Am I crazy to consider the Nikon 18-300 dx lens (Page 2): I bought the 18 - 300 Nikon lens 5 years ago, used. Never regretted it! I use it all the time, exactly for it's versatility.

Rineal Loc: Copake NY

I bought the 18 - 300 Nikon lens 5 years ago, used. Never regretted it! I use it all the time, exactly for it's versatility.
Richard

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

lrm wrote:

I now own Nikon 200-500, Nikon 24-70, Tamron 70-200 and Tamron 15-30. Considering the new Nikon 18-300 as a vacation lens for upcoming cruise. Love the quality photos from my current lenses. Will I be disappointed in the results from the 18-300? Yes I will probably rent one to compare, but I would like opinion from those who are familiar.

I own that lens and contrary to what others here will tell you the Nikon 18-300 will deliver quality vacation images. No, I would not use this lens professionally, cause of the weight and slow speed. But for general photography and taking. only ONE lens, it will do the job well.

jeffhacker Loc: Dallas, Texas

lrm wrote:

I now own Nikon 200-500, Nikon 24-70, Tamron 70-200 and Tamron 15-30. Considering the new Nikon 18-300 as a vacation lens for upcoming cruise. Love the quality photos from my current lenses. Will I be disappointed in the results from the 18-300? Yes I will probably rent one to compare, but I would like opinion from those who are familiar.

Like some of the others here, I have this lens. i replaced an 18-200 with it (I’ve got the f/3.5-f/5.6 version- there is a newer, cheaper, and lighter 3.5-6.3 version) and it is the lens I use 99% of the time. I also carry a f/1.4 50 mm prime lens, which although faster, I find i rarely use. I’m shooting a Nikon D500 and love the 18-300 lens; worth the money. And I acknowledge that some will say that the trade off is less quality than some of the other lenses they offer, but the price is not that terrible and you only need one lens. My most frequent shots are travel type shots, and this is a perfect lens for that.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

lrm wrote:

I now own Nikon 200-500, Nikon 24-70, Tamron 70-200 and Tamron 15-30. Considering the new Nikon 18-300 as a vacation lens for upcoming cruise. Love the quality photos from my current lenses. Will I be disappointed in the results from the 18-300? Yes I will probably rent one to compare, but I would like opinion from those who are familiar.

The Nikkor 18-300 is a nice DX lens but you might look at the Nikkor 28-300mm FX lens. It is essentially the same lens and works well on both FX and DX cameras. I have managed to replace (almost) all of my DX lenses with FX. Mainly this is because I have a Nikon D7000, a Nikon D7100 and a Nikon D610.. all but the D610 are DX cameras but the FX lenses perform just as well if not better. AND shooting DX through an FX lens, you are shooting in the "sweet spot" of the glass on DX and not using the edges of the lens. On DX cameras (and FX) on DX lenses you are using the entire glass. Also, it seems to me that the FX lenses seem to be better quality.. but it may just seem that way to me because I paid more.. lol!

Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

lrm wrote:

I now own Nikon 200-500, Nikon 24-70, Tamron 70-200 and Tamron 15-30. Considering the new Nikon 18-300 as a vacation lens for upcoming cruise. Love the quality photos from my current lenses. Will I be disappointed in the results from the 18-300? Yes I will probably rent one to compare, but I would like opinion from those who are familiar.

I think this is a great all-around lens. It is not that sharp at 300mm, but sharp enough for vacation and family reunion pics. My wife has this more or less permanently mounted on her 7100.

throughrhettseyes Loc: Rowlett, TX

I have had a Nikon 18-200 mm f/3.5-4 since 2008 on my old D-200. This lens is far better than the Sigma 28-300mm I bought used 2 years ago. The 18-200 is a little soft in the fully extended focal length like most cheaper lens are. Rent one and you will see. So if you want to go with only one lens while traveling then the 18-300 mm is a great lens. But, expect some soft focus at longer focal lengths. Have fun!

