Nikkor/Nikon 14-24mm VS Nikkor/Nikon 24-70mm?

Which should I buy first?

Added (1). I shoot sports this will be my first pro lens for a d800e

It depends on use. What do you shoot first? Do you love to shoot landscapes, scenery, wide expansive spaces, huge buildings or large group shots? Get the 14-24mm. You rarely go wide and are more interested what you see with your eyes, people, pets or go into details of things within your grasp? The 24-70mm would be more fitting. To get a better understanding of lenses and how to look at them properly, see this lengthy discussion.

http://keerok-photography.blogspot.com/2011/05/lenses-so-many-of-them-there-is-no-best.html

Nikkor/Nikon 14-24mm is better

Nikon's new 14-24 lens is just phenomenal. The clarity is that of a prime lens. In fact, this super-wide angle zoom lens effectively replaces the equivalent prime lenses within most of its focal length (except perhaps the 24mm range); it's like owning a bag full of prime lenses that have been combined to make one superlative zoom lens.

Yes, it's that good. If you check around the web, you will see the pros falling over themselves for this lens after they test it. It's built like a tank and is precise as a Swiss watch.
Highly recommended

The 14-24 is strictly a wide angle lens which I don't think will be very useful for sports. Unless you are doing landscape, the 24-70 will probably be used about 90% of the time for most photography needs, and that is what I would buy first.

Josh, best thing for you is to pop into your local camera store and ask for a quick demonstration of some lenses, try reading a photography guide book for some guidance… Then pop in to your local store just tell the staff that they were recommended to you by the local minister because they are really helpful… This will let you see exactly how different lenses behave and you'll know what one will be best suited for you.

I would recommend a 18-135mm lens for most newcomers, though for sport I would tend to advise something that covers the 200mm length (or above - depends on the sport)… What works for me isn't always going to be the best for you, so it's always best to make your own decisions.

So you question the versus between a superwide and a normal zoom. The 24-70mm is pretty much the normal zoom. As you use a full frame it will act as an 24-70mm, giving some wide and with 70mm also it gets into portrait area.

The 14-24mm is a superwide, 24mm already is pretty wide and as you go wider you enter superwide. This will change how you see the world. Straight Lines will not be straight anymore and you'll find that you can get allot in the frame. For instance you can make a picture of a church in what you take in all the arches. Of course it won't be as straight anymore but.who cares you have a lovely shot of all the church:! And you can always in post processing straighten lines a bit.

You talk about sport, how about a 70-200mmm F2.8? With that you can get really close to the action filling the frame with the horse and riders. For sports they tend to use lenses like the 70-200mm F2.8. Because you want to really zoom in and take out a smaller event within the big story. And at 70mm it will be wide enough to get that shot showing what you are photographing.

John has a good point by the way just go a good camera shop and hold the lenses. Try them, see what effect they have. Trust me a 70-200mm is more fitting sports. But you have to see and hold them yourself.

What kind of sports?

If basketball, you will be using two cameras and two lenses. One set to cover the base line and the other set to cover cross court.

I use the Nikkor 24-70 mm from the base line and a 300 mm when shooting cross court. There are times when the drama under the basket might warrant using a 14-24 mm lens, but again, that is up to you and your style of shooting.

Shooting football and baseball, a much longer lens is needed like a 300 mm, 200-400 mm or 70-200 mm lens

I would think that your experience shooting sports would be enough for you to pick the correct lens for the sports you cover.

Do this.

* look back at the images you have been shooting at sporting venues and look at the EXIF data on the image files. This will give you a good idea of the focal lengths you use most of the time.
* visit this website and compare the field of view of each focal length you now have as well as those on the 14-24 mm and 24-70 mm lenses.

http://imaging.nikon.com/.../index.htm

This small investigation on your part should help you decide which lens is best for your needs as a sports photographer