Looking for travel zoom

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The 18-140 is great on a DX camera, agreed.

[Bent Hjarbo]

Looking for a travel zoom for my D810. Through the always reliable Bjorn's lens site I've narrowed down my choice to one of the following: AF 28-105 f3.5-4.5, Ai 35-70 f3.5 62mm filter or Ais 50-135 f3.5. I've already checked with KEH and they have none of these. Does anyone know of a reliable dealer which stocks these older lenses?
The 24-120 was a candidate until I saw my friend's VR version. Is the older model smaller and lighter?
If I can't locate one of these I will stick with my Zeiss 50 Makro and 105 2.5 for my trip to Portugal in May.
Thanks for all replies.

Any chance that you will visit the NG “get to gether” in Granada?

[JKoerner007]

That 28-85 has an excellent zoom range, but I've not used one.

18-140 

I can attest to both of these lenses.

IMO, the 28-85 AI-S is an exceptionally versatile tool. Aside from the obvious optical range implicit in its labeling, it also focuses into a 1:4 reproduction ratio, which is a decent macro range (for flowers, larger butterflies, and whatnot). It's hidden potential comes from the fact that, by adding a simple BR-2A adapter, it can be reversed from 1:4 magnification all the way in to 3:1, for high-mag macro work. I consider it to be my most versatile, single nature lens I have (if I'm not going for birds). Delightfully-lightweight as well.

Regarding the second optic, my girlfriend has the 18-140 mm on her D5600, and it too is quite versatile. It does not do extreme macro, as the above lens, but when mounted conventionally, it too goes all the way into a 1:4 reproduction ratio (for flowers, etc.), in addition to the obvious optical range implicit in its own labeling. If you don't care about higher macro magnifications, it's got a good standard range at a decent price.

The image quality from each lens is very decent too.

[Airy]

John, my last trip to Portugal involved a 50/2 AI and a 105/2.5 AI, for which I found the dedicated snap-on hood at an antique shop in Porto (! not even a photo shop). Nothing else. No frustration.

I guess you know my recommendation... it seems we both got the same taste. By the way, it's all your fault if I bought two copies of the Zeiss 50/2 (ZF2, then Milvus 2nd hand).

There are other interesting recommendations above.

Ah, on an earlier trip I had the 28-300VR plus 50/1.4G, but that's apparently too heavy and bulky for you, so...

[tommiejeep]

John, I stopped using the 24-70 2.8G, 70-200 2.8g vr and 85 1.4D as my travel kit some years back.   When I travel ,by air , with a Nikon now it is the Df, 58 1.4G, 35 f2D and one longer.  I have 24-120 f4Gvr, 28-105 3.5-4.5D and 24-85 vr.  I rarely used the 24-85 vr until Jacques P. started posting images in B&W/colour of Istanbul using it on his Df.  Decided to give it another go,  my results are not as good  but the lens is better than many older lenses (not all) .

[Jacques Pochoy]

  I rarely used the 24-85 vr until Jacques P. started posting images in B&W/colour of Istanbul using it on his Df.  Decided to give it another go,  my results are not as good  but the lens is better than many older lenses (not all) .

Ah... This is a lens I regret, not because I sold it, but because my daughter was burglarized lately and my (ex) D700 and some lenses, mostly AF D's were stolen. As she was a bit shocked (and being the other photographer of the family) I gave her my D3x and some lenses, among which my 24-85mm AF VR (because I had just bought the 24-120mm f/4 VR)!

As almost everyone, a travel towards new horizons gets me thinking what to pack ?
For Mongolia it was the 35mm f/2D, the 50mm AFD and the 85mm f/1.8 D with the now lost D700.
For Venice with the D3x it was the same set of lenses.
For Istanbul with the family it was the 24-85mm VR (I had also the non-VR model before but found the VR one much better optically), but for my other visits of Turkey (Istanbul, Izmir, Fethye) I used the 28mm f/2.8 Ais and the 135mm Q and the 50mm f/2 Ai, another time only the 50mm f/1.8 G (for ten days)!

Nowadays when I visit a french city with my students it's the 24-120 VR coupled with the Df (I've got used to it's weight and bulkiness) but I still think using the 28mm Ais, the 85mm Ai or maybe the 105mm f/2.5 Ais along with a 50mm f/1.8 Ais ...
When on holidays on the Island of Porquerolles I also pack the 70-300 VR And the 105 Micro VR for bugs.

If hard pressed, i think I would choose the 28mm Ais and the 85mm AI as the sole lenses to take, one in the pocket the other on the camera. I don't think I would miss much opportunities with these two rugged and small lenses. If I had big pockets I would also take the 105mm f/2.5 Ais, just for pleasure 

[John Geerts]

If you can find a good sample of the Nikkor 35-200/3.5-4.5 Ai-S I would go for that one. Very versatile, good macro options, pretty compact (like a 135mm)  and a very very nice rendering. 

[Nasos Kosmas]

18-140 

This is my travel for DX too

[Bjørn Rørslett]

If you can find a good sample of the Nikkor 35-200/3.5-4.5 Ai-S I would go for that one. Very versatile, good macro options, pretty compact (like a 135mm)  and a very very nice rendering.

It is an old-timer with a slightly enigmatic reputation. The lens can quite easily because misaligned due to  an unpublished weak area in its  construction (screws holding the rear part of the lens casing can work loose over time). A well-aligned 35-200 in good working order is quite handy and versatile thanks to its ability to do close-ups with 6T or similar attachments. The rendition is nicely rounded but a propensity to flare has to  be taken into account.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Since we're talking talking about the 35-200: a few pictures to show what it can do for you. As a bonus it does IR very well, which isn't always the case with many zoom lenses.

[Chrisar]

Since we're talking talking about the 35-200: a few pictures to show what it can do for you. As a bonus it does IR very well, which isn't always the case with many zoom lenses.

Great pictures ! I appreciate especially the second one, the scene is really interesting and well composed.

[John Geerts]

Great pictures Bjørn !

An example at 35mm

[John Geerts]

And posted earlier in March 2018 Topic  (35-200 /  3.5-4.5 Ai-S)

[JohnBrew]

Thanks everyone. Some really great advice and observations here!  I checked with some listing on the bay and there are plenty of choices. Too bad the best examples appear to be in Japan, not that I'm adverse to getting one from Japan, but I'd rather have a "local" to deal with if any issues crop up.