Jim Bob

How about reading some reviews you lazy bum?

Orca Loc: Little Egg Harbor, NJ USA

This advice should help quite a bit? Some reviews are bias. Kind of like CNN = Clinton News Network

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

You seem to be satisfied with the 18-300 made by Nikon so I see no reasons to buy something else.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

oh goody, we're into politics again. not appropriate for this site. we deal with film and digital image making here. perhaps you want to keep to that subject. no one is interested in your personal political opinions.

Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)

I second what WJ Cody said. Keep your political thoughts off this forum. If you cannot help yourself, there is a "Chit-Chat" forum
for you to go to.

kelso007 Loc: Circle Pines Minnesota

I agree with Fotomacher on the use of the Nikon 70-200 f/4. I use that lens for airshows and get excellent results. For my airshow shooting I rarely have a need for mote than 200mm. But, your situations may be different.
DKelso

Orca Loc: Little Egg Harbor, NJ USA

Guess I have been reprimanded twice. Should have left the last part out.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Not knowing your photography experience and what particular aspect of photography you prefer, it's hard to recommend one lens or another, or, for that matter, what brand. What does matter is image quality that a particular lens will render. You have tried the Nikon 18-300 and found the results satisfactory for your purposes, so with that in mind, spending a bit more on that lens than something else would be money well spent. While Tamron, Sigma, Tokina, etc., aren't OEM lenses, they are all very good lenses, and if you're not a professional photography who is picky about even the minutest details in an image, any of those are good choices. What it all boils down to, is how much money you can afford to spend on the lens. Just a final bit of advice here, if you don't really need the reach of the longer lens, getting it would be waste of money. Put your $$$ where you really need it and operate most of the time. I have a D7200 and most of the time use the Nikon 18-140 zoom. I rarely feel I need a longer lens, so I am reluctant to spend a lot of money on something I rarely need to use. But then, one might say that it's good to go the extra mile and get the longer lens for that occasional opportunity for a shot you might otherwise need. In the end, again, unless you are super picky, Nikon or any other of the leading aftermarket brands will serve you well.

Oh, and while reading online reviews provides good information, there's nothing like getting the experiences and advice from those who actually use the equipment on a daily basis.

jackpinoh Loc: Kettering, OH 45419

Use DxO Mark to evaluate lens options for the D5300. Note that an FX lens will often produce inferior results on a DX camera relative to an equivalent DX lens.

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

I am very pleased with my Nikon 28-300mm lens....and my Nikon 24-120mm lens. I subjectively believe the 24-120mm has slightly better IQ and use that except when I know I will need the reach. This comment supports asiafish comment. O agree with Leon S on the choice.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

A FX lens will perform differently on a DX camera. Also, much of what Photozone criticizes is corrected in Nikon photo editors, Lightroom, PS and probable others.

I use a 28-300 on a D810 and D500 with excellent results. Check some of my posts here on UHH and judge for yourself.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

DXOmark makes mountains out of mole hills. As an example a 25% difference in Low light (sports) amounts to 1/3 of a stop. Hardly noticeable. To be meaningful the difference needs to be great.

jackpi Loc: Southwest Ohio

I would be more concerned about sharpness than noise.

BIG ROB Loc: Princeton, NJ 08540

The high popularity of " off-brand lenses" is primarily because they're lower in cost than the name brand lenses.

(Ken Rockwell refers to them, as "Junk Lenses.")

****Some, are Much Better, than others, are!

Yet, you are taking a long term risk, regarding the ongoing future compatibility with your own chosen camera
brand's future compatibility with these third party lenses.

As the camera manufacturers, don't share their proprietary technical information, with the third party lens makers. Such lenses, could run into future compatibility issues, when used in future years, with the maker's new camera's which will be later produced.

This wouldn't be a concern, if you only used the camera manufacturer's lenses, on your camera's.

Just something to keep in mind, as you consider the purchase and use of third-party lenses, that is, of the possibility
of long term, future incompatibility, being possible with your future cameras.

So, purchase the lens that best suits your overall purposes, yet be aware, of the long term implications, of buying third party, versus, from original manufacturer. They both, have their own advantages.

Dragonfly Loc: Indianapolis

I know it's not an all in one lens, but I love my nikon 55-300 zoom.
I think if you tried one that you liked, then maybe that is the one for you.