Which DxO-supported Nikkor wide zoom for the Nikon D800E?

[elliot1]

<p>I am a a long time DXO user, and chances are the new lens will be supported fairly soon (within a couple of months). Obviously if money is not an issue, the f4 constant aperture is perhaps a better choice, but then few a few dollar more than that, you can invest in the exceptional 14-24mm!</p>

<p>They are probably concentrating on older lenses now because they have most of the new lenses supported and don't have many left that they can support.</p>

[studio460]

<p>Yes, I'm really starting to like DxO Optics Pro 8. I've re-arranged the default workspace layout so that all of the tool palettes are now on the far right, plus, I've also undocked the image browser and relegated it to a separate window for maximum image-size previews. To me, this really cleans up the UI, and makes it feel like any other modern post-processing application--clean and simple, yet with everything you need just a click or scroll away:</p>

<p><img src="http://studio460.com/studio460/dxoscreen1.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="438" /><br>

DxO Optics Pro Elite 8 for OS X</p>

[pge]

<p>Interesting that nobody slammed Ralph for posting photos that aren't his, or maybe it a coincidence. The first photo looks quite a bit like the photo that Nikon posted on facebook today.</p>

[studio460]

<p>Phil said:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Interesting that nobody slammed Ralph for posting photos that aren't his, or maybe it a coincidence. The first photo looks quite a bit like the photo that Nikon posted on facebook today.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Maybe because all the photos I posted in this thread are mine! I just looked at the Nikon Facebook photo--I know that one's not mine because I specifically positioned my tripod to frame out the broken guardrail (I think my version is better). Both photos are taken from the same bridge, however.</p>

[studio460]

<p>I shot this series at a relatively high-ISO, wide-open, because some were shot handheld for safety's sake. This is where VR could be handy. For this environment, although I also had my 14mm and 24mm primes with me, I mostly used my 18mm prime instead because it "fit" the space better. If I can nail a steady handheld shot at f/4.0 with VR engaged, I think the 16-35mm f/4.0 VR would suit me better for these types of shots (plus, I wouldn't have to carry around a bag of primes all the time).</p>

<p><img src="http://studio460.com/studio460/future1.jpg" alt="" /><br /> AF Nikkor 18mm f/2.8D @ f/2.8</p>

[studio460]

<p>Looking through my files at that downtown series, I shot a helluva lot of shots with my 18mm fixed lens!</p>

<p><img src="http://studio460.com/studio460/disneylimo1.jpg" alt="" /><br /> AF Nikkor 18mm f/2.8D @ f/2.8</p>

<p>Unfortunately, this lens has complex distortion (mustache), and isn't easily correctable in post. As I mentioned, DxO doesn't have a profile for this lens, and since it's not a very common lens, I doubt DxO will ever support this particular lens.</p>

[studio460]

<p>So, I guess I'm sold on the 16-35mm f/4.0 VR. At first, I dismissed the 16-35mm out-of-hand, because I never use my 24-120mm f/4.0 lens for anything but flash-fired event coverage--it's just too slow for most available-light photography.</p>

<p>But, now I realize, I'm serving two masters: high-ISO, available-light, for which my D3s, and fast 24mm f/1.4G is appropriate:</p>

<p><img src="http://studio460.com/studio460/ISO8000.jpg" alt="" /><br /> Nikon D3s @ ISO 8,000 + AF-S Nikkor 24mm f/1.4G @ f/1.4</p>

<p>. . . and, the more precision, tripod-ed night exterior cityscapes, where a variable focal-length, short-zoom would come in handy, and where I'm typically shooting at either f/8 or f/11 anyway, and don't need a fast-aperture lens:</p>

<p><img src="http://studio460.com/studio460/chevron700x.jpg" alt="" /><br /> Nikon D800E @ ISO 100 + planned AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm f/4.0G VR @ f/8 [24mm f/1.4G @ f/8, actual]</p>

