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Nikon Lens Advice
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Jan 9, 2016 20:27:13   #
asjohnston3 Loc: Irving, TX
 
Does anyone have experience with the Nikon 55-200mm DX VR II? I'm not really satisfied with the clarity of my 18-105mm DX. I have the 18-55 kit lens which is actually not bad. (IMHO) I've been thinking of getting the 55-200 to go with it. I've also been looking at the 18-200mm VR but it's almost 3 times at much & my budget is severely limited. If anyone has experience with these lenses or other suggestions I'd appreciate hearing them. (I'm using a D7100)

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Jan 9, 2016 20:42:43   #
oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA
 
i used a 55-200 vr on a D7100 for a year.
Its performance was very similar to the 18-55 vr.

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Jan 9, 2016 20:44:32   #
Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida
 
ajohnston3 wrote:
Does anyone have experience with the Nikon 55-200mm DX VR II? I'm not really satisfied with the clarity of my 18-105mm DX. I have the 18-55 kit lens which is actually not bad. (IMHO) I've been thinking of getting the 55-200 to go with it. I've also been looking at the 18-200mm VR but it's almost 3 times at much & my budget is severely limited. If anyone has experience with these lenses or other suggestions I'd appreciate hearing them. (I'm using a D7100)


Even though your budget is a concern, keep looking at the 18-200. It is a great, all purpose lens on a 7100.

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Jan 9, 2016 20:47:59   #
MT Shooter Loc: Montana
 
Kmgw9v wrote:
Even though your budget is a concern, keep looking at the 18-200. It is a great, all purpose lens on a 7100.


Agreed, best option overall. Check used and refurb options as well.

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Jan 9, 2016 21:42:03   #
Bill_de Loc: US
 
I agree that the 18 - 200 is a great lens, and I have the older VR 1. I also have the 18 - 55 kit lens, which is more than acceptable.

One thing I love about the internet is that we (me included) always want to spend other peoples money, when they say money is an issue. Then, like a saw in a recent thread, when money isn't mentioned as an issue, it will be suggested that the OP buy something cheaper because the poster feels it is good enough. Opinions! :)

But seriously;

If money is really an issue in this case, Amazon has a 55 - 200 VR II (refurbished by Nikon) for $150. That in conjunction with the 18-55 gives you the coverage.

But, if you can swing the 18 - 200 and still put food on the table, the 18 - 200 may give better performance.

--

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Jan 9, 2016 22:06:49   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
ajohnston3 wrote:
Does anyone have experience with the Nikon 55-200mm DX VR II? I'm not really satisfied with the clarity of my 18-105mm DX. I have the 18-55 kit lens which is actually not bad. (IMHO) I've been thinking of getting the 55-200 to go with it. I've also been looking at the 18-200mm VR but it's almost 3 times at much & my budget is severely limited. If anyone has experience with these lenses or other suggestions I'd appreciate hearing them. (I'm using a D7100)


If you intend to keep the 18-55 then the 55-200 is a better fit. Optically it is the equal of the 18-200 perhaps even a little less distortion.

The 18-200 has the advantage of covering the entire range with one lens at a significantly greater price. And then the 18-55 would be redundant.

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Jan 9, 2016 22:47:01   #
Nikon_DonB Loc: Chicago
 
Get the 55-300mmVR. It's a nice clear zoom lens for the money. You will enjoy the extra reach and you will be glad you did.
I had one when I had my D3100 and it gave me good results. I recently bought my daughter one for her DX camera(D3200) and she loves the clarity and reach.

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Jan 10, 2016 08:39:05   #
ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia
 
The 18-140MM f3.5-5.6 is very good as well and is offered by Nikon in their bundles for the D7100 and D7200. I would rent the lenses being considered first. You maybe having some operator issues with focus settings and shutter speeds if you are shooting in manual. How does it perform in Auto?

Kmgw9v wrote:
Even though your budget is a concern, keep looking at the 18-200. It is a great, all purpose lens on a 7100.

