Okay, after a few days of dorking around with glass, here is what I've settled on for the time being. Lenses are pretty personal, so I am not suggesting this is an ideal set for everybody, it's just a good beginning point for me and my needs with this camera. And of course, all of this is subject to change as I shoot the camera more :ROTFL:
Next point is I have refrained from sharing images because the weather in sunny California has been anything but this past week, lots of rain and total ugly overcast skies. (Plus I've been busy with the paying gig!) Hopefully the coming week is good weather and I have some free shooting time and can get some test images up -- stay tuned.
24-120 VRii: This lens is just so versatile, I expect it to be on the camera 80% of the time.
20mm f2.8D: While the 16-35 VR is probably a better net performer at 20 than this lens is, this lens is still quite good. Plus -- and this is the important part for me -- I do not shoot wider than 24 very often at all, so carrying a larger, heavier lens that may get used 5% of the time is not very attractive. Plus there is the cost difference! The 20 is tiny, so is floating around the bottom of the bag taking up no room or weight and will be there when I do need it. Oh, and I do like the way this lens renders!
80-400 VR: I found a used one at my local camera store and its performance pleasantly surprised me, especially at the long end. The 70-200/2.8 VRii is a phenomenal lens, but when I need a tele over 120 I usually end up wanting around 300, so the 70-200 needs a converter. Now the 70-200 with a converter is probably still be a better performer than this 80-400, but this lens is a bit shorter and lighter (a lot shorter than the 70-200 with converter mounted), and covers the entire range without the need to swap the converter on and off. It does give up optical speed at the lower ranges, so the look is different, but again my main desire for this lens is the 300 range.
105DC: This is my look lens, I love the way this lens renders period. And it is a tunable look which is very cool. Plus when set to zero it is laser sharp with great bokeh. In this, it also makes up for not having the speed in the lower regions of the above zoom.
Still needed: A "look" lens in the 50 range. I am waiting on the 50/1.4G, but may end up with the Sigma 50/1.4 *OR* the Nikkor 35/1.4G. I had the Sigma on my Canon and really liked the way it rendered; Guy has the 35/1.4G and is really happy with the way it renders. The other option would be an MF Nikkor 50/1.2, but I am pretty certain I want to stick with an AF lens on this camera.