Need Lens Help
Nov 18, 2013 20:43:24 #
I'm thinking about selling my Nikon lens, 18-200mm and my 55-300mm and getting the 18-300mm lens. This will be used for family photo's in the home and sporting event in a gym and outside in summer. I need help deciding if this is a good idea or just keep what I have. I have a Nikon D7000 camera. I will appreciate your opions.
Nov 18, 2013 21:05:44 #
It depends on what you are shooting. I have Nikon D90 and have standardized on four lenses:
35mm 1.8 G for portrait work.
18-55mm VR for group and indoor architect work.
55-200mm VR for group and outdoor work and landscapes.
80-200 f2.8 for action photography in theaters for dance.
If you read the reviews the 18-200 is a great all around lens. I have shot dance with the 55-300 and it is a POOR lens. Get rid of it! The 18-300 is a fairly expensive lens. How are you going to use the additional 100mm? A lot of these zooms go very soft at the long end. Since I shoot action, I would keep the 18-200 for general purposes, and get the WONDERFUL Nikon 80-200 f2.8. It can be had used for around $600 or $1100 new. It is a REAL pro lens that will serve you well for a decade. It will autofocus on a D7000 as well. DUMP that doggy 55-300. Add yourself a 35mm portrait lens and you are all set.
35mm 1.8 G for portrait work.
18-55mm VR for group and indoor architect work.
55-200mm VR for group and outdoor work and landscapes.
80-200 f2.8 for action photography in theaters for dance.
If you read the reviews the 18-200 is a great all around lens. I have shot dance with the 55-300 and it is a POOR lens. Get rid of it! The 18-300 is a fairly expensive lens. How are you going to use the additional 100mm? A lot of these zooms go very soft at the long end. Since I shoot action, I would keep the 18-200 for general purposes, and get the WONDERFUL Nikon 80-200 f2.8. It can be had used for around $600 or $1100 new. It is a REAL pro lens that will serve you well for a decade. It will autofocus on a D7000 as well. DUMP that doggy 55-300. Add yourself a 35mm portrait lens and you are all set.
Nov 18, 2013 21:13:05 #
Look at the specs on the lens. I believe it is somewhat heavy. If that's not a concern,.......Have at it.
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Nov 18, 2013 23:27:57 #
Paris wrote:
I'm thinking about selling my Nikon lens, 18-200mm and my 55-300mm and getting the 18-300mm lens. This will be used for family photo's in the home and sporting event in a gym and outside in summer. I need help deciding if this is a good idea or just keep what I have. I have a Nikon D7000 camera. I will appreciate your opions.
I sold my 18-200 and bought the 18-300 when I went to Alaska and wanted the additional reach. I really like the lens. As noted, a bit heavy, but not bad. As also noted, it does get a bit soft above about 250mm. The zoom lock--which I didn't have on the 18-200 VR version--is a blessing. Even with the downside factors, I normally keep it on my D90 and use it as my walk around. No lens is perfect (well, maybe a few), but I think you'll be quite satisfied.
Nov 19, 2013 11:42:19 #
If you are happy with the 18-300 spec's. o for that and get a fast 1.4 or 1.8 35mm so you have something for low light, inside. If you think there is any chance you might move from the DX D90 to a full frame camera(FX) then consider upgrading the glass, now to the FX format. Buy the Nikon FX 28-300- very comparable to the DX 18-300. Then just buy a fast, prime and wide lens- maybe a 20 mm or something you can use inside in low light. If you watch, the price between DX and FX glass is very little and puts you in a position for full frame down the road without additional lens investment. Read what Ken Rockwell says about all of these at his website, by his name--.com
Nov 19, 2013 15:49:05 #
If there is a lens rental company in your area rent one for the weekend and try out the lens. I just did this with the Nikon 28-300 and I am glad that I did.
Nov 19, 2013 17:15:52 #
I've never been a fan of the super zooms as they sacrifice too much, but the range is nice if you only post images online & don't enlarge them much when printing... Here is Thom Hogan's review of it http://www.bythom.com/Nikkor18-300lensreview.htm
And Ken Rockwells
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18-300mm.htm#perf
And Ken Rockwells
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18-300mm.htm#perf
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Nov 19, 2013 19:34:48 #
sueyeisert
Loc: New Jersey
Look at your photo's metadata how often do you shoot at 200mm and wish the zoom went to 300mm? Try the lens and shooting at 300mm before you get rid of you other lenses.I switched from the Nikon 18-200mm to Sigma 17-50mm 2.8 as a walk around lens. I really like the constant aperture.
Paris wrote:
I'm thinking about selling my Nikon lens, 18-200mm and my 55-300mm and getting the 18-300mm lens. This will be used for family photo's in the home and sporting event in a gym and outside in summer. I need help deciding if this is a good idea or just keep what I have. I have a Nikon D7000 camera. I will appreciate your opions.
Nov 19, 2013 20:27:16 #
Bugfan
Loc: Toronto, Canada
I have a D200 that I still use for travel photography. When the 18-300 came out I was one of the first to stand in line for it. The lens isn't perfect but then the objective of travel photography is not necessarily to create perfect art, but rather to capture architecture, landscapes and events as they are experienced. Often in that kind of photography conditions vary too much to have a lens for each issue. I travel only with my D200 and my 18-300 and I love it, no lenses to change, no camera bags to cart around. Simplicity itself.
I also have a D800 and a D3. For that I have a 28-300 which isn't exactly the range of my D200 but it's close enough. I find this one handy for general stuff when I'm also not into art or perfection.
The rest of the time I have the 12-24, the 24-70 and the 70-200, all of them f2.8 as well as a variety of prime macro lenses as well. These allow me to do art and perfection.
You can't have both. If you want amazing range you have to compromise some quality which, thankfully, few actually ever notice. If you want perfection you'll have to spend a lot for glass and change lenses often.
I've actually considered also getting prime lenses but so far I've been happy with the zooms. I guess I'm hooked on the range. In my film says I was constantly changing primes which is probably why I was willing to compromise now.
To answer your question, sort of, I think you'll love the 18-300, I certainly do.
I also have a D800 and a D3. For that I have a 28-300 which isn't exactly the range of my D200 but it's close enough. I find this one handy for general stuff when I'm also not into art or perfection.
The rest of the time I have the 12-24, the 24-70 and the 70-200, all of them f2.8 as well as a variety of prime macro lenses as well. These allow me to do art and perfection.
You can't have both. If you want amazing range you have to compromise some quality which, thankfully, few actually ever notice. If you want perfection you'll have to spend a lot for glass and change lenses often.
I've actually considered also getting prime lenses but so far I've been happy with the zooms. I guess I'm hooked on the range. In my film says I was constantly changing primes which is probably why I was willing to compromise now.
To answer your question, sort of, I think you'll love the 18-300, I certainly do.
Nov 19, 2013 23:10:05 #
Just remember that reviews are biased... One person's trash is another persons treasure.... Best to rent a lens you are interested in to see if it meets your criteria...
Nov 20, 2013 19:43:22 #
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