Nikon Holy Trinity

[kdthomas]

Are these still considered to be the Holy Trinity?

14-24mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S -- Nikon SKU 2163
24-70mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S -- Nikon SKU 2164
70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VR II -- Nikon SKU 2185

Thanks!!

 

[astroNikon]

I think that's the current Holy Trinity. Needs some Holy $$$$ to buy.

what the damage $$ for all 3 ?

 

[BillM]

The three combined would cost just about as much as a D4s. I have the 24-70 and the 70-200 and i don't think I have ever regretted the decision to buy them.

 

[SCraig]

I guess to some they are. Not to me though.

 

[tirediron]

When the term "holy trinity" is used for Nikon, yes, those are the lenses generally referred to. I love my 24-70 & 70-200, but since I almost never shoot wider than about 30mm, I opted for the 16-35 f4 so that I had the wide end covered, but also save a grand.

 

[480sparky]

I've never had the slightest desire to own 'the' Trinity. Although I have the 70-200, the 14-24 and 24-70 interest me not at all.

My trinity is the 17-35/2.8D, 50/1.8 and 105/2.8D Micro.

 

[astroNikon]

My "trinity" is a 18-35/3.5-4.6 AF-D, 24-85/2.8-4 & 35-70/2.8 AFDs in the mid range and 2 ring 80-200/2.8 AF-D. I guess it's a quadnity.

 

[BillM]

Not sure anyone has bought those three just because someone gave them a catchy nickname but the three combined cover a wide focal range and they are all f/2.8. So the three combined can cover many many shooting situations. But then again people do like catchy names lol

 

[Designer]

Are these still considered to be the Holy Trinity?

As of August 11, 2014:

 

[KmH]

Yes those 3 are still considered the 3 best pro grade Nikon zoom lenses for covering that focal length range.

But their is also a Budget Trinity:
Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED IF AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens
Nikon 24-85mm f/2.8-4.0D IF AF Zoom Nikkor Lens
Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF Zoom Nikkor Lens

 

[PaulWog]

Yes those 3 are still considered the 3 best pro grade Nikon zoom lenses for covering that focal length range.

But their is also a Budget Trinity:
Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED IF AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens
Nikon 24-85mm f/2.8-4.0D IF AF Zoom Nikkor Lens
Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF Zoom Nikkor Lens

I don't think that's anyone's trinity by today's standards, since the 24-85 doesn't make the most sense on DX, the 12-24 is a DX lens, and two of those lenses require a focusing motor. Am I mistaken?

 

[greybeard]

I think that's the current Holy Trinity. Needs some Holy $$$$ to buy.

what the damage $$ for all 3 ?

around 6K

 

[greybeard]

Yes those 3 are still considered the 3 best pro grade Nikon zoom lenses for covering that focal length range.

But their is also a Budget Trinity:
Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED IF AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens
Nikon 24-85mm f/2.8-4.0D IF AF Zoom Nikkor Lens
Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF Zoom Nikkor Lens

I don't think that's anyone's trinity by today's standards, since the 24-85 doesn't make the most sense on DX, the 12-24 is a DX lens, and two of those lenses require a focusing motor. Am I mistaken?

AF models need a body with focusing motor but, all FX bodies are so equipped. If the Nikon 12-24 is like my Tokina 12-24, it is pretty descent FF from about 18mm on. I don't know about 14mm though.

 

[Derrel]

The 16-35mm f/4 AFS-VR-G is actually superior to the 14-24mm for many uses. The 14-24mm is not a very good lens for people work.

For APS-C users, this so-called "Holy Trinity" is not a very good setup. It also totally lacks any really high-speed lenses....f/2.8 is somewhat fast,yes, but even in a pro zoom. f/2.8 is somewhat compromised compared to high-grade primes that happen to be stopped down one, or two full f/stops to reach their f/2.8 aperture.

The internet era "Holy Trinity" nomenclature is the kind of crap gearheads came up with, and as such, it really does ignore how VALUABLE a prime lens or two can be, and it seems to elevate the mistaken idea that everything can be handled with one of three big, heavy, ostentatious zoom lenses. It ignores the value of a FAST lens, like say a 24mm f/1.4 or a 35/1.4 or an 85/1.4 or a 135/2 or a 200/2, or a good, light,affordable yet long lens like the 300/4 AF-S, or the 105/2.8 VR Micro~Nikkor macro lens.

There's such a thing as logical lens kits for people that make the "Holy Trinity" look pretty useless. As soon as you need high-quality macro, or long reach, or tremendous focal length range or substantial focal length flexibility in one, single lens, then immediately the "Holy Trinity" lets you down, big-time.

 

[KmH]

Yes those 3 are still considered the 3 best pro grade Nikon zoom lenses for covering that focal length range.

But their is also a Budget Trinity:
Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED IF AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens
Nikon 24-85mm f/2.8-4.0D IF AF Zoom Nikkor Lens
Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF Zoom Nikkor Lens

. . . since the 24-85 doesn't make the most sense on DX, the 12-24 is a DX lens, and two of those lenses require a focusing motor. Am I mistaken?

Why doesn't the AF 24-85 mm f/2.8-4D make sense on a DX body?
I really like and use the 1:2 macro capability it has from 35 mm to 85 mm.
I use the lens on a D50 and a D200 - both DX cameras.

Yes the 2 AF-D lenses would be manual AF - except when on the Nikon D1, D1x, D1H, D2H, D2X, D2HS, D2XS, D3, D3s, D3X, D4, D4S, D50, D70, D70s, D80, D90, D100, D200, D300, D300s, D600, D610, D700, D750, D800, D800E, D810, D7000, D7100.

The only Nikon DSLRs ever made (so far) without an AF motor in the camera is a much shorter list - D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3100, D3200, D3300, D5000, D5100, D5200, D5300 - All of Nikon's lower entry-level tier of compact DSLRs.