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Jan 10, 2016 08:51:07   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
ajohnston3 wrote:
Does anyone have experience with the Nikon 55-200mm DX VR II? I'm not really satisfied with the clarity of my 18-105mm DX. I have the 18-55 kit lens which is actually not bad. (IMHO) I've been thinking of getting the 55-200 to go with it. I've also been looking at the 18-200mm VR but it's almost 3 times at much & my budget is severely limited. If anyone has experience with these lenses or other suggestions I'd appreciate hearing them. (I'm using a D7100)

Personal recommendations can be misleading. For a variety of reasons, people think a product is better or worse than it is. I prefer reviews and comparisons written by people who do this kind of think all the time. I wouldn't hesitate to buy used or refurbished.

http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/lenses
http://lenshero.com/lens-comparison
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx
http://www.lenstip.com/lenses.html
http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare

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Jan 10, 2016 08:55:52   #
orrie smith Loc: Kansas
 
try renting the lens before buying

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Jan 10, 2016 08:58:28   #
Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio
 
I own both the 55-200 and the 18-200 which I use on a D7100. The 55-200 is the matching kit lens for the 18-55. It will give you some pretty good images but the 18-200 is a much better built lens and will cover the focal length of the 2 kit lenses. Save for that one would be my vote. It is on my body 95 percent of the time. I replaced a Tamron 18-270 with the Nikon 18-200 vrii and I have seen a significant improvement in IQ. Good luck with what ever you get!

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Jan 10, 2016 09:40:38   #
Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia
 
ajohnston3 wrote:
Does anyone have experience with the Nikon 55-200mm DX VR II? I'm not really satisfied with the clarity of my 18-105mm DX. I have the 18-55 kit lens which is actually not bad. (IMHO) I've been thinking of getting the 55-200 to go with it. I've also been looking at the 18-200mm VR but it's almost 3 times at much & my budget is severely limited. If anyone has experience with these lenses or other suggestions I'd appreciate hearing them. (I'm using a D7100)


Look at used and refurbished. That market has expanded . Lots of good stuff out there including the 70-200 f/2.8 that has been replaced with a newer 70-200 f/2.8. That is just an example. In addition Tamron and Sigma have put out some newer quality lenses that you should consider as well.

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Jan 10, 2016 10:17:14   #
jims203 Loc: Connecticut
 
D7100 owner here. The 18-200 Nikon lens is the one kept on my camera and used most often. It is a great all around not too heavy lens for most everyday use and my favorite out of 10 lens. Get the VRII you will be happy.

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Jan 10, 2016 10:20:27   #
MtnMan Loc: ID
 
ajohnston3 wrote:
Does anyone have experience with the Nikon 55-200mm DX VR II? I'm not really satisfied with the clarity of my 18-105mm DX. I have the 18-55 kit lens which is actually not bad. (IMHO) I've been thinking of getting the 55-200 to go with it. I've also been looking at the 18-200mm VR but it's almost 3 times at much & my budget is severely limited. If anyone has experience with these lenses or other suggestions I'd appreciate hearing them. (I'm using a D7100)


The 55-300 is much better than the 55-200.

When I got a 28-300 I gave my 55-300 to my daughter-in-law. She gave back her 55-200. I tried it a couple of times and foound it poor compared to the 18-55 and 55-300. I also found that the 28-300 wasn't near as sharp as the 55-300 and it was noticably heavier. She won't give the 55-300 back though, so I guess we count as two opinions.

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Jan 10, 2016 10:36:04   #
jsmangis Loc: Peoria, IL
 
ajohnston3 wrote:
Does anyone have experience with the Nikon 55-200mm DX VR II? I'm not really satisfied with the clarity of my 18-105mm DX. I have the 18-55 kit lens which is actually not bad. (IMHO) I've been thinking of getting the 55-200 to go with it. I've also been looking at the 18-200mm VR but it's almost 3 times at much & my budget is severely limited. If anyone has experience with these lenses or other suggestions I'd appreciate hearing them. (I'm using a D7100)


I also recommend the 18-200. It is a much better lens than the two "kit" lenses you mentioned (the 18-55 & 55-200). My son-in-law has been using one on his D40 for several years with incredible results. Once you put it on your D7100, you will probably never want to take it off.

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