Ive been shooting on my trusty D850 for like a decade and finally bit the bullet to get a Z7 II for my big trip to Iceland next month but honestly the lens situation is driving me crazy. I picked up the 24-70mm f/4 kit lens thinking it would be fine for a bit but the corner sharpness is just not there for the big 40-inch prints I need to make for a gallery show in October. I tried adapting my old 14-24mm f/2.8 G with the FTZ adapter but the flare is driving me nuts and the whole setup feels so front heavy and awkward now that Im hiking more. Its frustrating spending thousands on a mirrorless body just to have it feel clunky or give me softer edges than my old DSLR setup.

I have about $2500 left in the budget and I need something that can handle harsh weather and give me those crisp details from edge to edge without weighing fifty pounds. I looked at a few options but the reviews are all over the place:

• Z 14-30mm f/4 S
• Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S
• Maybe a prime like the 20mm f/1.8?

Is it worth the extra cash for the f/2.8 S lens or am I just paying for the aperture I dont even use for landscapes? Or should I just look at third party stuff even though the native Z mount glass is supposed to be the gold standard? What are the top landscape lenses currently available for Nikon mount that actually live up to the hype? because Im about ready to throw this whole kit in a glacier...