Nikon 24-120 f4 vs Tamron 24-70 f2.8 USD help please

NJL

NJL

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looking for some thoughts on these two lenses Nikon 24-120 f4 and Tamron 24-70 f2.8

for some further background:

I need a lens at the shorter end of the zoom range for portraits in smaller spaces, but long enough to use for headshots without giving people big noses.

I currently have a sigma 2.8 70-200 a few generations old, which I have been using, but this is no good in smaller spaces, has a very long minimum focal distance and other general focus flaws. It's also soft as a teddy bear until you get to around f5.6

I typically spend a lot of my time around f4 for outdoor portraits, I understand lenses are usually not at their best when wide open, so I'm wondering if the 2.8 would allow me better quality at f4 than the nikon.

I also tend to use off camera flash when I can as well, and have a 50mm 1.8 for those really low light situations.

Any thoughts?
 
You haven't really given much clue as to what you're asking.

If you don't want big noses you're probably going to need to use whichever one you go for from about 50mm but you already have a 50mm. To give a much flatter, cropped look your'e edging towards the 70mm mark which you also have already.

What camera are you using? I'm surprised you can't get away with using your 50 or 70-200 for portraits even indoors.
 
Yep, I can 'get away' with either however I need the flexibility of the wider angle, particularly for group band portraits.

The 70-200 has a min focus of something like 1.5-2m which is no good when I need to be about 1m away from the subject in someones living room. The 50mm is okay in this environment, but still doesn't let me get the closer shots, and means needing to move around more than might be possible.

for headshots, 50mm is too short for my liking, as is unflattering at the distance you need to be at, and also means being right in someones face which I also don't like.

So I guess the questions are, any thoughts on image quality or other functional comments on each lens, particularly around f4. And would you sacrifice the f2.8 for f4 to gain the longer focal lengths.

Camera is d810.
 
85mm 1.8 seems to be the go to portrait lens at moment sigma art is lovely kit
 
The Nikon 85mm f1.8 seems the obvious choice. Sigma don't do the ART version yet in the 85mm, although the 85 f1.4 is supposed to be a great lens.
 
Thanks for the comments guys, not looking for a prime, need a zoom, with a wide end. Any thoughts on the lenses in my OP?
 
Both lenses are good enough wide open, sure they'll be a bit better when stopped down but not enough that will make a difference to a customer.
Both lenses have good VR so it depends on what you think will be more important, f/2.8 or or the extra reach.

What camera are you using?
 
The Tamon is a cracking lens I used one on my D800 and now a D750 and think it's a cracker, the VC makes a difference,
I tried it v a 24-120 I got with my D750 and thought the Tamron edged it slightly but if you need the 70-120 range then obviously the Nikon is a better bet.
 
Hi Nick have you thought about the Sigma 24-105 art lens, i got mine about 3months ago i rarely take it off, absolutely sharp.
 
I have 2 of the early 24-120mm VR 3.5/5.6 both are pin sharp on DX or FX they are both made in Japan models!
But friends also have them that have been manufactured outside Japan and I don't see any difference in the quality they can be picked up for a good price s/h
 
just food for thought but the 24-120 is fine on the D750 however use it on a A7Rii with Commlite and its not good, 42MP really shows its weakness, theres a whole thread over on DP about it. looking at your ask id say as the guys say 85mm Prime or 55mm prime for portraits, but if your set on the 2 models shown id say Tamron.
 
Just been through the dilemma of which lens to buy in the range, although was for slightly different needs as wanted a general walkabout lens. Options for me were the 24-120mm f4, and the Nikon and Tamron 24-70mm f2.8. Opted for the 24-120mm f4 as portability (noticeably lighter than the 24-70 f2.8's) and flexibility were more important to me than the f2.8, although in an ideal world I'd have the f2.8 as like subject isolation. On this latter point though having the extra focal length can kind of make up for this.

IQ of the 24-120mm is excellent imo. OK so it can't rival my 70-200mm f2.8 VRII, but for what it is it's a very fine lens. 70mm is borderline for portraits imo, ideally I'd want to be in the 85-135mm range, so again I'd suggest that the 24-120mm may be better. Of course, a prime is better for this so for your needs I'd be tempted to get the Tamron or Nikon 24-70mm and the 85mm f1.8G tbh.

I use the D750 though and the D810 might show up the lens' weaknesses more, in which case I'd be more tempted to stick to the Nikon 24-70mm.
 
24-120 f4 works absolutely fine with the 36MP D8xx cameras and was issued as part of a kit by Nikon :)
 
gramps said:
24-120 f4 works absolutely fine with the 36MP D8xx cameras and was issued as part of a kit by Nikon :)
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Useful to know (y)
 
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