Decent walk about lens

Dangermouse

Squeaky Clean
Messages
9,962
Edit My Images
No
On the prowl for a walkabout lens, so far I have my eye on a Tokina 28-80 f2.8 ATX PRO and the Nikon 24-120 f3.5 vr but cant seem to make up my mind, the Tokina is faster but the Nikon seems a better all rounder due to the extra length, what would you get?
 
I've used equivalent 24-120 (Zeiss 16-80) and currently use a 28-105. For a single lens solution I'd say 24-120 is better if it's really crisp like the Zeiss, but I'd consider 28-80 frustratingly limited unless you KNOW you're likely to need that faster aperture and can get great image quality wide open.
 
I have the 24-120 f/4 as a walkaround lens for my D750. For ME, the extra reach was more important than the extra speed that the f/2.8 option (24-70) offers.
 
I seem to have everything covered from 70 upwards that's why I seem to be favouring the Tokina as its ATX PRO so should in theory give better IQ but never having had a 24-120 I wouldn't be able to compare …….. decisions, oh and the Tokina is coming from Japan so would be at least a week delivery.....:help:
 
Nikon 24-120 f4 (not the earlier one), is a perfect walkabout lens. :)
 
Nikon 24-70 f2.8 best walkabout lens, it is the one I have as a "go to" lens first

ZGmUIrE.jpg


here you are taken in Jpeg
F9IgEDy.jpg


As you can see I have that lens, it is nothing to rave about. I hardly ever use it as I prefer the other one .
Standard Information
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D810
Software: Ver.1.14
ImageSize: 7360x4912
ComponentsConfiguration: Y, Cb, Cr, -
CreateDate: 2018:10:07 09:33:15
ModifyDate: 2018:10:07 09:33:15
DateTimeOriginal: 2018:10:07 09:33:15
ExposureTime: 1/2000"
Aperture: F8.0
MaxAperture: F5.7
DepthOfFocus: 2.38 m (7.39 - 9.77)
CircleOfConfusion: 0.030 mm
HyperfocalDistance: 59.91 m
ExposureProgram: Aperture-priority AE
ExposureBiasValue: 0
CompressedBitsPerPixel: 4
MeteringMode: Multi-segment
Flash: Off, Did not fire
ISO: 12800
WhiteBalance: Auto1
FocalLength: 120.0 mm
FocalLength35efl: 120.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 120.0 mm)
SensingMethod: One-chip color area
SceneType: Directly photographed
ColorSpace: Uncalibrated
NoiseReduction: Off
Contrast: Normal
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Normal
ShutterCount: 4066
LensSpec: 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 G VR
 
Last edited:
Think it depends on your criteria. Fast? Flexible focal length? Specific range or fixed length? Weight?

I have a tamron 24-70 f2.8 but walking round all day with it in my hand gives my wrist rsi! For that reason picked up a Nikon 50mm f1.8g...can hardly tell it’s there [emoji846]
 
On the prowl for a walkabout lens, so far I have my eye on a Tokina 28-80 f2.8 ATX PRO and the Nikon 24-120 f3.5 vr but cant seem to make up my mind, the Tokina is faster but the Nikon seems a better all rounder due to the extra length, what would you get?
Despite suffering quite expensively from IQ and lens quality snobbery I've discovered (and rediscovered) by several experiments that for a walk-around lens when I haven't a clue what I might want to photograph, except that it will very likely be outdoors in daylight, nothing beats a very wide zoom range. In my crop sensor case that has meant a Tamron 16-300mm. Never the best lens for any particular photograph, it ends up winning by catching all those great unrepeatable photo opportunities that I'd otherwise have missed because I had the wrong lens on the camera. I even sometimes pack it in my bag of lenses when I'm out on a particular project for which I've chosen the best handful of lenses, just in case an unexpected photo opportunity turns up on my way there or my way back.
 
Despite suffering quite expensively from IQ and lens quality snobbery I've discovered (and rediscovered) by several experiments that for a walk-around lens when I haven't a clue what I might want to photograph, except that it will very likely be outdoors in daylight, nothing beats a very wide zoom range. In my crop sensor case that has meant a Tamron 16-300mm. Never the best lens for any particular photograph, it ends up winning by catching all those great unrepeatable photo opportunities that I'd otherwise have missed because I had the wrong lens on the camera. I even sometimes pack it in my bag of lenses when I'm out on a particular project for which I've chosen the best handful of lenses, just in case an unexpected photo opportunity turns up on my way there or my way back.

