- Nikon designed back side illuminated (BSI) full frame image sensor with no optical low pass filter
- 45.7 megapixels of extraordinary resolution, outstanding dynamic range and virtually no risk of moiré
- Up to 9 fps1 continuous shooting at full resolution with full AF performance
What is the best travel lens for Nikon D850?
So you’re planning on travelling and wondering which lens is best for travel photography with your Nikon D850?
These days, most travelers use their smartphones to take pictures and post them on Facebook or Instagram. Don’t get me wrong, you can make impressive pictures with recent smartphones and they are very useful to document little details of your trip, but they are limited to one perspective.
So you’ll probably need a lense with a focal range that will allow you to get shots that are impossible to get with your cell phone (zoom or wide angle).
What makes a good travel lens?
Well, this is extremely subjective and depends on the type of photo you will make when you will be on the road. It also depends on how often you’re going to use it. Any lens can be good for travel, but having to commute by train, bus, plane, and moving around all the time makes it hard to carry a huge bag dedicated to your favourite lenses. There are always the risks to pay extra fees for them, to break them during the trip or to get your bag stolen.
Hence, most photographers like to travel light, with the lightest and most versatile setup possible. Getting the most out of one or two lenses is probably the way to go, with a range .
You may not know for sure what kind of shot you are about to make during your trip. If you plan on taking portraits, wildlife, street scenes but also landscapes, a zoom lens will be perfect since they offers the advantage of allowing close-ups and scenery shots, to some extent. For a more versatile use, this kind of lens will be the perfect fit.
Travels are full of surprises, and you may want to grab your Nikon D850 and shoot as quickly as possible. For this situation, the best lens will be a bright wide angle lens since they are usually a good choice for street photography. They allow for close-ups and large scenes, and are generally pretty small and convenient to carry. If you are planning a city trip, this kind of lens should be attached in permanence to the body of your Nikon D850.
Every photographer has its own favourite setup for snapping on the go. But if you are not sure on what travel lens to choose for your Nikon D850, this small selection is suitable for most photographic opportunities while traveling.
Note: the product links in this article lead to Amazon.com
Summary
- Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR (All around travel lens)
- Nikon 16-35mm f/4G VR (Wide Angle)
- Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR (Zoom Lens)
- Useful accessories
- Conclusion
Here’s the Top 3 travel lenses you should consider for your Nikon D850:
Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR (All around travel lens)
Weight: 1070 g
Filter size: 82 mm
A basic lens that any Nikon D850 owner should have because it’s very versatile: you can take landscapes, street pictures or portraits. If you don’t want to waste time changing lenses, it’s a great tool. This Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f2.8E ED VR replaces the old existing model (it’s larger and heavier).
Since the Nikon D850 does not have integrated optical stabilization, the 24-70mm VR system allows clear images to be obtained by hand even in low light conditions. The constant aperture of f/2.8 is also a big advantage, and its very short focusing distance makes it possible to make close shots. Quality of construction is solid, completely tropicalized. For the negative points, it’s quite cumbersome and heavy. Some tests also report chromatic aberrations and slightly noticeable vignetting. However, it’s easy to use and combined with a D850 it offers excellent image quality. Its relatively high price makes it ideal for photo professionals who want to invest in a reliable lens that offers great performance.
- Fast f/2.8 constant aperture with an electromagnetic diaphragm
- Sensational image quality and sharpness with virtually no distortion, Focal Length Range : 24 to 70 millimeter
- Minimum Focus Distance : 35 to 50 millimeter focal length : 1.2 feet (0.38 meter) from focal plane; 24, 28, 70 millimeter focal lengths : 1.3 feet (0.41 meter) from focal plane; Dimensions : Approx;...
Nikon 16-35mm f/4G VR (Wide Angle)
Weight: 680 g
Filter size: 77 mm
It’s hard to choose among the different wide angles available for the D850, but the Nikon 16-35mm stands out from the crowd thanks to its weight, optical qualities, versatile focal range and price. It has a constant f/4 aperture and offers a very good sharpness at all focal lengths (one of the best in wide-angle from this point of view).
Its manufacturing quality is good, filters can be screwed in (this is not the case for all Nikon wide angles), the autofocus does the job and it’s equipped with the VR vibration reduction system useful in some cases. There’s some distortion but it’s easy to retouch, in short there’s not much to blame it for. What about 14-24mm f/2.8? If you absolutely need an aperture of f/2.8, you do architectural photography and you need a very solid wide angle, this may be an option to consider.
- Ideal for wide-angle and "normal" shots
- Maximum aperture: f/4 ; Offers two focus modes, M/A (autofocus with manual override) and M (manual)
- Lens construction: 17 elements in 12 groups
Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR (Zoom Lens)
Weight: 1430 g
Filter size: 77 mm
An exceptional telephoto lens that offers high-flying performance, whether in terms of autofocus reactivity, stabilization or manufacturing quality (it’s protected against the elements). In terms of image quality, this is one of the best lenses of this selection, with remarkable sharpness and contrast. The constant aperture of f/2.8 and VR stabilization help enormously in low light conditions.
However, there are two drawbacks: as usual with this type of lens, the weight and size are quite substantial, as is the price, which reserves it for demanding pros or amateurs who have the necessary budget and want to enjoy themselves. Be careful, do not confuse it with the previous VRI and VRII versions.
- Minimum Focus Distance- 3.6 feet (1.1 meter)
- Diaphragm blades: 9. Format: FX/35 millimeter. Minimum Aperture: f/ 22
- Focus distance indicator- 1.1 am to infinity
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☛ ADDITIONAL OPTIONS
- For more travel lenses options, check this out: The best lenses for Nikon D850
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Useful accessories for travel photography
Travels can be hectic, so you want to make sure that your lenses are safe and sound all along the trip. A good quality carry bag is mandatory to protect them from the weather and bumps. A UV filter will also help protect your lens by adding a layer of glass that can be scratched or dripping with water with no harm to the lens. Finally, a polarizing filter is always useful to get a glare-free result in any shooting scenario you might face.
Here is a small selection of useful accessories to complement your lenses and your Nikon D850:
Conclusion
If you want to go on a trip soon and are wondering what is the best travel lens for the Nikon D850, think in advance about the types of photos you plan to take mainly: landscapes, portraits, night shots… Think about the focal lengths you need for that.
You can also go on Google, type in the name of the country or the tourist sites you want to visit and you will see which focal lengths are mainly used. This will give you an idea of what equipment you will need to bring but remember that taking a single lens with you might be too limiting. The flexibility of an all-around lens is very useful but generally they offer a lower image quality than a fixed focal length.
Another thing, if you plan to do a lot of walking or hiking, take into account the total weight with the camera body and the lens. If the whole thing is too heavy or bulky and lacks discretion, you won’t want to bother with it and would rather just take your smartphone with you. You may also not want to risk damaging an extremely expensive lens.
And finally, perhaps the most decisive point about choosing the perfect travel lens for your Nikon D850 will be if you need to get a portfolio of professional quality travel photos or videos (it may be your business or it may become your business who knows?).