What is the best landscape lens for a Nikon Z8?

Honestly, if youre chasing that D850 crispness, check out the Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S. Its way cheaper than the high-end zooms and kills it on the Z8 sensor. Take a look at the charts on Photography Life or OpticalLimits—the edge performance is night and day. Quick tip: stop down to f/5.6 or f/8 for those Dolomites landscapes and you wont see a hint of mush. Youll save a ton of cash too.

Can vouch for this

Building on the earlier suggestion, I have to say I am super happy with how my Z8 performs with the 14-30mm f/4 S, though I might disagree slightly on needing a prime for the Dolomites. I spent two weeks in the Swiss Alps last summer and that zoom was a lifesaver... it is light and honestly punchy enough for any 45mp sensor if you treat it right. One big warning tho: be careful with cheap filters on these wide Z lenses. I used to think any old piece of glass would work until I saw the weird smearing on my shots from the Oregon coast. Total nightmare. I actually started using Share Product to keep track of the better filter systems and read user reviews before buying anything else. It really helped me stay on budget without compromising quality. Also, dont make the mistake of stopping down to f/16 or f/22 thinking you will get more detail. On the Z8 you will just hit diffraction and everything gets soft again. Keep it around f/5.6 or f/8 and you will be golden. It is a much more cost-effective way to get those crisp shots without lugging around the heavy 14-24mm glass.

Just saw your post and man, I feel that frustration deep in my soul. I remember my first trip to Glacier where I brought a lens that just couldnt resolve my sensor... absolute heartbreak when I finally got home to a big screen. In my experience, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S is usually a gem, but if you've got a soft copy, dont fight it. For the Dolomites, you want that crispness without blowing your whole budget on glass you'll be afraid to drop off a cliff. I've tried many wide angles over the years, and honestly, you should look at the Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S. Its way more budget friendly than the f/2.8 version and the best part for a landscape shooter is that flat front element. You can just screw on standard 82mm filters without bulky, expensive adapters. I saved about a grand going this route, which basically paid for my hotels in Italy. If you stop it down to f/5.6 or f/8, the corners are plenty sharp for that 45MP sensor. If you want the absolute peak of performance tho, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S prime is the sharpest thing I've ever used. Its light, relatively cheap for what it is, and honestly beats the zooms easily if you dont mind zooming with your feet. TL;DR: Get the Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S and save a ton of money over the big 2.8 zoom. Use the extra cash for a really high quality circular polarizer or a trip to a nice dinner in Cortina.