SewClever

Hi friends, I have a nikkor as listed on topic, but it's 18-200. It's my favorite grab and go lens. It's several years old now and is creeping. I use a band to control that, but I don't seem to be getting nice, sharp photos anymore. I am considering getting the 18-300mm (I shoot Nikon d7200 and d500). Does this lens typically produce sharp images, or is the zoom just too variable. Thanks.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Most all high ratio/large ranging zooms are sharpness compromised. My best recommendation if you are serious about sharpness for this range is the Sigma 17-70 2.8-4 in combination with the latest Nikkor 70-300 FX lens.

SewClever

Thank you!

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Good morning. If your lens has the "creep" problem, I'm assuming it is the first-generation version ("VR" in red letters). I inherited one of those from my wife when she decided to move exclusively to her cell phone. I used it occasionally until an internal cable or connector failed. Despite this lens having a number of quirks and limitations, I've been trying to get it repaired, because sometimes it's just the right lens to have. During the course of that attempt, I've gotten some additional insights into the lens, most of which have not been very favorable. I looked at the 18-300 as an alternative, because it was still available new when my search started. I found it just too bulky, heavy, and mediocre to do what I wanted to do with it. Lots of folks here like it, just like they like they like the 16-80mm f/2.8-4 DX. I don't.

I'd suggest trying to find a place where you could try the 18-300 on your cameras, preferably on the D500. See how it does for you

As for me, I'm still looking. In the meantime, I have decided to use the full-frame 24-120mm f/4, and I have the 17-55mm f/2.8 for when things get serious. Although it is shorter and less wide, it works pretty well for me. Mine was $425 used at my local camera store, and I had to buy a hood from B&H. They were on sale refurbished from NikonUSA for a little more than than that a few months ago, and I bought a second one for my full frame camera bag. (It stays in the bag very rarely.)

I'd suggest looking carefully at what focal lengths you actually use. If really wide and really long are pretty rare occurrences, evaluate carefully how much you are willing to give up for "just in case."

jjanovy Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

I have the 18-300 lens on my kitchen window camera (Nikon D3400) and use it for a variety of other situations. I also have a D850 and a Z7-2, with a suite of FX and Z lenses, so the 18-300 is not the one I use all the time. However, I like it for the compositional flexibility it provides because I'm that kind of a photographer, shooting the same scene in different zoom settings and picking out parts of a scene to capture. And with the processing software available nowadays, one can improve just about any photo up to a point. Given how I use my cameras, would I buy it again? Sure.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

I've never been a fan of wide range zooms. Especially the wide angles. Although it's more expensive, I will always go with two complimentary lenses to cover the same range. If you don't always go with Nikon, Tamron makes really good wide angle zooms for a fair price. Just sorry that I can't say the same thing about their long zooms! Trust me, they suck!

SewClever

Wow. Thank you so much for your considered thoughts. I appreciate all you had to say and will definitely take your advice. Rita

SewClever

Wow!! This is very helpful! Thank you. R

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

SewClever I used the AF-S 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Nikkor for a short period albeit sold it after obtaining the Sigma AF 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM (DX). I've posted imagery I've taken for clients with the AF-S 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Nikkor and Sigma below to validate that I indeed used those optics. Sew there is so much uncorroborated verbiage on UHH that I would actually recommend you do a Flickr Search on the lens you're interested in. Flickr allows for the EXIF image data to be available thereby eliminating undocumented opinions that are omnipresent on many Photography web sites

"Does this lens typically produce sharp images Sew my results with the f/3.5-5.6G were almost reasonable in the FL range from 55 to 120mm... beyond that? Not so much, f/11 was optimal at the longer end... however yours and others may have differing results. Food for thought "Image quality is typically the result of a photographer's not so much the equipment used" I've found this to be a valid inference in my journey. If any UHH members state their opinions you might ask them "tactfully" if they would provide examples of same to validate their inference(s).

Also the Sigma 50-100mm f/1.8 DX optic is likely a prime candidate for image acuity however it requires considerable skill to deploy (i.e. lens calibration to your camera) and it doesn't have Image Stabilization which btw is virtually useless for Sports/Action. Please use DxOMark to valid this lens.

Here is a link to DxOmark for the AF-S 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Nikkor on a Nikon D500
https://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Nikon/Nikon-AF-S-DX-NIKKOR-18-300mm-F35-63G-ED-VR-mounted-on-Nikon-D500__1061 Maybe learn how to analyze DXOMark data, that can (and oft does) allow one to maximize their imagery results (at least that has been my experience, yours and others may vary)

Hope this helps Sew, wishing you much joy on your photographic journey

Fashion: (prét-á-porter) with the AF-S 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Nikkor; Agency Model: Heather; Wardrobe: Sleeveless V-Neck mini babydoll by ROXY Clothing Design

(Download)

Fashion: (prét-á-porter) with the AF-S 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Nikkor; Agency Model: Heather; Wardrobe: Ralph Lauren; Accessories: Clutch by bebe

(Download)

Fashion: (prét-á-porter) with the Sigma AF 50-150mm f/2.8 DC OS APO HSM on a D7200; Agency Model: Heather; Wardrobe:Sweater by Melrose and Market

(Download)

ColoPete

I own the Nikon 18-300 3.5-6.3, mounted on a D7200. It is a good travel and walk-around lens, as the flexibility of zooming from 18-300 mm (27-450mm FF equivalent) in one turn makes it possible to catch shots that you could not get with bigger and better lenses. Example: we were on a whale-watching tour in Iceland, and I was able to capture some great shots of the whales breaching even though we could not predict which side of the boat they would appear or how close they would be. Another photographer was on the same boat with a big Canon camera and two large telephoto lenses, and I am not sure he was ever able to get a shot off as he was fumbling with which lens to use.

That said, it is not the sharpest lens as others have noted, and so I have upgraded to full frame and now mirrorless full frame in search if better image quality. I rarely use the D7200 w/18-300 now, as I can crop 46 mb images where necessary if I don't have enough reach in my lens. The full frame set up is bigger, heavier and cost more, and so I plan to keep the 7200 and 18-300 for those times when I don't feel like carrying the extra weight.

SewClever

Wow! The photos are amazing. I really appreciate your input and will give good consideration! In Stitches, 😉 Rita

SewClever

Thank you. I totally get the need for convenience, especially when traveling. Too much weight and fumbling can be discouraging.

neillaubenthal

I used that lens a lot on my D7500…a lot depends on what your images are used for. If mostly screen display…it’s sharp enough at final output resolution for almost everything…but at pixel peeping magnification it won’t look as good as some other lenses…but for screen res the down sampling will overcome any lack of sharpness. It’s a great all in one lens…but for birds or wildlife you’ll want something longer…but for a walk around lens it’s more than adequate.

SewClever

Thank you so much
I'm a spry, active 71 yr old. I LOVE photography.....but it's for my own enjoyment and if I ever (🙄) enlarge and print, it would not be over 14"x 18"......and that's almost never happening. I just want to please myself....and my hub and kids ❤️

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

I recently, a couple of weeks ago, bought the newer version of the 18-200 and it has no creep, a great lens, use it as my every day walk around lens because of its range, you don't need to carry two lenses.