Im leaving for the Grand Canyon next Tuesday and still havent grabbed a wide lens for my D850 and im lowkey panicking. I did some digging and everyone says the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 is the goat but then i read about the front element being a pain for filters and I really wanted to do some long exposure shots. Some people say the 20mm prime is better for sharpness but I'm scared it wont be wide enough for those huge views. My budget is around $1400 and I gotta order something by tonight so it gets here in time. Is the 14-24 still the king for full frame or should I look at the Sigma Art stuff instead?
Yo, you gotta check out the Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2! Seriously, its an absolute beast on the D850 and way more affordable than the native Nikon version. I used it for a mountain trip last year and the image stabilization is a total lifesaver when you dont have a tripod handy. It handles flares really well too which is gonna be huge for those high-contrast Grand Canyon sunsets!! If youre really worried about the filter situation for those long exposures, the bulbous front element on most ultra-wides is definitely a headache. I ended up getting the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art because the sharpness is just insane, honestly might even beat the Nikon glass for hundreds of dollars less. It still has the filter issue tho... so if you want easy screw-on filters and wanna save a ton of money, just grab the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 20mm f/1.8G ED. Its super light and takes standard 77mm filters which are cheap and easy to find. Honestly 20mm is plenty wide for the canyon if you do a quick panorama stitch. Youll save like $700 compared to your budget and can spend that on a killer filter kit instead! Definitely dont panic, you have amazing options that wont break the bank and will still look professional.
Honestly, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED was quite a letdown for my landscape workflow. While the optics are fine, the requirement for those massive 150mm filter systems is just not practical or cost-effective. I had issues with light leaks and the sheer weight of the adapter kit was exhausting. Since you're on a budget and need to move fast, I'd suggest looking at more reliable, standard-filter-compatible options.
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR
- This is the safest pick for a D850. It uses 77mm screw-on filters and has VR.
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED
- Its not as wide, but the price is unbeatable and its surprisingly sharp.
- Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art
- Better optics than the Nikon version, but unfortunately, still has that bulbous front element. The 16-35mm is the most methodical choice even though the barrel distortion at 16mm is somewhat disappointing. You can fix that easily in post anyway. Stick with something that takes standard filters so you dont waste your budget on a lens then realize you need another $400 for a filter holder and glass. Its just a smarter move for a trip like this tbh.
- Building on the earlier suggestion, are you planning to use standard screw-on filters or a bulky square system?
- I found that bulbous glass often causes light leaks during long exposures.
