Smaller, walk around zoom lens.-: I was thinking of getting a smaller range zoom lens for a walk around lens. My Nikon D 7100 usually has a Tamron 16-300 mm on it. I love this lens.

donald4u Loc: California

I was thinking of getting a smaller range zoom lens for a walk around lens. My Nikon D 7100 usually has a Tamron 16-300 mm on it. I love this lens.
Ebay has a Nikon 24-85 G lens around the $200.00 range.
What do you guys think of the lens? The 24-85 is the range I like.

marklevisay Loc: Central Virginia

donald4u wrote:

I was thinking of getting a smaller range zoom lens for a walk around lens. My Nikon D 7100 usually has a Tamron 16-300 mm on it. I love this lens.
Ebay has a Nikon 24-85 G lens around the $200.00 range.
What do you guys think of the lens? The 24-85 is the range I like.

I have the old non-VR 24-85G lens which I originally bought for my N80 film camera. Takes great pictures, though kind of lacking at the wide end for DX. I think I'd try to find a deal on the more recent VR version, which is also reputed to be good quality if you're going to be shooting up at the 85mm end a lot.

Mr Bill 2011 Loc: southern Indiana

donald4u wrote:

I was thinking of getting a smaller range zoom lens for a walk around lens. My Nikon D 7100 usually has a Tamron 16-300 mm on it. I love this lens.
Ebay has a Nikon 24-85 G lens around the $200.00 range.
What do you guys think of the lens? The 24-85 is the range I like.

according to B&H site, Tamron 16-300 weighs 19 oz, versus the Nikon 24-85 G weighing 16 oz. So you really won't save much weight in a walk around lens. Sure it's not just GAS? By the same token, if you want it, just get it!

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

donald4u wrote:

I was thinking of getting a smaller range zoom lens for a walk around lens. My Nikon D 7100 usually has a Tamron 16-300 mm on it. I love this lens.
Ebay has a Nikon 24-85 G lens around the $200.00 range.
What do you guys think of the lens? The 24-85 is the range I like.

I have the 24-85mm G VR lens that is very good. From the reviews I have read on the 24-85mm G non-VR, it is just as good as the, the VR version, plus it is smaller and less expensive. I wish I had saved a few $ and got the non-VR. If you have the choice, go with the non-VR, but either way, you will be happy with the lens.
p.s. Don't bother with the AF D version.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

My D7100 came with a 18-105 and although I have 10 or so lens, that is the one I tend to go to. Small enough to be easy to carry and has plenty of range for almost anything I shoot.

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

donald4u wrote:

I was thinking of getting a smaller range zoom lens for a walk around lens. My Nikon D 7100 usually has a Tamron 16-300 mm on it. I love this lens.
Ebay has a Nikon 24-85 G lens around the $200.00 range.
What do you guys think of the lens? The 24-85 is the range I like.

The price is right, so if this fits your needs, go for it. I owned one a few years ago and loved it. Traded it when I moved to full frame and got a Nikon 24-120mm f/4.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

If you want a smaller lens consider the following lenses. All give wide angle to moderate telephoto coverage for a DX camera

Nikon 18-55mm
Nikon 16-85mm
Nikon 16 -80mm (my favorite and most expensive)
Nikon 18-105 or 18 -140.

BTW I always find wide range zooms to be too much of a compromise.

Jim Bianco

It's funny this question was brought up . My daughter and I are going to walk over the Waltwhitman Bridge from the N.J side to the Philly side. I am bringing my Nikon D7100 and my trusty 24-85 vr Nikon lens my go to lens, get it you will not regret it. It is a very sharp lens.Go to the angry photographers YouTube site, he sold me on the lens, the guy knows his stuff.Good luck in your choice of lens. Jim Bianco

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

The 18-55 kit lens is a pretty good lens optically. The old 18-70 f3.5-4.5 AF-S is what I have been using and its optics are a gem. In my lens the AF motor is broken and I have been using it with manual focus. I tried to have it repaired but the price quoted was higher than buying a used copy in excellent condition.
I had a 18-105 but I was never happy with it. I can say the same of the non VR 24-85.
I use and have used those lenses with my D7000.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

donald4u wrote:

I was thinking of getting a smaller range zoom lens for a walk around lens. My Nikon D 7100 usually has a Tamron 16-300 mm on it. I love this lens.
Ebay has a Nikon 24-85 G lens around the $200.00 range.
What do you guys think of the lens? The 24-85 is the range I like.

I've been using the 24-85 G VR as my on camera lens for over 5 years . It is a very versatile lens on a full frame camera. My only concern for your use on a DX is the wide angle end will be an effective 36mm. (but you could always stitch)
The IQ from the lens is superb .I have posted many photos on this site that were taken with it, the most recent at the "For your consideration" section. It is a stitched image taken at, I think, 44mm. Look at the IQ of this image in the download to see what the lens has to offer.
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-591916-1.html#10157568

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

Get the Nikon 18-105; light, cheap, sharp and a great bargain.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

donald4u wrote:

I was thinking of getting a smaller range zoom lens for a walk around lens. My Nikon D 7100 usually has a Tamron 16-300 mm on it. I love this lens.
Ebay has a Nikon 24-85 G lens around the $200.00 range.
What do you guys think of the lens? The 24-85 is the range I like.

I often use a single focal length as a so-called walkaround lens. On a full frame camera that is often a 45mm lens. Unless I am walking around looking for birds, in which case it will be 150-600, but it is usually set to 600mm.

Using a single focal length enforces good discipline, and typically a good prime lens will have very good optics.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Gene51 wrote:

I often use a single focal length as a so-called walkaround lens. On a full frame camera that is often a 45mm lens. Unless I am walking around looking for birds, in which case it will be 150-600, but it is usually set to 600mm.

Using a single focal length enforces good discipline, and typically a good prime lens will have very good optics.

Agreed.

TonyBot

donald4u wrote:

I was thinking of getting a smaller range zoom lens for a walk around lens. My Nikon D 7100 usually has a Tamron 16-300 mm on it. I love this lens.
Ebay has a Nikon 24-85 G lens around the $200.00 range.
What do you guys think of the lens? The 24-85 is the range I like.

I don't think you'll be happy with a lens that is ~35mm FF equivalent. I used to use my 24-70fL with my "crop" Canon, and while it's a super-sharp lens, it's just not wide enough for me to be a "walk-around" on a DX sensor. I'd get the 18-105 or 18-140.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Check out the Nikon 18-140 kit lens. It's actually a very good lens. It's a bit longer than you mention (24-85) but it's wider at the wide end, and some longer at the long end. I had this lens on my D7200, when I had it, and was very happy with this lens.