Nikon Zoom Lens Recommendations
Jul 29, 2012 12:48:58 #
Going to New England in September for foliage. Currently have Nikon 18-55 lens kit and Tamron 70-300 lens on my D3200. Thinking about a more diverse 'walk-around' lens, something with more range but not as heavy at the Tamron. Looked at Nikon 16-105. Have read reviews on lots of options but want opinions from folks in the field. Any recommendations, pros/cons, does/don'ts will be welcomed.
Jul 29, 2012 13:17:27 #
HumDinger wrote:
Going to New England in September for foliage. Currently have Nikon 18-55 lens kit and Tamron 70-300 lens on my D3200. Thinking about a more diverse 'walk-around' lens, something with more range but not as heavy at the Tamron. Looked at Nikon 16-105. Have read reviews on lots of options but want opinions from folks in the field. Any recommendations, pros/cons, does/don'ts will be welcomed.
I've had excellent results with the Nikon 18-200, but you may have a more compact lens in mind. If your body has a focus motor (D-80/D90/D7000 and up) the Nikon 28-105 is good and has a micro feature as well. Obviously the 28-105 doesn't have the same range as the 18-200 or VR, but it's a lens I have experience with, performs well and is economical (you can get good examples for <$150 at KEH). It's also FF if you ever decide to go that route. Have a great trip!
Jul 29, 2012 16:05:12 #
I would suggest taking a hard look at the recently introduced Nikon AF-S 18-300mm DX VR II zoom lens, quite a nice range in one lens!
Jul 29, 2012 16:06:21 #
I like my 55-200 VR. Inexpensive and sharp by my eye !!! Go back and look at some of you older foliage pics. What mm range do you like to shoot in ???? Everyone is different and has a different idea of composition. I would stay away from the 16/18 x 105 & 135 ( I think those #s are right. They have been described as soft by KR & Thom.............
Jul 30, 2012 09:37:59 #
I have the Tamron 70-300 and think the only problem is the lack of vibration reduction. The Nikon 18-300 is much more expensive but the Tamron 18-270 is about $550 with rebate. Make sure you get a lense that has intenal motor for your D3200. If you want to go less expensive I would try the Nikon 55-200, has vibration reduction and is light weight. With your present lense (18-55) you have the whole range covered. Please show some pics.
Jul 30, 2012 10:07:05 #
Thanks for the suggestions. My 70-300 has Vibration Compensation and I love it. The bayou is a great place for this lens (see attached). Still learning the ins-and-outs of it and the camera.
Just looking for something a little lighter to pack around airports and on field trips.
Just looking for something a little lighter to pack around airports and on field trips.
Jul 30, 2012 10:27:51 #
For the monney, you really can't beat an 18-200 VRII. Although I rarely take it off 18mm, it's great to have the tele handy... Here's a couple that I shot this weekend on my D300s from 18 to 200mm. Sharp and clear, if you pay attention to the details...
Jul 30, 2012 10:51:59 #
Great shots, Edmund. I really like the specs on the 18-200. Not sure my budget can handle the cost. Other option is the 50-200 but, while the price is better, not sure I want to give up the low end range. Where did you get your 18-200?
Jul 30, 2012 11:09:30 #
HumDinger wrote:
Going to New England in September for foliage. Currently have Nikon 18-55 lens kit and Tamron 70-300 lens on my D3200. Thinking about a more diverse 'walk-around' lens, something with more range but not as heavy at the Tamron. Looked at Nikon 16-105. Have read reviews on lots of options but want opinions from folks in the field. Any recommendations, pros/cons, does/don'ts will be welcomed.
I just got the 18-300 VR lens (so I'm selling my 18-200mm VR lens) but it's heavy. It's a good weight lens for a heavy camera like my Nikon D300. However, I also have a Nikon D40 (which is light weight like your D3200) and it's too heavy for this camera. I upgraded the 18-55mm kit lens on the D40 to an 18-105mm VR lens. The picture quality is good and it is the right weight and feels good on the Nikon D40. I find that it is really all I need when I travel. I would recommend you get the 18-105 VR lens for your camera.
Jul 30, 2012 11:10:24 #
It seems to me that you already have all of the focal lengths covered with the Nikon kit and Tameron. I'd save my mone. I don't think that the 18-200 is any better than what you already have. On a trip to New England in the fall, I'd think that you would be doing a lot of landscape work and that an extra wide angle lens like the Tokina 11-16 f2.8 for <$600 would be better. I have one , and it is my favorite lenses. read the reviews... it's super sharp, fast and built like a tank. For the money, you couldn't find a more useful lens for landscape. Here's a couple shot with the Tokina
Jul 30, 2012 13:28:08 #
Trade in your kit lens or both on a Tamron 18-270mm and you have a relatively light weight lens and you don't have to fiddle around with changing lens. You'll give up a few MMs on the long end of the zoom but not enough to make a big difference. Take your D3200 body to your camera shop and try out a few lens that you have in mind, then go home and put them on your computer and see how they look to you. I had the Nikon 18-200mm and got rid of it for the Tamron 18-270........
Jul 30, 2012 19:23:47 #
Very nice shots by a number of photographers in this thread support the contention we often see that it isn't the equipment that matters.
Having said that I recently got a good buy on a nearly new Nikon 10-24mm. It is for sure what I would take for the foilage in the fall. This is with no post processing (which I normally do).
Having said that I recently got a good buy on a nearly new Nikon 10-24mm. It is for sure what I would take for the foilage in the fall. This is with no post processing (which I normally do).
Jul 30, 2012 19:28:15 #
Edmund Dworakowski wrote:
It seems to me that you already have all of the fo... (show quote)
The problem I had with the Tokina is that the autofocus doesn't work with Nikons that do not have a focusing motor in the body; e.g. my D5100 and the D3100/3200.
BTW the Nikon 10-24 does not have VR but you really don't need it with that short a focal length unless you are seeking to max out the f-stop in dim light. The pic I posted was handheld with P mode running the f-stop to give me a shutter speed about 1/50.
Jul 30, 2012 23:31:27 #
If anyone questions the value of this forum all they need do is look at the quality of the responses that were made to my inquiry. Plus they get to see some great photography as a bonus. Thanks for the lens input folks. I really have a lot to think about. I started looking for a zoom and now have wide angle options to consider. Will keep you posted and hopefully will be posting pictures from New England this fall.
Jul 31, 2012 08:23:02 #
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