CRoy

I have a D5300 and would like to upgrade my kit lenses. Thought about replacing the camera, but decided on the lenses instead. I have a Nikon 10-24 lens that I love, and I have the fixed 35mm. A faster lens with a zoom between 35-300 or thereabouts would be great.

Most photos are grandkids, action shots, and sports. The wide angle I use for real estate and landscapes.

I expect to dish out some serious money for a better lens or two. Any thoughts are appreciated!

Carol

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

The only Nikor in that focal range is a AF-S DX NIKKOR 18–300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I loved my 16-85. Used it 95% of the time on our National Parks tour. Excellent image quality.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

For sports / action, you have a few options, depending on how much you want to spend:

Nikon 70-300mm VR AFP f/4.5-6.3 DX ED - You need to update your D5300 firmware to the latest available to enable support for AFP lenses
Nikon 70-300mm VR FX AF-S f/4.5-5.6 G - older lens, look for a used copy
Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD
Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S - older lens, look for a used copy, 'extend' with 1.4 teleconverter to 420mm (no VR support)
Nikon 300mm f/4 E PF VR ED AF-S - look for a used copy, 'extend' with 1.4 teleconverter to 420mm
Nikon 500mm f/5.6 PF VR - pretty new lens, used will be difficult to find

The zoom lenses are general purpose including sports, with fast quick AF and VR support and great image quality. They have corresponding non VR versions, make sure you confirm the version you purchase if shopping strictly on price. With your cropped body, they provide a focal length (along with cropping in post) to capture action mid-field for sports like soccer and football.

The 300mm and 500mm prime lenses are investments in serious sports and wildlife photography for pro-grade lenses that will last forever, where shopping for used versions delivers superior image quality at a relatively modest cost (vs how much more you could spend in this category). The 70-300 lenses will need cropping to get to the details midfield, the 300 primes will deliver a higher quality image before cropping as well as providing options to extend the effective focal length. The 500mm will have the other parents looking at you with new eyes.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

I don't know the reputation of the 18~300 Nikon but I would really be cautious of that wide of a zoom range. I think you are just asking too much of one lens to do that. If it were me, I would use two lenses to cover that range.

Warhorse Loc: SE Michigan

I keep a AF-S Nikon 18mm-105mm F3.5-5..6G ED DX on my D5600, I am rather pleased with it.
Also have the 40mm F 2.8 DX macro, AF-S 70mm-300mm F4.5-5.6 G ED VR, and soon plan on buying the 85mm AF-S DX F3.5 macro.

gcolegate1

Look at the Nikon 200-500mm f5.6

CO

I have two of the Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S VR lenses. It's sharp and has one-half the distortion of Nikon's superzoom lenses. It's been replaced by the 16-80mm f/2.8-4 . They seemed to have lowered the quality of the new 16-80 f/2.8-4 lens. It has noisy autofocus and the build quality as not as good as the previous lens.

There might be some new 16-85mm lenses still around. I would search for a new one but if that isn't available, purchase a good used one.

CO

I agree. I try to stay away from superzoom lenses. The engineers have to compromise the design too much in order to achieve the long zoom range.

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

If you are looking for convenience, the 18-300 DX is the way to go. I have tried many alternatives, but keep coming back to that for a one- lens solution. The IQ issues have been noted by others. This is the lens that my wife keeps on her D5300, and she loves it.

For a much better kit, the 16-80 DX paired with the AF-P 70-300 provide great range with two highly recommended lenses, If you can swing it, the FX version of the AF-P 70-300 is a more versatile option.

For slightly longer lenses, i swap between the Tamron 100-400 when I need a zoom, and the Nikon 300PF coupled with a TC 1.4x.

Longer primes are a whole discussion by themselves.

Keep your current lenses.

Good shooting!

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I believe you made a wise decision selecting new lenses or lens rather than a new camera. I am sure the camera is doing the job and as long as a camera does what we need from it I see no reason to buy anything else. Lenses are a different story.
You have stated that your photography is based mainly on photographing your grandchildren, action and sports. Your grandchildren in my humble opinion are well covered with the 35 mm. lens and if you have the 18-55 VR lens it will also cover many shots of your grandchildren and those landscape shots when the use of a wide angle is not practical.

Action and sports photography will require a tele. I own and I like to use the Nikon 70-300 AF-S, VR lens. In good light its performance is excellent. Its AF is pretty fast and the quality of the images is very good. It could do a good job too for those cases in which you want to make a head and shoulder portrait. In the second hand market those lenses in very good condition can be bought for around $250. MPB, Adorama, B&H and Roberts are good sources to buy the lens and all of them will give you a warranty. Roberts and MPB will offer a 6 months warranty but I do not know what the others have to offer. I am sure the lens can be bought refurb also for a little more money although I believe that is not necessary.

Good luck with your choice.

ELNikkor

With a lightweight body, I would be hesitant to stick on a heavy, bulky "do-it-all" lens. I would go with the suggestions about the 16-85/70-300 AF-P two lens kit. If you just want one lens, the 18-140 would be the largest I would go. My friend loves his on his D7500.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

The 16 -85 and 16-80 are excellent choices for general photography. I have a 16-80mm it has no issues with autofocus. Check Ken Rockwell's page for comparability with your body.

Lens choices depend on what you like to photograph.

Jaackil Loc: Massachusetts

So if you have the 35mm 1.8 the next two logical companions to that would be 50mm 1.8 under $200 and 85mm 1.8 About $400 Both are great for low light and shooting people. The 85 might be the sharpest I own. I use both for portraits and indoor sports where I can get close to the action.
A great value DX lens is the 70-300 AFP Refurbished for about $150. Image Quality and sharpness is very good it’s inexpensive. Although not a very fast lens VR will give you 4 stops. I use it for shooting outdoor sports. ItS focus speed is very good and accurate. I have used it to shoot college Lacrosse with excellent results on a D7200.

FreddB Loc: PA - Delaware County

The 16-80, f/2.8-4 has been on my D5600 since Christmas. When baseball season (little league) starts, the Tamron 18-400 and monopod will go on. Except for "events", they will be there thru soccer and basketball seasons. The 35 and 50 are rarely seen in public. As Hogs are very fond of saying, YMMV. ☺