Which Lens? I am planning a trip to visit 5 national parks out west next June. I will be taking my D7500, and want to take just one lens. I am thinking the Nikon 18-300mm lens, is...

leftyD500 Loc: Ocala, Florida

I am planning a trip to visit 5 national parks out west next June. I will be taking my D7500, and want to take just one lens. I am thinking the Nikon 18-300mm lens, is there another lens I should consider instead of this lens?

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

You are going on a major trip to multiple parks and want to limit yourself to one lens????
No lens with that long a zoom scale is tops in IQ, and what about night or low light situations? It isn't a speed demon either.
I would say take a camera bag and at least a fast lens for night etc. and a flash in addition to the 18-300.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Agree with Robert - I don't use flash much, the built in on the D 7500 (in my case, on all but the DF) will hold me. Fast lens for sure, unless you stop carrying the camera in the evening. You may want, and IMO, will need, more reach than 300 for wildlife if you already have a lens in inventory, suggest you bring it. Some zooms and cameras match beautifully and deliver uniformly excellent results, others don't. I have both kinds (unfortunately) if your 18-300 and D 7500 are the former, you can cover an awful lot. Unless I am out in the course of a normal day with camera and lens, I always cary a bag, batteries spare cards, etc. Best of luck and have a great time!

Keen

The more important the shoot will be the more important a sharp lens will be. No superzoom lens with that range is going to be sharp. Are you too feeble to carry a bag with several lenses? Are you just too lazy to change lenses? Are you too poor to be able to buy, or rent, more lenses? Are you an industry pimp for a manufacturer, or retailer, trying to sell us on the idea of buying a superzoom lens? What is your reason for wanting to take just one lens? I see no photographic reason for doing so.

jrcarpe Loc: Jacksonville,AR

Go by your gut feelings.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

Keen wrote:

The more important the shoot will be the more impo... (show quote)

Not everyone has the same budget, back muscles or desire to put a photo on a national magazine. You don't need to be sarcastic or rude to ask the same questions.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Keen wrote:

The more important the shoot will be the more impo... (show quote)

Asking why is one thing - being rude and sarcastic is another and neither productive or polite. Perhaps you’d like to rephrase your post?

Silverman Loc: Michigan

jradose wrote:

I am planning a trip to visit 5 national parks out west next June. I will be taking my D7500, and want to take just one lens. I am thinking the Nikon 18-300mm lens, is there another lens I should consider instead of this lens?

You might want a Nikon 50mm 1.8g lens . Also another Nikon "Wide angle" Prime.
I own a Nikon 18-140mm 3.5-5.6, which I have enjoyed and has had many very good reviews from other Nikon Photographer's

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I'd take that and a 50mm.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

jradose wrote:

I am planning a trip to visit 5 national parks out west next June. I will be taking my D7500, and want to take just one lens. I am thinking the Nikon 18-300mm lens, is there another lens I should consider instead of this lens?

Do you already OWN the Nikon 18-300? Or are you looking for an all-in-one lens to purchase?
If looking to purchase I would have to recommend the Tamron 18-400mm, its a superb lens at a very reasonable $649 price point.

Photocraig

Country Boy wrote:

Not everyone has the same budget, back muscles or desire to put a photo on a national magazine. You don't need to be sarcastic or rude to ask the same questions.

I agree. I hope the OP gets the shots he wants. It is not what I'd do, but it is his trip and his photography. No need to subject him to this kind of sarcasm or, worse, denigration.
C

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Keen wrote:

The more important the shoot will be the more impo... (show quote)

Maybe what he has does just fine for him,
Like my 18-200 and 50 are all "I" need.
Not everyone shoots, or should shoot, like you may.

leftyD500 Loc: Ocala, Florida

Keen wrote:

The more important the shoot will be the more impo... (show quote)

It is sad that you are so insecure that you must resort to putting down others to make yourself feel better. I will pray for you, my friend, that God might put some self-confidence in your life, and some empathy in your heart.

leftyD500 Loc: Ocala, Florida

I will tell you about the camera gear I have, and what I will end up taking. Mind you, I am not a professional, I am not concerned about any of my photos being in National Geographic, just want to take some decent photos, so my wife can scrapbook our "bucket list" trip. I have the Nikon D7500, a Nikkor 10-20mm lens, a Nikkor 10-55mm lens, a Nikkor 50mm F1.8 lens, and a Tamron 70-210mm F4 lens, plus an assortment of filters. I will take the Tamron 70-210, the Nikkor 50mm, and the Nikkor 10-20mm lenses, plus a cpl filter. Rest assured Mr. Keen (I am assuming you are male), I am capable of toting such a heavy load, I am capable of changing lenses as soften as I need to, and I am far from a pimp. However, since you are so concerned about my health and ability to handle my photo gear, you are more than welcome to accompany my wife and myself, AT YOUR OWN EXPENSE, to make sure that I remain in good health, and am able to take the quality of pictures that you are obviously capable of taking.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

jradose wrote:

I am planning a trip to visit 5 national parks out west next June. I will be taking my D7500, and want to take just one lens. I am thinking the Nikon 18-300mm lens, is there another lens I should consider instead of this lens?

I think you would limiting yourself with a single lens such as the 18-300. I’m going out on a limb and guess that Grand Canyon is one of the parks you will be going to next year. If so, I’d recommend a wide angle lens. A very good one is the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8. It’s sharp and wide enough. A very good all around lens is the already mentioned Nikon 18-140. For wildlife, such as you may run across in places like Yellowstone and the Black Hills, a 70-300 is a good choice. If you are solid on just taking one lens, then I have to agree with MT Shooter, that the Tamron 18-400 is a really good choice. I still think you’ll want the wide angle zoom for those times you want to “get it all in.”