Best Normal Range Zoom for Nikon DX Camera (Page 2): Corner softness, distortion, and vignetting. I was going on technical reviews that I found online.

DRG777 Loc: Metro Detroit

Wingpilot wrote:

What was the issue with the image quality of the 18-300? Vignetting, softness, etc., at the extreme ends, softness overall? That's one lens that has interested me, but I've been reluctant to get due to a number of folks giving it less than stellar reviews.

Corner softness, distortion, and vignetting. I was going on technical reviews that I found online.

dandi Loc: near Seattle, WA

Older lens 18-70mm 3.5-4.5G is a good lens.

From Thom Hogan page http://www.bythom.com/1870lens.htm :

"I alluded to it before, so let's cut to the chase: on almost every performance parameter this is an excellent lens. The lone exception is vignetting. "

You can find good used copy for around $100.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

fetzler wrote:

Nikon makes a number of zoom lenses that cover the wide angle to moderate telephoto range. The simplest is the 18-55mm kit lens. And the most expensive is the 16-80 f2.8 -4.

I am most interested in the wide angle to moderate telephoto range. I have telephoto zoom lenses that come out once in awhile.

What is the best? What is the best for the buck? Does it really matter?

I'd encourage a look at the 17-55 f/2.8. One of the best for DX.

CO

Wingpilot wrote:

What was the issue with the image quality of the 18-300? Vignetting, softness, etc., at the extreme ends, softness overall? That's one lens that has interested me, but I've been reluctant to get due to a number of folks giving it less than stellar reviews.

LensTip.com does extensive testing and has tested both versions of that lens. I downloaded their image resolution charts. The f/3.5-6.3 version seems to be superior. There's less variation between focal lengths. The vertical scale is line pairs per millimeter.

Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6 lens center resolution

Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 lens center resolution

Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6 lens edge resolution

Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 lens edge resolution

PN_man Loc: Western New York

Jim Bob wrote:

I can't say which is " the best". But the sigma 17-50 would certainly fall within that category in my opinion.

I have the Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4 and I quite like it. It's what I keep on the camera because it covers about 75% of my shooting needs.

guitarbts Loc: Charlotte, NC

brucewells wrote:

I'd encourage a look at the 17-55 f/2.8. One of the best for DX.

👌👌👌 Awesome lens!

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

fetzler wrote:

Nikon makes a number of zoom lenses that cover the wide angle to moderate telephoto range. The simplest is the 18-55mm kit lens. And the most expensive is the 16-80 f2.8 -4.

I am most interested in the wide angle to moderate telephoto range. I have telephoto zoom lenses that come out once in awhile.

What is the best? What is the best for the buck? Does it really matter?

You need the Nikon 18-200 mm vrII zoom, a very nice priced zoom that gives you 24-300 range on your DX camera. Mint off ebay in box for around $285.00. Make sure you get the II version, has a zoom lock switch. Surprisingly one of the sharpest lenses produced by Nikon. Good luck.

cthahn

There is no lens as the best. It depends on the photographer and the type of subjects he is photographing.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

fetzler wrote:

Nikon makes a number of zoom lenses that cover the wide angle to moderate telephoto range. The simplest is the 18-55mm kit lens. And the most expensive is the 16-80 f2.8 -4.

I am most interested in the wide angle to moderate telephoto range. I have telephoto zoom lenses that come out once in awhile.

What is the best? What is the best for the buck? Does it really matter?

I used 18-200 on DX. Now I use 28-300 on an FX. Generally speaking, the greater the spread in focal length, the more difficult it is to make a great lens.

Try these lens simulators.

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/simulator/
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/9059751105/photos/2518330/olympus-zuiko-lens-field-of-view-comparison

Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

fetzler wrote:

Nikon makes a number of zoom lenses that cover the wide angle to moderate telephoto range. The simplest is the 18-55mm kit lens. And the most expensive is the 16-80 f2.8 -4.

I am most interested in the wide angle to moderate telephoto range. I have telephoto zoom lenses that come out once in awhile.

What is the best? What is the best for the buck? Does it really matter?

When you ask "best"? do you mean image quality, value for money, focal length range? We don't know what kind of images you're capturing, but you did refer to 'normal range'. With 35mm film, normal is 50mm = 35mm on a DX body thus I think you want something with range +/- 35mm. My last DX body was a D300s and my 'go to' lens is the Nikkor AFS 24-70mm f/2.8. For me - it is the best.

Lance Pearson Loc: Viriginia

I migrated to full frame lenses even on my dx nikon d7000 which worked fine and eventually a year or less ago to a nikon D4 full frame camera but the dx lenses work on it still tho at cropped sensor image sizes. What evolved for me from my D90 on up to the D4 in lenses to cover a range of compositions, distances, functions is the BIG 28-70mm nikkor pro lens which I bought used in very good condition..92mm diameter at the end and f 2.8 and an 80-200mm f 2.8 nikkor pro lens also bought used in very good condition. I shoot one or the other depending on where I am and composition. I also have 35mm and 50 mm f 1.4 prime lenses but use them seldom. The older dx lenses including an f4.5 zoom to 300mm nikkor don't get used much nor does the Tamron 150-600mm monster distance zoom (way too heavy). 90% of outdoor scenes I shoot with the 80-200mm which is fast and indoors the 28-80mm is very hard to beat. Add it to the D4 full frame camera and its stupendous sensor and you have great quality images a high percentage of the time.

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camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

"What is the best? What is the best for the buck? Does it really matter?"

Let me begin by placing things into perspective. It does not matter how good your camera or lens are, your technique will dictate the final outcome.
The 18-55 kit lens has proven to be a great buy and optically it is very good. The old 18-70 AFS renders beautiful images also. I had a 18-105 that I sold because I was not happy with the images I was getting from it.
The 18-140 VR, AFS is a very popular lens and from what I read people seem to like it. I am not familiar with the the 16-80.
I guess the choice will depend on the type of photography you do often. Any of those lenses will do a good job if you do yours.

shutterbob Loc: Tucson

Jim Bob wrote:

I can't say which is " the best". But the sigma 17-50 would certainly fall within that category in my opinion.

Have to agree with Jin Bob here. I have this lens and use it with my D5500 and D7200. It is a fast f2.8, is very sharp, takes 'standard' 77mm filters, has Sigma's version of VR, which I have found to work quite well on this lens, and it's much smaller, lighter, and way cheaper than the non - stabilized Nikon 17-55.

StanRP Loc: Ontario Canada

Wingpilot wrote:

What was the issue with the image quality of the 18-300? Vignetting, softness, etc., at the extreme ends, softness overall? That's one lens that has interested me, but I've been reluctant to get due to a number of folks giving it less than stellar reviews.

Hi,

Perhaps some photographs taken with this lens would help?

I an a senior and I take my camera with me when I go to the park for a walk. I don't take a tripod and don't want to be bothered changing lens so I checked out this Nikon 18-300.

Here are three photographs taken of the same scene with this lens on a Nikon d500. One at 18mm, one at 70mm and one at 300

They were all taken at f/8 and ISO 400. I have added file info to the names.

EG DSC0228-18-300-18-400-200 =
18-300 The lens
18 mm setting
400 ISO
200 Shutter speed.

This is the path along the Oshawa (Ont.) lakeshore park. They were all taken 'hand-held' and these are the jpg from the camera. If you wish, I can send you the RAW files.

StanRP

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bthomas42 Loc: North Ridgeville Ohio

My goto medium zoom lens from Nikon is the 16-85mm and the second lens that i carry most of the time is the Nikon 70-300