What is the best all-around lens I should get for a Nikon D850?
I just inherited this camera from my uncle who was super into photography, but honestly I have no idea where to start because it didnt come with a lens. I want something I can just leave on the camera for everyday stuff like taking photos of my kids at their soccer games in Chicago and some family vacations. My budget is around $800 which I hope is enough. Sorry if this is a really basic question but all the numbers like f-stops and focal lengths are just super confusing to me right now...
^ Great walkaround, but 120mm is too short for soccer!
- Get a used Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR for fantastic reach.
- It is way cheaper too!
To add to the point above: you definitely want something with image stabilization, or VR as Nikon calls it. The D850 has so many megapixels that any tiny camera shake will blur your shots. In my experience, a used Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR is the safest route. Its reliable, fits the budget, and covers soccer and vacations easily.
Congrats on getting the D850, it's a beast of a camera. Since you're just starting out, I have a couple quick questions to help narrow this down:
- Do you want a big zoom to reach across the soccer field, or something smaller for vacations?
- Are you okay carrying a heavy setup, or is comfort key? Let me know and we can go from there.
Stumbled upon this thread and just had to chime in! That D850 is an absolute monster of a camera, seriously. When I first started out, I was totally overwhelmed by all those numbers too, but you learn so fast once you start shooting. I remember taking my first heavy zoom out to a local park and being blown away by how much detail I could capture from way across the field. Reliability has been my main goal over the years because you just dont want to miss those perfect moments with your kids. My current setup is a bit of a tank, but the images are just so sharp it makes the weight worth it every time! Just keep experimenting and you will find your rhythm soon enough. Its a fantastic journey, honestly.
