Nikon Lens Recommendation: My wife shoots a Nikon D3500. Before that a D3100 which we still have. She has an older 24-120mm VR AF-S NIKKOR f/3.5-5.6 lens. ( We know, the photo quality...

kcooke Loc: Alabama

My wife shoots a Nikon D3500. Before that a D3100 which we still have. She has an older 24-120mm VR
AF-S NIKKOR f/3.5-5.6 lens. ( We know, the photo quality is lacking compared to the newer f4 model). this old lens that we've had since 2005 has finally developed a problem with the zoom ring and it is very catchy as in it does not zoom smoothly anymore. She is looking for a replacement lens. She used this 24-120 lens 85-90% of the time She already has the 70-300 mm range covered (AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Lens). She doesn't mind overlapping lens ranges a little. In addition she uses a 35mm f1.8 dx lens. Id like to get suggestions for a replacement that does not cost as much as the newer 24-120 f4 lens. 2 of the 3 above are FX lenses but open to DX versions. While she would prefer to stay with Nikon glass she's open to other 3rd party options. Sharpness of photos is one of her priorities. Let me know what you think. Thanks

Quixdraw Loc: x

If she doesn't use the top end much, the AF S Nikkor 24-85 1:3.5 4.5 G is an excellent lens, it is smaller and lighter than the AF S Nikkor 24-120 1:4 G ED. I have and use both, and each is pretty much on a camera all the time. There is a 24-85 in Classified right now.

JohnR Loc: The Gates of Hell

18-140 is a good all round lens.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Take John R's suggestion, while looking at all of Nikon's DX 18-xxx options. They have different prices, focal length, and sometimes plastic vs metal mounts. They're all equally sharp, VR enabled, and well matched to the DX bodies. Hopefully, more focal length on the 'wide end' will be a welcomed change for your wife's shooting style.

18-105mm VR DX
18-140mm VR DX
18-200mm VR II DX
18-300mm VR DX

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

CHG_CANON wrote:

Take John R's suggestion, while looking at all of Nikon's DX 18-xxx options. They have different prices, focal length, and sometimes plastic vs metal mounts. They're all equally sharp, VR enabled, and well matched to the DX bodies. Hopefully, more focal length on the 'wide end' will be a welcomed change for your wife's shooting style.

18-105mm VR DX
18-140mm VR DX
18-200mm VR II DX
18-300mm VR DX

This is good advice. Another option would be to look for a nice used 24-120mm f/4 G VR zoom. I paid $425 for mine at my local camera store a couple of years ago. (I did have to find my own hood for another $25.) They may be a little more expensive than that now. You want one with VR in gold letters on the lens.

CO

The Nikon 16-80mm f/2.8-4 DX and Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 DX are both ones to look at. The 16-80mm f/2.8-4 replaced the 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 but it's overpriced and has a lower build quality than the older 16-85mm. I have two of the previous 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 DX lenses. It's sharp, is very solidly built, and has one-half the distortion of Nikon's superzoom lenses. I use them on a Nikon D7500 and D500. There are still some new ones available. Amazon has some new ones.

smussler Loc: Land O Lakes, FL - Formerly Miller Place, NY

I also have the 70-300 which I don't use much since getting a 100-400. Bought my camera with the 70-300 and an 18-140 - both VR versions. The 18-140 is on my camera most of the time. It was a good choice for me combined with the 70-300. I like having the overlap the focal lengths, others like their trinities, which usually involve faster lens (and quite a bit more expensive)

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

CO wrote:

The Nikon 16-80mm f/2.8-4 DX and Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 DX are both ones to look at. The 16-80mm f/2.8-4 replaced the 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 but it's overpriced and has a lower build quality than the older 16-85mm. I have two of the previous 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 DX lenses. It's sharp, is very solidly built, and has one-half the distortion of Nikon's superzoom lenses. I use them on a Nikon D7500 and D500. There are still some new ones available. Amazon has some new ones.

Lots of folks like the 16-80mm DX lens. But for the price (almost $1100), there are a lot of other choices. I looked at one for about 10 minutes. It's really an f/4 lens over almost all of its zoom range (from somewhere around 24 or 28mm), and its design seems to be based on the old 18-70 mm f/3.5-4.5 DX zoom. (I had one of those, and it was a real stinker. It's hard to find anything good to say about it.) And used ones typically carry a very high price. I'd just suggest considering very carefully before plunking down money for one of these.

CO

larryepage wrote:

Lots of folks like the 16-80mm DX lens. But for th... (show quote)

That's what I said in my post. It is overpriced. I had actually purchased one and was disappointed. It seems like it's a lens that should cost in the $500 to $600 range. I ended up returning it and purchasing another 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 lens. The older lens has better build quality and a better focusing motor. Don't hesitate to purchase the 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6. It's worth the money

kcooke Loc: Alabama

Is this the one you are recommending?? Thanks

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/camera-lenses/af-s-dx-nikkor-16-85mm-f3.5-5.6g-ed-vr.html

CO wrote:

The Nikon 16-80mm f/2.8-4 DX and Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 DX are both ones to look at. The 16-80mm f/2.8-4 replaced the 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 but it's overpriced and has a lower build quality than the older 16-85mm. I have two of the previous 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 DX lenses. It's sharp, is very solidly built, and has one-half the distortion of Nikon's superzoom lenses. I use them on a Nikon D7500 and D500. There are still some new ones available. Amazon has some new ones.

CO

kcooke wrote:

Is this the one you are recommending?? Thanks

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/camera-lenses/af-s-dx-nikkor-16-85mm-f3.5-5.6g-ed-vr.html

Yes, that's the one.

kcooke Loc: Alabama

larryepage wrote:

This is good advice. Another option would be to look for a nice used 24-120mm f/4 G VR zoom. I paid $425 for mine at my local camera store a couple of years ago. (I did have to find my own hood for another $25.) They may be a little more expensive than that now. You want one with VR in gold letters on the lens.

MPB has that lens for $389 in excellent condition. Thats a good thought. It's the same thing she has now range wise except way better. When I ran some of the superzoom ranges by her she said well what about my 70-300. :)
MPB has a liberal return policy Ive done business with them several times.

kcooke Loc: Alabama

quixdraw wrote:

If she doesn't use the top end much, the AF S Nikkor 24-85 1:3.5 4.5 G is an excellent lens, it is smaller and lighter than the AF S Nikkor 24-120 1:4 G ED. I have and use both, and each is pretty much on a camera all the time. There is a 24-85 in Classified right now.

Thanks

kcooke Loc: Alabama

JohnR wrote:

18-140 is a good all round lens.

Thanks

kcooke Loc: Alabama

CHG_CANON wrote:

Take John R's suggestion, while looking at all of Nikon's DX 18-xxx options. They have different prices, focal length, and sometimes plastic vs metal mounts. They're all equally sharp, VR enabled, and well matched to the DX bodies. Hopefully, more focal length on the 'wide end' will be a welcomed change for your wife's shooting style.

18-105mm VR DX
18-140mm VR DX
18-200mm VR II DX
18-300mm VR DX

Thanks Paul. When I showed her these ranges she said How do they do that? I just tell her its modern technology:)