vpeek1947 Loc: Louisville, Ky

I have many Nikon lens - my walk around lens on both my D750 & D7000 is the Nikon 18-300.
Very good all around especially if you don't know exactly what you might be shooting.

gcolegate1

Probably closer to 6K, maybe less. Check refurbished and used, could find some deals. This is a great combo of lenses. She said the she was ready to spend some serious cash and you can’t take it with you.

CaptCurt

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm is a great Get-R-Done lens, one stays on my D7100. And to get a wide DX Lens for it a Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm rocks. You have the 35mm, so not much you can't shoot with all that in your tool box. BTW, always keep a filter on them. Replacing a broke filter hurts, but not near as much as a lens. Hoya Filters Rule in my book.

awesome14 Loc: UK

Hi Carol,

You don't strike me as one who feels compelled to strategize purchases of photographic equipment for all possible contingencies. You simply wish to broaden your horizons in photography.

I have been shooting since I was a kid. I've had many cameras, but never much other equipment. I have just what I require for 'me', for how 'I' work.

Long zooms are racked out all the way (full length) 98% of the time. So, you might as well use a prime.

Aside from blurring the background, f4 will get you pretty far with a DSLR body, given VR and high ISOs. So, I have one zoom for knock-around use and portraits: 24-120 f4, and a: 300 f4, w/2x converter if necessary, which, if I'm going out, is usually attached to the body by default.

But that's just me. I move my body to frame the shot, or just crop in postprocessing.

Given these things, my suggestions would be one of the following: Nikkor 55-300 f4.5-5.6 DX; 70-300 f4.5-6.3 DX; for zooms, and 300 f4 FX; for prime.

Then there are third-party lenses, which frequently lack functionality, but can be quite good otherwise.

And, you can buy used on eBay, which is pretty safe with lenses, because if a lens works, it generally will continue to work. If it is damaaged, it is usually immediately obvious, in which case the lens can be returned at the seller's expense.

I hope this helps.

CRoy

I think I have a lot to review! The 70-200 sounds good. I actually hadn't thought about the FX lenses - just more to consider!

I enjoy shooting wildlife at 300 mm (various trips to national parks). But, yes, I have to be real careful of camera shake. 200 is probably sufficient, too. Except for real estate, vacations and wildlife, I am pretty much shooting my grandkids in action...baby, toddlers, and a 7 year old playing his sports!

I had an F2 40 years ago. It was a TANK and I actually enjoyed shooting in manual. Today, I think we all get lazy at times and shoot on auto.

My present kit lenses are AF-S DX 18-55mm. f 3.5-5.6 VR and AF-S DX 55-300 f4.5-5.6 ED VR

I prefer Nikon lenses, but I hear a lot of good about the Tamron, too. I have homework to do!

CO

Tamron has been hitting it out of the park with their latest lenses. I have their 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD lens and their 45mm f/1.8 SP VC lens. I like that they are fully weather sealed including a seal at the lens mount. They came out with a 35-150mm f/2.8-4 lens not long ago. It covers the most popular focal lengths for doing portraits with full frame cameras. It weighs only 790 grams. That's not bad considering it's a full frame lens with a fairly large maximum aperture

dyximan

I have a Nikon D500 but used to have the 5300 and loved it, on Both I used the Nikon 18- 300 = a 27-450 and still do, Its my walk about, go to lens of choice, Although I do hear a lot of folks like the Tamron 18-400 = a 27-600. like I said It is my go to, walk about lens, and I think the IQ is good.

RickL Loc: Vail, Az

My wife uses a Nikor 70-300 vc lens and gets tack sharp results at all vocal lengths. The lens is not that expensive if you buy used. She is very happy with it

ronpier Loc: Poland Ohio

Since 99% of my shooting with my D3400 is between 17-75mm I use the Tamron 17-50 and 28-75. Both Tamron lenses are fixed aperture f2.8 and have in lens motors. Very sharp and great in low light. If needing to go longer I use the Nikon 70-300 kit lens. On my D90 I use the Nikkor AF-S 18-70 and the old AF 3.5-4.5 35-135 or AF 3.5-5.5 70-300.

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

Since you liked the F2 and didn't mind manual focus and metering, you might like the 28-105 NIKKOR with Macro. No VR or course, but its weight distribution seems to dampen the mirror shake on the D3300 quite nicely. I paid around $50 for mine. It's my new favorite lens.

smussler Loc: Land O Lakes, FL - Formerly Miller Place, NY

I have a D5600. One thing to keep in mine - your camera like mine needs a lens with a focusing motor built in for auto focusing.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

I like my 16-80 f2.8/f4 on my D5300.