Hey fellow photographers! I’ve been a loyal Nikon shooter for over a decade now, but I’ve recently hit a bit of a crossroads with my gear. I just made the jump to the mirrorless system with a Z8, and while the body is incredible, I’m still mostly relying on my older F-mount glass with the FTZ adapter. Specifically, I’ve been using the classic AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G for my landscape work. It’s a legendary lens, but let’s be honest—it’s a total beast to carry on a ten-mile hike, and that bulbous front element makes using filters a massive headache in the field.
I’m currently planning a bucket-list trip to the Pacific Northwest to shoot some rugged coastlines and old-growth forests, and I really want to modernize my kit. I’m looking for something that offers that insane edge-to-edge sharpness we all crave for large prints. I’ve been eyeing the Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S because it’s lighter and supposedly optically superior, but I’ve also seen some stunning work done with the Z 20mm f/1.8 S prime. Then there’s the Z 14-30mm f/4 S, which is so much more compact and takes standard 82mm screw-on filters, which would be a dream for long exposures at the beach.
My budget is around $2,500, so I can afford the pro-grade glass, but I’m torn on whether the f/2.8 aperture is really necessary for landscapes or if I should prioritize the portability and filter-friendliness of the f/4 version. I’ve spent hours looking at MTF charts, but nothing beats real-world experience from people actually out in the elements. For those of you who have put these through their paces, what do you consider to be the absolute top-rated Nikon lens for landscape photography in the current Z-mount era?
I'd go with the Nikkor Z 20mm f/1.8 S. It's sharper than the Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S and way lighter than the zooms already mentioned. Saves you $1,500 too! Best value! gl
For your situation, I’d grab the Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S. It’s AMAZINGLY sharp, tiny, and the 82mm filter thread is basically a dream for coastal shots. You wont regret it! gl!
The engineering on the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is just insane! If you are chasing absolute peak resolution and edge-to-edge clarity for big prints, this is technically the benchmark. Ive analyzed the MTF data for hours and the way this lens maintains contrast even at the corners is leagues ahead of the old F-mount glass. It handles the 45MP sensor of the Z8 with zero sweat. For those PNW forests, you might also find the Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S surprisingly useful for tight misty shots. If I had to pick one top-rated lens for your budget, the 24-70 f/2.8 S wins for pure optical perfection. It uses the larger Z-mount throat to its full potential... you get almost no distortion or chromatic aberration to worry about in post. TL;DR: Grab the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S for the best technical performance and sharpest mid-range glass available.
Man, you are gonna LOVE the PNW! I spent a month shooting the coast there and the weather is no joke... you really need gear that wont fail when the mist turns into a downpour. I actually started moving away from the ultra-wides for the forest shots because those massive trees sometimes look better with a bit of compression anyway. Heres how I see the best options for staying safe and getting the shot:
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S: This is my absolute safety pick! The range is fantastic for picking out details in the mist that you'd totally lose with a 14mm. Plus, the weather sealing is rock solid and I never worry about it getting wet. It is so reliable.
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S: If you want that pro-grade insane sharpness you mentioned, this is it! Its basically glued to my Z8 most of the time. The edge-to-edge detail is amazing and miles ahead of the old F-mount stuff. I ended up using the 24-120mm way more than my wide zooms on my last trip just because it felt more reliable for hiking miles into the woods. If you're worried about the weight or hitting rocks, the f/4 S-line stuff is honestly a total lifesaver!
Be careful of heavy glass! I once lugged a beastly setup and it KILLED my back. I'd maybe suggest a lightweight Nikon prime as the best... basically saved my knees on those hikes. gl!
Saw this thread earlier but just now responding... honestly, your story sounds exactly like mine from a few years back. I used to lug that heavy f/2.8 lens everywhere and it was a total beast. In my experience, the weight starts to drain your creativity after a few miles. I eventually ditched the heavy stuff for a more compact f/4 zoom that takes regular screw-on filters, and it totally changed how I shoot. The reality is that for landscapes, we're usually stopped down anyway, so the extra stop of light usually isnt worth the back pain. Weather sealing on the newer stuff is incredible tho. My current setup has been through some pretty nasty rain and salt spray without a single issue. Getting those filters on quickly is a game changer for coastal work. You'll be way happier on those long hikes in the PNW with something that doesnt feel like a boat anchor. Reliability and ease of use always win out for me these days... just makes the whole experience more fun.
Adding my two cents here because I've seen things go sideways on those PNW trips before. Before you commit to anything tho, are you planning on shooting mostly from a tripod or are you hoping to stay handheld while you're trekking through those forests? It makes a huge difference with the Z8 balance. Honestly, your situation reminds me so much of my buddy who was a die-hard Canon shooter for years before switching over to the Nikon Z system. He was obsessed with getting the absolute sharpest glass for a trip to Olympic National Park, similar to what you're doing. He spent weeks comparing the Nikon S-line stuff against his old glass, worrying about every little micro-contrast detail. He ended up getting so caught up in the technical specs that he forgot to check how his filter holder system would actually fit the new lens hoods. He got all the way to the coast, hiked down in the rain, and realized his expensive filters were basically useless because of a tiny gap in the mount. It turned into this whole ordeal where he was trying to duct-tape gear to the front of a two-thousand dollar lens in a downpour... basically a total disaster and he barely got any shots that week. Just make sure to be really careful about how you're planning to stack those filters, especially if you're dealing with the mist out there.
Can vouch for this
