General Purpose Lens for a D5100: I managed to drop my 18-55mm 'kit' lens on a tile floor. Needless to say, there were no survivors. I'm shopping around for a replacement. I've already...

asjohnston3 Loc: Irving, TX

I managed to drop my 18-55mm 'kit' lens on a tile floor. Needless to say, there were no survivors. I'm shopping around for a replacement. I've already blown most of my Christmas funds so will be on a pretty strict budget. I could just go with a straight replacement but kind of want something with a little more reach. I've been looking at the Sigma & Tamron 18-200's and the Nikon 18-105mm... Any comments and suggestions would be appreciated....

RON 11 Loc: Pittsburgh

Nikon18-105 is a I good choice with that camera. Very reasonable, especially refurbished.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

RON 11 wrote:

Nikon18-105 is a I good choice with that camera. Very reasonable, especially refurbished.

I've used the 18-105 and would recommend too, especially a used or refurb copy.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

ajohnston3 wrote:

I managed to drop my 18-55mm 'kit' lens on a tile floor. Needless to say, there were no survivors. I'm shopping around for a replacement. I've already blown most of my Christmas funds so will be on a pretty strict budget. I could just go with a straight replacement but kind of want something with a little more reach. I've been looking at the Sigma & Tamron 18-200's and the Nikon 18-105mm... Any comments and suggestions would be appreciated....

I like a larger spread than 18-105. I used to have the Nikon 18-200mm as my daily lens, and I was pleased with it. Here are more comparisons than you will want to read.

http://www.google.com/search?q=sigma+18-200mm+vs+nikon+18-200mm&oq=sigma+18-200mm+vs+&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.12104j0j4&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8

Whatever you decide to get, consider refurbished, or even used. Every lens I have is used, even those I bought new. :D

Bret Loc: Dayton Ohio

I'm not a really big fan of zoom lens...but if I were going to buy one today...it would be the 18-140...maybe worth looking into.

amehta Loc: Boston

The Nikon 18-140 and Nikon 18-105 both seem to perform as well as the 18-55. The 18-105 is an older lens, so you can get it used for about $200. The 18-140 is a new lens, so you won't find as many bargains. The 18-200 seems to be the worst of the "superzooms", the 18-300 actually seems to be better than the 18-200, for a price. Literally.

http://www.keh.com/Camera/format-Digital/system-Nikon-Digital/category-Zoom-Lenses?s=1&bcode=DN&ccode=7&cc=3134&r=WG&f

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

Sigma has an 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC(os)* macro hsm for sale on their web site for $349.00 It is a savings of $450.00 over the suggested retail price.

klaus Loc: Guatemala City, Guatemala

Nikon 18-105! Just bought one refurbished from Roberts. Looked brand-new! Love the range and the sharpness.

Here's the link:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-Nikkor-AF-S-18-105mm-f3-5-5-6-VR-DX-G-ED-Lens-105-USA-WARRANTY-ROBERTS-/141134656565?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item20dc47f435

Bogin Bob Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida

Relatively 'new' to the Nikon 5100 (I had great experience with the Canon Power Shot SX mega zoom cameras), I have come to enjoy the longer zoom. I polled my camera club members and many enthusiasts and pros recommended the Tamron 18-270. It has become my most used lens, not heavy and allows me lots of flexibility for portraits, landscapes and sunsets. 6 year manufacturer warranty. I did have one issue re: zooming (felt like it was 'sticking') and it was resolved immediately. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?N=0&InitialSearch=yes&Ntt=Tamron+18%2F270
PS: I see refurbs for mid $300 on the web.

crimesc324 Loc: West Palm Beach, Florida

ajohnston3 wrote:

I managed to drop my 18-55mm 'kit' lens on a tile floor. Needless to say, there were no survivors. I'm shopping around for a replacement. I've already blown most of my Christmas funds so will be on a pretty strict budget. I could just go with a straight replacement but kind of want something with a little more reach. I've been looking at the Sigma & Tamron 18-200's and the Nikon 18-105mm... Any comments and suggestions would be appreciated....

Tamron 18-270

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

ajohnston3 wrote:

I managed to drop my 18-55mm 'kit' lens on a tile floor. Needless to say, there were no survivors. I'm shopping around for a replacement. I've already blown most of my Christmas funds so will be on a pretty strict budget. I could just go with a straight replacement but kind of want something with a little more reach. I've been looking at the Sigma & Tamron 18-200's and the Nikon 18-105mm... Any comments and suggestions would be appreciated....

All lenses have trade offs. Here is a site that shows performance of various brands of lenses. The link is for Nikon but it can be changed for other brands.

One thing to remember, as the performance and quality of a lens increases the cost goes up disproportionally.

cygone Loc: Boston

Ken Rockwell says ....."The plastic-mount 18-105mm VR is a decent enough general-purpose lens for people who are in the price range of the D90 with which it is kitted, but for $400 ($300 in a kit with the D90), I'd rather buy something else.The photos are nice and sharp most of the time, but if you're looking closely, the 18-105mm is Nikon's fuzziest lens in the corners at 18mm. Even the $100 18-55mm is better.For $400, you could buy either of the excellent 18-55mm kit lenses which are sharper at 18mm (VR or non-VR, your choice), and with the money left over, buy the professional 50mm f/1.4 AF-D or 50mm f/1.8 AF-D for use in low light, all for the same price or less than the 18-105mm.For not much more, I could get the superior metal-mount 16-85mm VR or 18-200mm VRinstead, either of which is also superior to the 18-105mm.The only DX midrange zoom I like less than this 18-105mm is the non-VR 18-135mm, which is also overpriced.

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

Disagree, my 18-200 VR ll with zoom lock is tack sharp, on my D7000. I also have the the 18-105 VR that came with my camera and the 70-300 VR. Just returned from 10 days on Kauai, and the ONLY lens I brought was the 18-200. Having many of my images printed at 16x20, at the suggestion of several friends, some of whom work for Nat Geo.

amehta wrote:

The Nikon 18-140 and Nikon 18-105 both seem to per... (show quote)

Marilyng Loc: Lorain,Oh.

ajohnston3 wrote:

I managed to drop my 18-55mm 'kit' lens on a tile floor. Needless to say, there were no survivors. I'm shopping around for a replacement. I've already blown most of my Christmas funds so will be on a pretty strict budget. I could just go with a straight replacement but kind of want something with a little more reach. I've been looking at the Sigma & Tamron 18-200's and the Nikon 18-105mm... Any comments and suggestions would be appreciated....

My favorite lens is the Nikon 55-300. I very rarely change it,just a great lens!

pauleveritt Loc: Erie, Colorado

I shoot with a D90 and swapped my 18-105 for an 18-55 VR and some cash. You can get an 18-55 VR refurbed for $99 and an 55-200 VR for $129. The two lenses will cost less than a single longer lens. The 18-140 has gotten some very good reviews. I traded off my 18-105 because I kept reading that it was rather soft at the short end. It is also a very BIG clunky lens in my book and you might be UNPLEASANTLY surprised how heavy it is, especially compared to your 18-55.