steve49 Loc: massachusetts

Have a great trip... Italy is fantastic.
Enjoy the ambiance and take some photos....

steve49 Loc: massachusetts

Have a great trip... Italy is fantastic.
Enjoy the ambiance and take some photos....

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

I loved the17-50 f2.8 on my Nikon.

deanfl Loc: Georgia

Between the two, I would take the Tamron 18-400, which I own. It is more versatile and will cover most of what you will see.

I would also suggest that you consider getting a Nikon 16-80 or Nikon 16-85. I own the Nikon 16-85....it is my most used lens, less expensive than the 16-80, especially if you buy used.

rdalonzo47

I recently returned from Italy. I used a 10 to 18 almost exclusively. On one occasion I switched to a
15 to 85. Both Canon lenses. That's all I needed. Have a great trip.

Papa j Loc: Cary NC

I have the 7200 and the 18-400 good choice for you wide range lens. The 70-200 is an full frame lens heavy and somewhat expensive. Get a 50 1.8 for church interiors with poor lighting

J

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Nikon kit lenses can do a great job for you if you do your part. When you say "a better lens" I just wonder if you believe that a new lens will make your images better and different than those images that you are making now.
The Tamron 18-400 AF lens could be "a better lens" if we talk about versatility and not necessarily image quality. To make such a lens compromises need to be done and although I have no experience with it I can tell you that there will be optical weaknesses most probably at the long end.

The Nikon 18-55 VR lens is pretty good optically and it could easily cover a majority of your photography in Italy. If you are not happy with the images you make now you can believe me, a professional lens will not make you happier. The 55-200 VR is also pretty good and I remember when the late Galen Rowell in the late 80's or early 90's used to take it with him when hiking the 80-200 f4.5-5.6 kit lens because its optics were good enough for him and the lens was light and easy to carry.

As I said if you want versatility the 18-400 will allow you to travel light.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

In my opinion, and since your asking for advice, both lenses IMHO are too heavy and you are due for shoulder surgery when you return to the states.
My favorite travel lens for my D7200 (when I owned one) was the very good, very sharp, much lighter than your two picks, Nikon 18-200 VR II. The ideal travel lens, keep it on your camera and enjoy your trip, and return with great pictures and a good shoulder.

GeneinChi Loc: Chicago, IL

Turk...I’m not a fan of taking a trip and seeing it through a camera. I take the smallest/lightest I can. I travel,extensively and use an LX100 as my main camera and a Sony rx100 model 1 as a back up. It will be very crowded in Italy at that time of the year so be careful of not getting camera knocked out of your hands. But it is beautiful with a lot to see.

Jaackil Loc: Massachusetts

Been there done that, my recommendation is neither. Unless you are going specifically for photography. If this is a family vacation and sight seeing travel light, travel light travel light! I just got back from 2 weeks in Europe carrying my D7200, kit 18-55 and 70-300 both are very light and I was sorry after 2 days. The two lenses you listed are pretty heavy. In all honesty I would spend the money on a high end point and shoot with a decent zoom range and take some time learning how to use your phones camera also. Leave the DSLR at home. Forget a tripod and if you must, carry a platypod with a ball head. You will be happier and the people traveling with you will Be also. Unless you are planning on trying to sell your images. Another suggestion is go out at dawn and take your pictures for the day. There will be no one around the lighting is optimal. I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear but the P&S will allow you to get great images. Why cell phone? Well with proper technique most cell phones are capable of producing great images. Add the Snapseed app and you can edit them and create amazing images that you can post right away. Add the lightroom app and you will be able to shoot raw with your phone as well as control the Aperture Shutter speed and white balance. It’s advice I wish I had listened to. By my second week I had ditched my dslr except for dawn shooting and just used my cell phone during the day. In the last couple of weeks there have been several posts on this topic I would suggest you take a look at them and see what others have recommended. Good luck and have a great trip!

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

For any once-in-a-lifetime vacations, I have always come back appreciating that I had taken my lens with the longest reach with me.

Have a great trip!!!!!

appealnow Loc: Dallas, Texas

I travel frequently now that I am retired. Nikon D5300, which is also crop. I normally take the Nikkor DX 18-300 F3.5-6.3 and find that I usually shoot in the wider angle ranges. I don't really find the extra weight a problem, and it's nice to have a longer reach when I need it. With today's sensitive sensors set at auto ISO you won't have any trouble inside churches. You can brighten in post (with simple programs, including MS Windows 10) very easily when necessary to reveal more detail. I often carry my 35 mm DX F1.8 prime on trips, but have to admit I almost never use it. Perhaps, it's just laziness about switching lenses.

ELNikkor

18-400 would be a mistake, especially if you already have the 18-55. The 70-200 2.8, also heavy and not necessary. Sounds like you are thinking sports action rather than static buildings, streets, and landscapes. You may not need a new lens at all, think about just using what you've got. According to some posters, a more reasonable addition would be the short end, like the 10-20 DX; light-weight, inexpensive, and will not be redundant focal lengths with your other lenses. Either way, sounds like an amazing trip. Let us know what you decide and share some of your photos and adventures when you get back!

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

cpl3 Loc: Spokane, WA

You might consider the Nikkor18-200 3.5-5.6 G which is a DX lens. It is smaller and lighter than the 28-300. Ken Rockwell gives it an excellent review here: https://kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200.htm
I use it on my D7200 for landscape and a general walk around lens and is incredibly sharp for a zoom lens of it's range.