Roy S , Feb 10, 2012; 12:01 p.m.
Hi all..I just pre-ordered a D800 and need lens suggestions. I have a 50mm 1.4 AF D and a 24-85mm D IF, and an older manual focus 50 1.4 from my F3HP. Most of the work I do is in studio photographing ceramic art, but I am also very interested in landscape and architectural imagery. I'm looking for suggestions for lenses that would supplement or replace what I already own...any suggestions welcome...been thinking about wide angle primes, 24-70 zoom, macros too. Would want higher end but not thousands...Thanks for your help.
Matt Laur 
, Feb 10, 2012; 12:11 p.m.
You sound like a prime (pardon the pun!) candidate for one of Nikon's very nice PC-E (tilt/shift) lenses. Ideal for both architectural work and product photography. You could use your existing 24-85 to help determine which focal length, of the three (the 24mm, the 45mm, or the 85mm) would best suit your circumstances.
But if ever there were a lens to complement the D800 (in terms of optical quality) and your very deliberate sort of work, that's where the action is. Alas, that's where the price is, too!
Roy S , Feb 10, 2012; 12:30 p.m.
Thanks Matt...I received the same advice a while back in the Canon forum...I ended up with a 100mm Macro L and it is incredible for capturing detail in my work..I will look at the tilt/shift lenses but price will probably keep me away for now...if you have other ideas, I'm all ears...
Joseph Smith , Feb 10, 2012; 12:38 p.m.
Hi Roy, before you buy, consider renting that expensive lens and try it out. That is what many of my friends are doing. Check out www.borrowlens.com.
You will also see the high quality lenses you can rent which might give you some idea as to what you might want to buy.
Joe Smith
Roy S , Feb 10, 2012; 01:10 p.m.
Andrew Garrard 
, Feb 10, 2012; 01:20 p.m.
There aren't many bad macro lenses out there. Sigma's longer ones seem to be good at avoiding spherochromatism, if that appeals to you. I'm expecting my cheap 90mm Tamron macro to hold up reasonably well when I decide I can afford a D800.
Wide-angles are harder. The 14-24 is probably in a class of its own (some like the 16-35, some aren't convinced), but it's expensive and doesn't look all that perfect in the D800 sample images (just better than any alternative lens); the Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 is in a similar category if 14mm is too wide (the 14-24 isn't so good at its longer end). There are a lot of cheaper wide-angles, but most aren't optically brilliant - although if a slightly wide angle will do, the 35mm Samyang might be worth a look. The tilt-shift idea is good, and might also solve the problem of reduced depth of field at high resolution - focus stacking with a macro is the alternative, sometimes. I'm not expecting wonders from my cheap tilt-shift lenses, but the newest Nikon (and Canon) lenses are, I'm sure, better. Good luck. You can, of course, take a good photo without it being tack sharp to the resolution of the D800 sensor...
Ilkka Nissila 
, Feb 10, 2012; 01:35 p.m.
[the 14-24] doesn't look all that perfect in the D800 sample images (just better than any alternative lens)
IMO the library shot with the D800 and 14-24 is staggeringly beautiful in a large print. This one picture alone could very well sell the D800 to me. I'm not surprised at all that Nikon put it out there as the first image. Of course it shows some fringing at the windows but ... better than any alternative works for me ...
To the OP, for landscape and architecture I recommend the PC-E series of lenses - although it takes time to work with them, and often one is required to use live view focusing to get optimal results, did I mention lots of time, they do yield sometimes images that you cannot get any other way. For ceramics ... I'm not sure what their shape is but a 60mm Micro would be my first guess. Not expensive and amazingly good optics and fast focusing too (works well as a general purpose lens). You can also use the PC-E Micros for that but if you only get the 24 PC-E for landscape/architecture you can work with the 60mm it's less expensive than the 45 PC-E or the 85 PC-E. So summarizing, I would get the 24 PC-E and 60mm AF-S Micro. Or you can save money by getting an older Micro-Nikkor - they're all good but the newest 60mm has amazing bokeh and colour on top of being sharp.
Roy S , Feb 10, 2012; 01:57 p.m.
that 60mm micro sounds like something to investigate...the PCE may be more time intensive for my level of patience, lol...thanks for the help...the 14-24 also sounds interesting.
E. J. , Feb 10, 2012; 02:19 p.m.
The 14-24 may be the sharpest lens in the Nikkor line-up. It would be my primary lens if I had a D800 (which I'm assuming is in my future). My primary use for the D800 would be landscapes. I will use my D7000 for the longer shots.
Mihai Ciuca , Feb 10, 2012; 03:43 p.m.
Roy,
You should consider the new zoom from Tokina 17-35mm f/4. It is very well-built and Tokina has a good reputation. It is said that this lens is a bit soft wide open but stopped down a bit rocks and I believe that your most applications will require f8 or so. One great advantage of this lens is the moderate level of distortions, i.e. about 50% the level you get at Nikon 16-35/4 VR.