[studio460]

<p>I finally found some images which show the extreme barrel distortion at the wide end of the 16-35mm, which so many reviewers mentioned--it's true; it's very pronounced. Luckily, all agreed that the distortion was fairly linear, and easily correctable in post.</p>

<p>However, caution must be taken so that the in-camera distortion doesn't lead the photographer to frame askew (making correction more difficult), when aligning to optically distorted verticals in the viewfinder. One reviewer mentioned that he forces himself to use the camera's electronic horizon to prevent this.</p>

<p>By the way, I would love to see others' work using the AF-S 16-35mm f/4.0G VR here (using any FX body). Any DxO Optics Pro users here, who also own the AF-S 16-35mm f/4.0G VR? It would be neat to see some before- and after-corrections made with the lens' DxO profile applied.</p>

[studio460]

<p>I just read Ming Thein's list of Nikon D800E-recommended lenses (excellent review and photos, by the way), and the AF-S Nikkor 28mm f/1.8G lens gets an 'A+.' This would neatly solve my 30mm dilemma for under $700 bucks.</p>

<p>Ming Thein's list of Nikon D800E-recommended lenses: http://blog.mingthein.com/2012/06/30/recommended-lenses-for-the-nikon-d800e/</p>

[studio460]

<p>So . . . with the addition of the new 28mm f/1.8G, I would have the following "Nikon-approved," D800E/DxO-supported lens inventory:</p>

<p>AF Nikkor 14mm f/2.8D ED* [DxO Optics Pro lens correction profile due 02/2013]<br /> AF-S Nikkor 24mm f/1.4G ED<br /> AF-S Nikkor 28mm f/1.8G<br /> AF-S Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED<br /> AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G</p>

<p>*The "Nikon-approved" exception is of course, the 14mm f/2.8D; however, with the DxO profile, I think the 14mm will be satisfactory for use as an ultra-wide. All other lenses ,except the 85mm f/1.4G, are Ming-approved as well (Ming only mentions the 85mm f/1.8G).</p>

<p>The other exception to Ming's list is the 24mm f/1.4G, which was bested by the 28mm in the wide-angle category. But, Ming makes mention of the 24mm f/1.4G as a "near-miss" due to what he claims are focus issues due to sample variation.</p>

<p>That means I would be carrying a huge "bag of primes." Note, however, that the AF-S 16-35mm f/4.0 VR, the lens I'm still considering. is the <em>only</em> wide-angle zoom that made it onto Ming's D800E-approved lens list.</p>

[studio460]

<p>So, I just looked at some other 24-120mm test shots I did last night, and the lens looks pretty good with more contrasty light. With the 24-120mm f/4.0G VR, I would basically be covered for location shoots, from tight headshots (e.g., 120mm) to environmental portraits (e.g., 30mm). I wouldn't lose any time changing lenses, or momentum. The time-exposure, ultra-wide cityscapes could be handled by the 16-35mm. Now, the 16-35mm/24-120mm combo is starting to look good again.</p>

<p>So, instead of lugging around a bag of five of primes and changing lenses every two seconds:</p>

<p>AF Nikkor 14mm f/2.8D ED<br /> AF-S Nikkor 24mm f/1.4G ED<br />AF-S Nikkor 28mm f/1.8G<br />AF-S Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED<br />AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G<br /> <br /> I could "get away" with just carrying:<br /> <br /> AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm f/4.0G ED VR<br /> AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4.0G ED VR<br /> <br /> Recall that I don't require fast-apertures for these particular shoots, since I'm <em>not</em> shooting available-light. These are strobe-lit, shutter-dragged, tripod shoots, on location with a model, so I'll likely be shooting at f/5.6 to f/8 anyway.</p>

[studio460]

<p>Actually, what I should do, ideally, is sell my AF Nikkor 14mm f/2.8D, and buy an AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED IF instead. That way, I would have no gap, and would still have a 14mm ultra-wide when needed:</p>