That's some great advice Chris
 
the nikon 28-300mm brilliant iq from it
i have used it on my d850 with great results
 
On the prowl for a walkabout lens, so far I have my eye on a Tokina 28-80 f2.8 ATX PRO and the Nikon 24-120 f3.5 vr but cant seem to make up my mind, the Tokina is faster but the Nikon seems a better all rounder due to the extra length, what would you get?

If you check the online reviews, the 24-120 f3.5 is not well regarded and is probably quite cheap compared to the later F4 version. I’ve got the F4 and have been impressed with it - similar in quality to the 24-70 but with VR, lighter and a longer focal length (albeit not as fast). There is also the 24-85 which isn’t bad as it’s smaller and lighter still. I had one until recently but replaced it with the 24-140 when it got damaged.
 
If you check the online reviews, the 24-120 f3.5 is not well regarded and is probably quite cheap compared to the later F4 version. I’ve got the F4 and have been impressed with it - similar in quality to the 24-70 but with VR, lighter and a longer focal length (albeit not as fast). There is also the 24-85 which isn’t bad as it’s smaller and lighter still. I had one until recently but replaced it with the 24-140 when it got damaged.

Yes Andy, have read a few and that has surprised me, I did read up about the Tokina and that is a well respected lens, the focal distance is what I need and an added bonus of being f2.8 so I have ordered it, just the long wait now
 
Yes Andy, have read a few and that has surprised me, I did read up about the Tokina and that is a well respected lens, the focal distance is what I need and an added bonus of being f2.8 so I have ordered it, just the long wait now

Just to add to that, I've looked at both the 24-120 3.5-5.6 and the Nikon 28-200, and I would want neither in my kit bag. The 28-200 example I had briefly made a couple of the old cheap Sigma 28-200s look like ART lenses.
 
Nikon 24-70 f2.8 best walkabout lens, it is the one I have as a "go to" lens first

ZGmUIrE.jpg


here you are taken in Jpeg
F9IgEDy.jpg


As you can see I have that lens, it is nothing to rave about. I hardly ever use it as I prefer the other one .
Standard Information
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D810
Software: Ver.1.14
ImageSize: 7360x4912
ComponentsConfiguration: Y, Cb, Cr, -
CreateDate: 2018:10:07 09:33:15
ModifyDate: 2018:10:07 09:33:15
DateTimeOriginal: 2018:10:07 09:33:15
ExposureTime: 1/2000"
Aperture: F8.0
MaxAperture: F5.7
DepthOfFocus: 2.38 m (7.39 - 9.77)
CircleOfConfusion: 0.030 mm
HyperfocalDistance: 59.91 m
ExposureProgram: Aperture-priority AE
ExposureBiasValue: 0
CompressedBitsPerPixel: 4
MeteringMode: Multi-segment
Flash: Off, Did not fire
ISO: 12800
WhiteBalance: Auto1
FocalLength: 120.0 mm
FocalLength35efl: 120.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 120.0 mm)
SensingMethod: One-chip color area
SceneType: Directly photographed
ColorSpace: Uncalibrated
NoiseReduction: Off
Contrast: Normal
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Normal
ShutterCount: 4066
LensSpec: 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 G VR
The older variable aperture 24-120 wasn’t supposed to be that great. The newer 24-120 f4 version is supposed to be a lot better than the older variable f3.5-f5.6 lens. I agree the 24-70 f2.8 is a better lens. For ‘walkabout’ (I hate that expression) it depends what you want, it’s all a compromise really. One is longer, one stop slower and slightly less sharp. The other is sharper, faster by one stop but it is slightly heavier, shorter focal length. I’ve had both (24-70 f2.8 and 24-120 f4) and went back to the 24-120 mainly as it’s slightly lighter, has the advantage of the longer focal length for the times I don’t want to also carry the 70-200 but more importantly for me doesn’t suffer from hotspots for IR photography. I can see why the 24-70 f2.8 is better for others. There is also the price to consider, the 24-120 f4 is quite a bit cheaper second hand than the 24-70 f2.8.
 
Last edited:
:plus1: to all Rob's points.
 
Back
Top