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Lenses are tools. Those tools could be used for convenience, like when we travel or to do a specific job which is the case of wedding photographers.
I am going to say that the chances are excellent that your Nikon 24-70 and the Tamron 70-200 should cover the majority of the shots you could make on your cruise. The 18-300 (I have never used one, I shoot with my 18-200) has the convenience that changing lenses is not necessary in good light which makes it a good choice for traveling. When I mentioned the 24-70 and 70-200 I was talking specifically about the D750.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

rbmartiniv wrote:

I have a Nikon 18-300 that has become my "go to" lens. I use it on all my travels as it is great for close-ups and landscapes. On recent trips to Alaska and the Canadian Rockies that was the only lens I used. See some of the photos on my Smugmug site if you like. You can't go wrong with that lens.

I don't know what you are doing different but we all should take a lesson!! Beautiful travel images- great presentation. Who does your printing and how do the prints compare with the online version?

deepdiverv Loc: arizona

Just got back from Europe.I used my D7200 and the newer version of the nikon 18-300mm, it worked great and I didn't have to drag along a bunch of lenses.

WJShaheen Loc: Gold Canyon, AZ

Not to throw another wrinkle into all of this, but, where would you guys and gals rank the Sigma DC 18-250 3.5 - 6.3 compared to the camera mentioned, in terms of image quality? The 18-300 looks attractively priced.

My camera is the Nikon D7500.

Bill in Gold Canyon, AZ

lsupremo Loc: Palm Desert, CA

jerryc41 wrote:

How about a Tamron 18-400mm? 100 more mm at a lower price.

https://www.ephotozine.com/article/tamron-18-400mm-f-3-5-6-3-di-ii-vc-hld-review-31259
https://digital-photography-school.com/review-tamron-18-400mm-zoom-lens/
https://www.dpreview.com/samples/9152094990/gallery-impressions-tamron-18-400-f3-5-6-3
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tamron/18-400mm.htm

Me too!

ballsafire Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

jerryc41 wrote:

How about a Tamron 18-400mm? 100 more mm at a lower price.

https://www.ephotozine.com/article/tamron-18-400mm-f-3-5-6-3-di-ii-vc-hld-review-31259
https://digital-photography-school.com/review-tamron-18-400mm-zoom-lens/
https://www.dpreview.com/samples/9152094990/gallery-impressions-tamron-18-400-f3-5-6-3
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tamron/18-400mm.htm

jsmith23 Loc: Adams, MA

ballsafire wrote:

I purchased the 18-300mm lens a few years ago and it is now my all around go to lens. I've had great results
using this lens with my Nikon 7100 even at the top end of 250-300mm I would urge you however to make sure
you test out the 18-300 (3.5-5.6) and not the 3.5-6.3

Although a bit more expensive, I've been told the 3.5-5.6 has better glass and less dispersion.
I too will be taking a cruise in the spring (Baltic, Northern Europe) and this lens will be the only one accompanying
me.

Robeng Loc: California

lrm wrote:

I now own Nikon 200-500, Nikon 24-70, Tamron 70-200 and Tamron 15-30. Considering the new Nikon 18-300 as a vacation lens for upcoming cruise. Love the quality photos from my current lenses. Will I be disappointed in the results from the 18-300? Yes I will probably rent one to compare, but I would like opinion from those who are familiar.

Here’s my two cents worth. As part of Nikon Professional Service I can borrow whatever I want from Nikon for free. A couple of years back I went to Machu Picchu carrying close to 30lbs of full frame camera gear to photograph the ruins, I thought I was going to have a freckling heart attack climbing up and down that place carrying all that gear. I’m also in decent shape.

Last year I had the opportunity to photograph China. I contacted NPS and asked them to send me a D500 with a 18mm-300mm & a wide angle zoom. It was so much lighter and I got great shots. Those two lenses was all I needed. One of my images took picture of the month at one of the local photo competition. I say keep it light & simple.

I have since purchased a D500 and have the 18mm-300mm mounted on it. Keep in mind there are two versions of the 18mm-300mm.

You can view my China images in my website if you want.

Rob

rothphotog Loc: Orlando, FL

I've used that same lens for over two years as my every day, walk-around and candid head-shot/portrait lens. Exceptional range with great image quality. Be careful, if you absolutely HAVE to use an in-camera flash, that you are aware of the lens hood when extended for long focal lengths. The hood will cast a semi-circular shadow in the bottom third of the frame that you won't see in the viewfinder. Easy to forget in the heat of a quick shooting moment. I confess to having first-hand knowledge!