<p>AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED IF<br /> AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4.0G ED VR<br /> <br /> I actually bought my 14mm before the 14-24mm was introduced, but had I to do it over again, I certainly would've chosen the 14-24mm instead. I had no idea, until I checked, how optically superior the 14-24mm zoom was over the prime.</p>

[studio460]

<p><strong><em>OR,</em></strong><em> go with the following combo . . .</em></p>

<p>AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm f/4.0 G ED VR<br />AF DC-Nikkor 135mm f/2.0D<br /> <br /> I get the 16-35mm for the full-length shots, where some flexibility in short focal lengths is desirable. Then I get the 135mm DC lens for the tight headshots. I bought the DC 105mm when I was still a DX shooter. Now that I'm shooting exclusively on FX bodies, I think the 105mm is a too short.</p>

[studio460]

<p><em><strong>I should've titled this thread: "Zooms or Primes?"</strong></em></p>

<p>But, it seems I just can't get away from shooting primes. I was just never comfortable shooting with zooms (unless I'm working an event). I really enjoy the discipline which a fixed-lens imposes--it forces me to compose very specifically. Maybe I should stick to what I'm comfortable with. Also, I could consider shooting with what primes I already own, but replace my 35mm f/2.0 with the 28mm f/1.8G [to supplant the "missing" 30-35mm range which serves full-length shots so well], and replace the 105mm DC, with the 135mm DC:</p>

<p>AF-S Nikkor 24mm f/1.4G <br /> AF-S Nikkor 28mm f/1.8G [replaces my AF Nikkor 35mm f/2.0 non-D] = Ideal for most full-length environment shots.<br />AF-S Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED<br />AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G<br /> AF DC-Nikkor 135mm f/2.0D [replaces my AF DC-Nikkor 105mm f/2.0D] = More compression for tight headshots.<br /> <br /> I would again be back to a "bag of primes," and would lose both shooting momentum and time when changing lenses. But, it's been how I traditionally liked to shoot.</p>

[studio460]

<p>Well, after long, considered thought, I'm sticking with primes. Mainly, what pushed me towards primes is that DxO finally released a profile for my AF Nikkor 14mm f/2.8D just days ago, and the results are nothing short amazing. The apparent gain in lens performance and overall sharpness is truly stunning. I've been re-processing some old .NEFs shot with my 14mm, and am now, very impressed. Finally, I'm happy with the performance of my Nikkor 14mm prime:</p>

<p><img src="http://studio460.com/studio460/2204-700.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Nikon D3s + AF Nikkor 14mm f/2.8D + DxO lens-specific correction profile applied in DxO Optics Pro Elite 8 for OS X.</p>

[studio460]

<p>Again, I'm extremely happy with the new DxO profile for my AF Nikkor 14mm f/2.8D lens--it's so good, it's convinced me to keep the lens in my "portfolio" kit line-up. So, I'll be lugging around quite a bit of prime glass:</p>

<p>AF Nikkor 14mm f/2.8D ED<br /> AF-S Nikkor 24mm f/1.4G ED<br /> [AF-S Nikkor 28mm f/1.8G <em><strong>or</strong></em> AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.4G]<br /> AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G<br /> Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM APO macro for Nikon-mount</p>

<p>I just bought the Sigma 150mm f/2.8 to "replace" my AF DC-Nikkor 105mm f/2.0D as my "mid-tele" portrait lens. Now, the only "hole" in my prime line-up is the mid-wide--I'll need to choose either the 28mm f/1.8G or 35mm f/1.4G (unfortunately, there's no DxO profile available for my AF Nikkor 18mm f/2.8D, so I suppose I may just dedicate that lens to my F6 film body for shooting Tri-X).</p>

[studio460]

<p>So, listing the above lenses in just the focal lengths in millimeters, it seems a good spread:</p>

<p>14<br>

24<br>

35<br>

85<br>

150</p>