So Ive been shooting with my D750 for a couple years now and mostly just use primes like the 35mm and 85mm but honestly Im getting so tired of swapping glass every five minutes when I'm out walking around. Im planning this big two-week trip to Japan in November and I really just want one solid lens that can stay on the camera like 90% of the time. I've been looking around and people keep saying the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 VR is the gold standard but man it is huge and heavy and honestly I dont know if my neck can handle that for 10 miles a day. Then I saw some folks recommending the 24-120mm f4 which sounds way more practical for travel because of the extra reach but then I read a bunch of reviews saying its "just okay" or soft in the corners and that kinda scares me if I want to print some landscape shots later. I keep going back and forth on whether the f2.8 is actually necessary if I have high ISO capability, but then I think about those moody street shots at night in Shinjuku and feel like I might regret the f4.
Here is what I am looking for specifically:
- budget is around $800 to $1,100 (totally fine with buying used from KEH or MPB)
- needs to be sharp enough for professional-ish landscape prints
- weight matters a bit because I'll be hiking around Kyoto and some mountain trails
- fast enough for some indoor temple shots or evening street scenes
Is the Sigma 24-105mm Art a better middle ground? I read it has great build quality but some people say the autofocus is slow compared to the native Nikon glass. Or should I just bite the bullet and get the 24-70 and a good Peak Design strap to handle the weight? I also saw the Tamron G2 version might be lighter but I've never used third party lenses on my Nikon bodies so I'm a bit worried about the autofocus being wonky or the colors looking different. I just want something that feels worth the money and wont make me regret leaving my primes at home. What are you guys actually using as your walk-around lens these days? Does the 24-120 really hold up for landscapes or is it just a lazy lens...
> I also saw the Tamron G2 version might be lighter but I've never used third party lenses on my Nikon bodies Honestly, dont let the third-party thing scare you off. I would suggest looking at the Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2. It might be the best balance for your D750. Be careful with used copies tho; make sure to check the AF accuracy. You can always get the Tamron TAP-in Console for Nikon to fine-tune it if needed. Its way lighter than the Nikon VR version and holds up great for landscapes.
Like someone mentioned, dont fear third-party, but how big are you printing? In my experience, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR is sharp enough and way lighter than the f2.8 glass.
> Im getting so tired of swapping glass every five minutes when I'm out walking around. Honestly, the lens swapping struggle is so real. I remember being in Kyoto a few years back and missing a perfect candid shot because I was fumbling in my bag trying to get my 85mm on. It completely kills the flow of the day and makes me want to leave the camera at the hotel, tbh. Its just exhausting constantly worrying about dust getting on the sensor or dropping a lens while you're standing on a crowded street corner. I felt that exact same burnout for a long time. I eventually picked up the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR and I've been super satisfied with it. No complaints about the quality here... if you're shooting landscapes at f/8 it's plenty sharp for prints. Since you've got a decent budget, I'd grab that used for about $450 and then spend the extra on a Peak Design Slide Camera Strap to save your neck. It makes the weight way more manageable. If you're really worried about Shinjuku at night, you'll still have enough left for a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G which weighs basically nothing and handles the low light stuff.
