Just got my Nikon D850 plus two lenses...the Nikkor AF-S VR Micro 105 f/2.8 and the Nikkor lens AF-S 24 - 70 F/2.8E ED VR

Someone in the group said the 24 - 70 was a beast...she was right.

My questions is this...since it is rather heavy do I really need this lens to be my "go to" lens? Is there another lens that would also work?

I am an professional artist (painter) that loves to take images of her dogs and the Taos, NM countryside. (The Micro will be to take images of my work plus my students work.)

I have to say this group is not only realllllly wonderful but you are a hoot! I love this group of photographers and I trust your advice.

I wouldn't dare post an image of one of my photographs as you guys are way too good...maybe after I learn about the D850.

A quick show of hands please. How many photographers here are also musicians? I find it interesting that so many people who are "artistic" often are so in more than one discipline. Ansel Adams was also a classically trained pianist, you have Ralph Gibson, and more recently people like Brian Adams, Nikki Sixx (no joke!), and Graham Nash. All are well known musicians and are also Photogs. My father was a photographer and jazz drummer who must have rubbed off on me because I'm also a musician in addition to being a photographer. My eldest son, who plays multiple instruments, also has a keen eye for photography.
I'm sure that there have been many studies on this, but I'm just wondering how many in our little community practice both arts.

There's a lot of variation in the AF accuracy of camera and lens combinations. I test the daylights out of my lenses, lenses I rent, and DSLR bodies using a DataColor SpyderLensCal. I rented the Tamron 45mm f/1.8 lens once. It needed -12 AF fine tuning on my Nikon DSLR bodies. I later took a chance and purchased a new one from B&H. I lucked out. That one only requires -3 AF fine tuning on the same cameras. The camera bodies are part of this as well. I had read that a small number of Nikon D7000 cameras has a severe back focusing issue. I had one of those. I had to set the AF fine tuning to about -15 with all lenses. I returned that one and purchased another one from a different company. The AF sensors must be calibrated much more accurately in that one. Only small amounts of AF fine tuning are needed.