First lens for new Nikon DSLR?
I'm purchasing a Nikon D800, and I'm really confused as to what my first lens should be. I've been umming and ahhing over whether to go prime or zoom, and I've decided for my application, zoom seems more practical. I had come close to choosing the Nikon 28-300, as its reviews were quite fantastic. Wide apertures aren't the most important thing for me, as I rarely shoot in dark situations, and almost always use a tripod. The only niggle this lens presented me with was its widest angle. I'm currently using a crop sensor DSLR, and its widest angle is 18mm (therefore 28mm would give me the same field of view). I do a lot of architecture, landscapes, streetscapes, and anything in the city, and I frequently feel that a wider lens would be great.
Would it be a foolish thing to get something like the Nikon 14-24mm f2.8, before something a bit more standard like the 28-300? Would adding something like the Nikon 50mm f1.8 to the 14-24mm make it a bit more versatile? I know its a bit difficult to comment on because it comes down to the individual, but I always like to hear peoples opinions.
Are you limiting yourself to Nikkor lenses? Look over these from Sigma.
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/...er-results
You seem to know exactly what you need already. Forget the standard. Go for the wide zoom. It's what will make you happy.
I'd look at the 18-200mm.
18-200 mm
Well at least 2 people who answered don't know that the D800 is a full-frame DSLR (FX format) and the Nikon 18-200mm zoom is a DX (cropped sensor) format zoom lens.
As a general rule, constant aperture zoom lenses will perform better at all focal lengths throughout the zoom range than their less expensive variable aperture cousins.
Here are some Nikon lenses worth, in my opinion, considering:
16-35mm f4 $1, 179.00
24-120mm f4 $1, 296.95
24-70mm f2.8G $1, 886.95
70-200mm f2.8G $2, 396.95
Prices from B&H - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...ovideo.com
You could start with the 24-70mm and later add the 70-200mm. Although the 24-120mm f4 is less expensive than the 24-70mm, if you later add the 70-200mm you'll have quite a bit of focal length over-lap.
The 16-35mm at 16mm has extreme straight line distotion but its easily corrected using Photoshop's "lens distortion filter" - at least according to Ken Rockwell.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/...6-35mm.htm
I'm happy with the 18-105mm lens as an all purpose every day lens and the next lens for me would be a 35mmf1.4 or f1.8 lens.