000.

It sounds like you want a shorter focal length range for your sunrise and sunset photos. Check out the Nikon 24-70mm AF-S f/2.8 or Tamron's new 24-70mm f/2.8 G2 lens. The Tamron is fully weather sealed and gets great reviews. You'll have the large f/2.8 maximum aperture that will help for low light shots.

Actually, you can use a DX lens on the D850 set to 1:1 format to produce a very nice square image with a hair more than 30mp.

CO

larryepage wrote:

Actually, you can use a DX lens on the D850 set to 1:1 format to produce a very nice square image with a hair more than 30mp.

Would you really use the 18-300mm on your D850? I just went on DXOMark and checked the perceived megapixels of the Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED VR on the high resolution D7100. It has 9 perceived megapixels. The Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR has 20 perceived megapixels on a Nikon D800E.

The 18-300mm has an overall score of 15. The 24-70mm has an overall score of 29.

(Download)

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

CO wrote:

Would you really use the 18-300mm on your D850? I just went on DXOMark and checked the perceived megapixels of the Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED VR on the high resolution D7100. It has 9 perceived megapixels. The Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR has 20 perceived megapixels on a Nikon D800E.

The 18-300mm has an overall score of 15. The 24-70mm has an overall score of 29.

I just might...if I were in a situation where weight was important or if I was in a risky environment. Right now, it's the only really lightweight wide range zoom lens that I have.

alexskoz Loc: Scottsdale, Arizona

larryepage wrote:

I just might...if I were in a situation where weight was important or if I was in a risky environment. Right now, it's the only really lightweight wide range zoom lens that I have.

Thank you all for your feedback! I'll stick with my 70-200mm!