I finally pulled the trigger on a used D850 but now Im totally panicking about lenses because I leave for a trip to Italy in three weeks. That 45 megapixel sensor is scary and I dont want to waste it on soft glass but I only have about $700 left in my budget.
Im torn between picking up a used Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art or just sticking with the lighter Nikon 35mm f/1.8G ED. The Sigma looks amazing for portraits but it weighs a ton and I'm gonna be walking all day through Florence. Is the Nikon 1.8G sharp enough for that sensor or is the Sigma Art really the only way to go if I want those crisp shots? I'm just so stressed about making the wrong call before I fly out...
Honestly, dont stress too much. That 45MP sensor is definitely a beast, but in my experience, people way overthink the glass requirements for it. Ive shot with both on a D850 and while the Sigma Art is technically a master of resolving power, it really is a heavy chunk of glass for a walking vacation.
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G ED: Super light, fits the budget easily, and looks great stopped down to f/2.8.
- Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art for Nikon F: Phenomenal optics but it weighs almost 700g on its own. I'd say go with the Nikon 1.8G for Italy. Youll appreciate the lighter bag when you're climbing those narrow stairs in Florence. Plus, with the $700 budget, you could even grab a used Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G as a backup and still have plenty of cash left for extra storage like a SanDisk 128GB Extreme Pro CFexpress Type B because those 45MP files are massive.
In my experience, the safest bet for that high-res sensor is actually the Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8 Di VC USD. I carried one through Europe last year because that built-in stabilization is a lifesaver when shooting handheld at 45MP. Its sharp, reliable, and honestly gives me more peace of mind than the heavier Sigma when im tired.
Finally someone says it. Ive been thinking this for a while but wasnt sure.
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To add to the point above: people really underestimate how much a heavy kit ruins the vibe. In my experience, you can have the best tech in the world but it wont matter if youre too miserable to use it. Stumbled upon this discussion and it reminds me of when my buddy took a huge setup to Rome a few years back. He was a total Nikon fanboy but bought a bunch of Sigma gear specifically for that trip because of the sharpness hype. He ended up spending half the time in the hotel because his back gave out by day three. Then he got into this massive argument with a local at a cafe about which brand had better color science... it turned into a whole ordeal that basically soured the entire trip for the rest of us. He didnt even get that many shots because he was too tired to lift the camera by the time we actually got to the Pantheon. Just a total mess, honestly...
