DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I have the 18-200 f/3.5 for my D7100 and I like it very much. Good luck.

Michael66 Loc: Queens, New York

Hmmm... Before you discount anything, consider the following and compare them to Nikon's version over at DXO.

Tamron's 24-70/2.8, 70-200/2.8 ( FX )
Tokina's 14-24/4 ( DX )

If you can afford only one, get the 24-70. And if you are willing to forgo VR for now, get the older ones used. I've found that KEH is quite conservative in their ratings. Upgrade as you can afford to, selling the lens to next bloke that is in your situation.

If you are really set on getting DX lenses, the 18-55mm kit lens is not all that bad, and the 55-300 w/VR is quite serviceable. And Tamron's 18-270 Di II is not shabby at less than $400 new with rebate.

Joecosentino Loc: Whitesboro, New York

Look at the line of f4 lenses by Nikon, you can easily make up a stop of light with ISO settings without adding any. Noise.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I used the 18-200mm with my D7000. that was my "standard" lens.

craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK

OK - here's my contribution - I've used a D300 for a number of years now with just two superlative lenses to cover your focal length range .......

Sigma 17-50 f2.8 HSM OS - http://www.bythom.com/Sigma17-50mm_lens_review.htm

Sigma 70-200 f2.8 - http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/325-sigma-af-70-200mm-f28-ex-hsm-apo-dg-macro-nikon-review--test-report

My 70-200 is the non OS version - don't have wobbly hands (!) - but there's an OS version (more expensive) now available. This lens would give you slightly longer apparent field of view on your crop sensor camera than the 50-150, which is another excellent recommendation from GoofyNewfie.

Never experienced any problems with the 50-70 loss in the middle !

buffmaloney Loc: Indiana

You are in luck. Not all Art lenses are DX.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

The 18-300 Nikon is pretty good for an all in one lens. Although it comes in at about $900. I have used the old one and loved it. It weighs about 29 ounces and the New one comes in at about 19 ounces. Old one has 9 blades on the diaphragm and the new one has 7. Close focus on new is about 1.6 ft and old one was 1.5 ft at 300 only. Old one was and is great for all around carrying and on a D7100 you would get aprox 450 mm out of DX and aprox 600 in 1:3 mode. Both have VR. I have NOT used the new one but as I have said, love the old one.

UncleBuck Loc: Malvern, Arkansas

I use the sigma 50-150 f/2.8 on my d7000. it's an amazing lens, can not say enough good about it. I had the non-OS HSMII version of the lens and it's superb as is the newer OS version though longer and heavier. The newer sigma 17-70 f/ 2.8-4 Contemporary is also an excellent lens.

gilril Loc: Wilton, Maine

For one all around lens you can't beat the NIKON 18-200 VR. I got my first one on my D200 over 10 yrs ago and have since upgraded to the D7100 with the new version 18-200 VR II. Of course I have several other lenses for certain special occasions but the 18-200 stays on my camera 24/7. IMHO you can't do better.

JimGuy

With the d7100 they omitted the high pass filter like they did on the d800E, but to take advantage of the slight improvement in sharpness you would need fairly deep pockets for pro level lens's, and even then you would have to pixel peep to notice any difference.

That said, you might consider the 18-200, or the 18-140. I have heard good things about the 18-140 and I think its packaged as a kit with the D7100.

I have an older verson of the Nikon18-200vr and have gotten some very good images with it on the d300, and d300s (I pixel peep). I hear they may have corrected the lens creep issue (very common with zooms and not a real issue imo)

With super zooms you cant expect the sharpness as you would with many lens's with a narrower range, but they are handy to have around if you arent sure what you will run across and dont want to pack a lot of gear.

Id suggest narrowing it down between the 18-140 and 18-200 nikkors to start with, and add an ultra wide later when you have some extra cash. Ultra wides open up many creative possibilities.
I have a Tokina 12-24 f4 and its pretty sharp, and wasnt real expensive. Another one to look at is the Tokina 11-16/f2.8. Theres a lot of reasonably priced ultra wides ...tamron, sigma, etc.

Zooms usally have a bit of distortion, but lightroom, and acr will correct most of it automatically for most lens's (just have to check a box).

Read some reviews. Heres a place to start. http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests

Madman Loc: Gulf Coast, Florida USA

Hi Rodney, I have the 18-105 for my D7100 and am very pleased with it. However, had the 18-140 been available when I was buying, I would have gone that route. For reference, the picture of the green onion flower that I posted recently was taken with the 18-105.

Enjoy your new equipment.

kenneil Loc: Jupiter, Fl, Ochlocknee, Ga, Iron Range, Mn

I have an AF-S 18-200 3.5-5.6G ED and it almost never comes off the camera. It's light and powerful on a D7100.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

twillsol Loc: St. Louis, MO

Take a look at the 24-120, F4 lens. Great all around and very sharp lens. Just remembered that it is an FX lens.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Uh Oh!!!
Must...Resist...Credit...Card...

(thanks)

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

I used to vacillate between my 18-105 VR and my 70-300 VR depending on subject. Bought an 18-200 VR ll for a trip to Kauai, and it has not been off my D7000 since. Sharper and much more versatile.
Duane