SewClever

Hi friends, I have Nikons d7200 and d500 and my favorite walk around lens is the Nikkor 18-200mm. Recently it began slipping. I now use a band on it, but I just don't feel the photos are as sharp arls they once were. I know with a long zoom sharpness is often compromised, and I have several other lenses that do an excellent job. But as an almost 72 yr old woman, although spry enough, sometimes I just want to grab one lens for a long hike. I'm looking between Nikkor, Tamron, and Sigma. I want new, as I don't want to deal with slipping again any time soon. I'm looking at 18mm-300mm, or even 400mm is quality isn't terribly compromised. And suggestions from personal experience? Thank you!!

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Do you honestly need, will use 300mm or 400mm? I can't say for the 300mm but the 400mm will most likely be very heavy for you to use and might be of limited use for you to begin with. If the 18-200 is presently working for you may I suggest you stay within that range of zoom power. Most all of the brand names you mentioned have some quality lenses. Now to just find one in your price range.

Dennis

SewClever

Thank you for your thoughts!

kcooke Loc: Alabama

My wife uses a D7200 with the 24-120 f4 Nikkor lens most of the time. The lens started having a few issues and we just decided to send it to Nikon for repair. They get the lens and quote the cost. Then you accept or not the repair and charges. They did a great job getting her lens back to like condition. Just mentioning this because it is an option if you like the lens

ELNikkor

Something a little more tidy and sharp is the DX 18-140. My friend had one and loved it! If you really might need longer, as a companion to the 18-140, Nikon also has a DX 70-300P lens that weighs less than a pound.

SewClever

Thank you! I never thought about that option!!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

If you really like the 18-200 - which is a very good range on APSC, it is worth saving or replacing. I recommend doing a micro-focus adjust with both bodies and servicing the lens - or get another GOOD used/new one.
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SewClever

Thank you. I think I'll try to have it serviced.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Please let us know your results. Even the second version of the 18-200 zoom has been discontinued for quite some time. I have one like yours that needs internal repair...the end of the ribbon cable has become disconnected...but I can't find anyone interested in even looking at it.

SewClever

I will post my results on this thread!

User ID

The 24-120/4 is heavy but the reward, and reason for the weight, is its significant wide angle ability. That applies only to use on FF bodies. Using it on an APSC body does not seem to address the OPs concerns at all.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

Have you considered sending it to Nikon to get fixed? Probably cheaper than a new lens.

wetreed

You should go with the Tamron 18-400

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

For close to 15 years, I used the 17-55mm f/2.8 as the default lens on three different DX cameras...D200, D300, and D500. It's a pretty great lens, but it is fairly heavy, it doesn't have VR, and it can be a little short sometimes. I made a trip to my local camera store to see what alternatives might be available.

The 16-80mm f/2.8-4 came up first. Somehow, it just seemed too mediocre, too expensive, and too slow, since it turned out to be an f/4 lens from about 28mm and up.

There was a nice 24-120mm f/4 in the used case, however, priced at $425. I tried it and really liked it on my D500. You are correct that it isn't really very wide on a DX camera at pretty close to 35mm full frame equivalent. But it approaches 200mm full-frame equivalent on the long end. That has proven to be a pretty fair trade. It has become my preferred lens when using a DX camera.

If I know I'm going into a wide angle situation, I'll either swap over to a full frame camera or go back to the 17-55. If caught by surprise, a quick 2-4 shot panorama will fill the need at the expense of only a few extra seconds.

This thinking and approach may not work for everyone, but it's been pretty successful for me.

SewClever

Thank you for your experience and thoughts!