Acat1234

Bought Nikon d3500 kit pkg which included 18-55 mm vr lens which seems very good and a 70-300 non vr lens. I think the 18-55 will suffice for family gatherings but the 70-300 non vr is questionable for grandkids spirts, travelling, etc. I am not an avid wildlife photographer. At 73 yo I am trying to keep things simple and light. Am an amateur at best. Any suggestions appreciated.

rcarol

Try the 55-200mm DX VR Nikon lens. Here is a review by Ken Rockwell: https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/55-200mm-vr-ii.htm
I have this lens and it is superb and very affordable.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Depending on how much you want to spend, either of Nikon's 18-105 VR or 18-140 VR lenses could be your always on the camera, all-in-one lens, including a modest telephoto for kids outdoors in sports. If you want something that is general purpose that will work well for sports, without investing in a professional sports model, consider also the Nikon 70-300mm VR AFP. These are all mostly plastic lens bodies that help keep the weight down with sharp glass, excellent VR support and fast AF performance. The 18-55 is a fine lens and maybe you only need to consider a better 70-300 for the longer distance shooting for kids on the outdoors such as on the soccer field. Indoor sports like basketball is a different discussion where all of these lenses will struggle in low-light vs a fix aperture lens in the f/2.8 to f/4 range, lenses that cost and weight more. Don't despair yet on indoor sports until you do some actual shooting. New models like your D3500 perform very well as high ISOs where variable aperture lenses that max at f/5.6 are much more useful indoors than in years / models of even the recent past.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

The 18-55mm is a kit lens that comes with entry-level Nikon and Canon DSLRs. I have the Nikon version. It's good for street photography, and anywhere, where a long focal range is not required. As mentioned previously, the Nikon 18-140mm is a good choice. Or the Nikon 18-200mm.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

NIKKOR 18-200 VR.

Wide angle to FC super telephoto all in one lightweight and very sharp package.

CO

The Nikon 18-55mm AF-P lens has a plastic lens mount. Many kit lenses have hybrid aspherical elements. They have a piece of plastic that has an aspherical shape cemented to a spherical glass element to created the aspherical shape. The next step up are glass molded aspherical elements. The best and most expensive are precision ground glass asphericals.

Take a look at the Nikon 16-85mm VR f/3.5-5.6 lens. It has a metal lens mount and glass molded aspherical elements. It also has one-half the distortion of Nikon's superzoom lenses like the, 18-105mm, 18-200mm and 18-140mm.

Silverman Loc: Michigan

Hello; I am 68 and a beginner with 2-3 years of experience now. I have a Nikon D3300 with the Nikon 18-140mm 3.5-5.6 lens, a 35mm1.8, a 50mm1.8, and a 55-200mm, all Nikon, I sold my 18-55 kit lens when I purchased my 18-140 lens. I am going to Florida soon to get away from the Winter weather, I will most likely be using my 18-140 most, then also my 50mm1.8 for any Portrait photos, where I want a blurred background. Or possibly some Street Photography, many cool Car Shows in Florida too.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

The very good 18-55 should cover a lot of your photography. I do not know how good the 70-300 non VR is but the VR version is excellent in quality although not a fast lens. Those lenses without VR require for better images a tripod and good light.
Keep the 70-300 for the time being. There will be occasions when you will need more reach, like isolating a part of the landscape, portraits at around 80-100mm or even some sports with your grandchildren. Setting an ISO around 400-800 for many shots will give you sharp images hand-holding the lens.

wetreed

The Nikon 18-140 is very light and very high quality . It’s one of the best lens Nikon has ever made.

foggypreacher Loc: Dickinson, Texas

I have the 18-140mm and really like it. I use a 35mm f/1.8 for low light close up pics. Very rarely use the 70-300mm or 18-55mm kit lenses. Before the 18-140mm I used the 18-55mm for most everyday pics but found it limited. Good luck.

tdozier3 Loc: Northern Illinois

Check out the Sigma 18-300mm Contemporary Lens. Really nice lens for under 400 bucks. Check Adorama or Digital Goja. They usually have some nice free bonus items with the lens😉

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

i am 71 and have the 18-140 and 18-300. i almost always have the 18-300 on my camera...i really dont see any difference in image quality in both lenses...the 18-300 is convenient for me...i can capture a close up of one of the grandkids from across the room or a wide shot of several people playing ball in the back yard...

i love it for travel...i dont have to take a lens off to get the wide angle or switch lenses to zoom out for the monkey in the tree...

https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-18-300mm-3-5-6-3G-Vibration-Reduction/dp/B00JKUPRF4/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=247familyshopp&linkCode=w00&linkId=47dde768173637be8c6b3d9c172ebdad&creativeASIN=B00JKUPRF4

https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-18-140mm-3-5-5-6G-Vibration-Reduction/dp/B00ECGX8FM/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=247familyshopp&linkCode=w00&linkId=0bb85831b327ecca763d4d9f3a8e5d2a&creativeASIN=B00ECGX8FM

Cyberkinesis70 Loc: Northern Colorado

I have all three of the kit lenses that are mentioned and I use them all. I used the 18-55 on my D3400 most. It is a very good lens for what you said you'd be doing. I don't use the 70-300 much because I just don't need to reach out far, however it is a very good lens and I've used it handheld a few times. I didn't miss VR. I'm the same age as you and I know I'm shaky and my eyes don't focus like they did 50 years ago. I make sure I can brace myself for the shot. I also have the 18-140, I got with my D5600. I've used it on the 3400 and it is a fantastic lens. I like that I can turn off the VR and AF without going to the menu to do it. It can also give very wide angle at short focal length. You can't beat the price either. It's only about 500 dollars new at camera retailers everywhere. I also have a 50 mm prime lens that I use on either camera for those low light pics that need a wide aperture, but a faster shutter speed.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I'm not sure why you believe the 70-300 lens is questionable. What pictures have you tried to take that it is not adequate for? If you are concerned with low light, bokeh and shallow depth of field, I'd pick up a 50mm f1.4.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Because it isn’t VR. I think it underhanded the way Nikon promotes beginner packages with a non VR 300mm lens. The VR version, which is very nice, is only $50 more.

The Nikon photos prominantly show the VR on the 18-55, but place the 70-300 so you can’t see where the VR should be. It is done to decieve newbies.