Seeking Nikon lens advice: Greetings to all..... been away from the forum for a while. Have the basic lenses for my D5300 and wish to acquire a versatile lens for travel photos. Within...

Eurolux Loc: NYC

Greetings to all..... been away from the forum for a while. Have the basic lenses for my D5300 and wish to acquire a versatile lens for travel photos. Within the next year I will also likely buy a full frame camera.

Any feedback on the AF-S 200-500? I’ve seen some articles claiming Nikon had software problems with it, but those problems should be corrected by now.

Thanks for any and all advice.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Eurolux wrote:

Greetings to all..... been away from the forum for a while. Have the basic lenses for my D5300 and wish to acquire a versatile lens for travel photos. Within the next year I will also likely buy a full frame camera.

Any feedback on the AF-S 200-500? I’ve seen some articles claiming Nikon had software problems with it, but those problems should be corrected by now.

Thanks for any and all advice.

I have used the 200-500 f5.6 for almost a year with no problem, but not on a D5300. It is a great lens and performs very well on full frame cameras. Not quite professional build quality, but very well done and very sharp. It is not an internal zoom, which means that it draws air into itself every time that you extend it. The only possible compatibility problem would be that it has an electronic rather than mechanical aperture. Check the compatibility chart on NikonUSA's website. It might be ready to go with no problem, or it might be that all that is needed is a firmware update.

Be aware that it is a quite heavy lens and uses 95mm filters.

MT native Loc: Big Sky Country — Montana

I’m not an expert on this but if you will be taking travel photos, wouldn’t a 18-300mm lens (for example) before a more versatile lens for you. Good luck on your purchase.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Eurolux wrote:

Greetings to all..... been away from the forum for a while. Have the basic lenses for my D5300 and wish to acquire a versatile lens for travel photos. Within the next year I will also likely buy a full frame camera.

Any feedback on the AF-S 200-500? I’ve seen some articles claiming Nikon had software problems with it, but those problems should be corrected by now.

Thanks for any and all advice.

The 200-500 is a really good lens, not not really a "travel" lens at over 5 pounds.
I would recomment you liok at the Tamron 1i-400mm lens, a great travel all in one lens at only $600 right now.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

Eurolux wrote:

Greetings to all..... been away from the forum for a while. Have the basic lenses for my D5300 and wish to acquire a versatile lens for travel photos. Within the next year I will also likely buy a full frame camera.

Any feedback on the AF-S 200-500? I’ve seen some articles claiming Nikon had software problems with it, but those problems should be corrected by now.

Thanks for any and all advice.

The Nikon 200-500 is a fine lens for wildlife photography, or if you need a large zoom lens. If I were purchasing an overall lens for travel photos, I would recommend the Nikon 24-120. It is a full frame lens for when you decide to upgrade to a full frame body. Something you may consider looking into is the Nikon D750 with a 24-120mm lens as a kit lens. Nikon rumors are that Nikon is bringing out a new D760 sometime this year, so places like B&H Photo have the Nikon D750 deeply discounted right now.

toxdoc42

How often has anyone really need anything greater than 200 for vacation travel photos? I do a fair amount of travelling and photography is part of that. I sought a relatively light weight high quality lens which didn't cost me more than a monthly car payment!

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I like my 200-500 quite well.

jonfrei

orrie smith wrote:

The Nikon 200-500 is a fine lens for wildlife phot... (show quote)

My D810 came with the 24-120 “kit” lens. I love it. If I’m not packing a bag with extra lenses, that’s more than likely going to be the one lens that comes with me.

MarciaES

I also have a Nikon 5300 and love it! It came with the 18-55 "kit" lens & shortly after getting it I purchased a 55-300 zoom lens. For quite awhile that was enough including a trip to Alaska. Pictures were good but I couldn't zoom in close enough on the wildlife. Since that 1st Alaska trip I've gotten a Tamron 18-400 zoom and a wide angle Sigma 10-20. These 2 have become my "go to" lenses. I have since been back to Alaska and the 18-400 lens was just perfect for me. Really brought in those Dall sheep & glaciers!

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

MT native wrote:

I’m not an expert on this but if you will be taking travel photos, wouldn’t a 18-300mm lens (for example) before a more versatile lens for you. Good luck on your purchase.

I agree with MT...Unless you want to change lenses a lot, you want something that goes from modest wide angle, to modest telephoto which means a zoom lens for traveling. I have the Nikon 18-200mm on my D5500 and it covers a wide range of situations. My friend has the Nikon 16-85mm lens on his D7200 and although it has less range than my lens, it's ever so slightly sharper. Another consideration is weight. The D5xxx series are compact and lightweight which is why I like that camera. Adding a 5-pound lens turns an easy camera to hang around your neck or shoulder into a bowling ball around your neck or shoulder.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

It depends on how you travel and where. We spend several months a year on the road in our rv shooting wild life. In town will use a 18-200 VRll, when driving it depends on the cover, if dense will use the af-p FF 70-300 or the 18-200, if it's wide open will use the Tamron 150-600 G2 on a D500.

Silverman Loc: Michigan

Eurolux wrote:

Greetings to all..... been away from the forum for a while. Have the basic lenses for my D5300 and wish to acquire a versatile lens for travel photos. Within the next year I will also likely buy a full frame camera.

Any feedback on the AF-S 200-500? I’ve seen some articles claiming Nikon had software problems with it, but those problems should be corrected by now.

Thanks for any and all advice.

Remember, when shopping for a lens, there is a difference between DX & FX lens compatibility, so if you are considering changing to a F.F. Camera, you will need F.F. Lens too. DX lens will not work properly on a F.F. Camera. Although, I am pretty sure F.F. Lens will work Ok on a DX-Crop sensor Camera.

Mama Bear984 Loc: Langley, BC Canada

If you want a travel lens that’s not the one. That’s for better on a full frame for sure.
Look into an 18-140, 18-300 or 400. I believe that Tamron makes something in that range.
It will give you the wide shots to telephoto to get closer.
A 200-500 is for birding etc.
It’s wat to heavy to carry around.
I used to be a Nikon shooter but switched a number of years ago to Fuji.
I’ve been all over the world & there’s not a time that I found a lens like that for travel.
Except when I planned to use it for wildlife.
What are you thinking of shooting with it?

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Nikon 28-300mm. Best travel lens out there. Couple it with the latest Tamron 10-24mm wide angle and you've got all the lenses you'll ever need. Once you stick the 28-300 on your camera, you'll have no need to take it off, except for wide angle shots.

ruwohe

toxdoc42 wrote:

How often has anyone really need anything greater than 200 for vacation travel photos? I do a fair amount of travelling and photography is part of that. I sought a relatively light weight high quality lens which didn't cost me more than a monthly car payment!

I agree 100%. My 18-200 Nikon lens is on my d5500 >99% of the time. Good luck.