Trrjohn

Nikon 18-105mm vs. Nikon 18-200mm vs. Nikon 18-300mm - all are f/3.5-5.6 VR - Camera is a D5500 - Which is a better general use lens?? Thanks

RGreenway Loc: Morristown, New Jersey

Looks like cropped sensor, so I would go for the 18-105 for general purpose, which would shoot as a 27-150 or so on a cropped sensor camera.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Here you go -

http://lensvslens.com/
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/lenses
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx
http://www.diyphotography.net/this-website-helps-you-choose-your-next-lens-based-on-the-photos-you-like/
https://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
http://lenshero.com/lens-comparison
http://www.lenstip.com/lenses.html
http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare
http://www.lenscore.org/
http://lenshero.com/comparison/Nikon-AF-S-80-400mm-f4.5-5.6G-ED-VR-vs-Nikon-AF-S-200-500mm-f5.6E-ED-VR

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

I use the 18-200 and like it for the extra reach.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

If you are doing any kind of long reach shooting like wildlife or birding like I do, go with the 18-300 but get the better lens:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/872407-REG/Nikon_AF_S_DX_18_300mm_f_3_5_5_6G.html

More expensive but much better quality. You could probably find one of these used or refurbished at a better price. I like the 300 mm reach for general use when I'm in the field. I have a 150-600 Sigma Sport but I just don't like dragging it around with me along with a tripod. You can get away with hand holding a 300mm or using a monopod.
Another possibility is the 18-300mm Sigma.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

DXOMARK is the best source for comparing lenses provided that they have a review. They do an excellent review and show results for different cameras. Make sure you go the measurement screens for results at each f-stop and FL rather than look at the overall values. If you shoot a zoom at a specific FL the rest of the zoom will have less importance but will influence the overall results. It hardly matters to you if the zoom is super sharp at 70mm and you use it mostly at 200mm.

Its too bad they are so slow in their reviews. By the time they do a newly released lens its an old lens compared to the competition.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Trrjohn I would suggest you reconsider your punch list...
Nikon's most recent camera bodies (D5500 included) are able to use the new Pulse Stepper Motor focusing lenses...
There are two you should consider the AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR Lens
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1275036-REG/nikon_20062_afp_dx_nikkor_70_300mm.html

And the AF-P DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1275038-REG/nikon_20059_af_p_dx_nikkor_18_55mm.html

Both of these optics are so superior to the ones on your list that it would make little sense not to choose both of them instead...
The price point is actually less for both AF-P optics combined than either the 18-200mm or the 18-300mm
A major issue here is acuity... the new AF-P lenses are head and shoulders better... as is their Vibration Reduction... and they're feather light!
Best of all (for me at least) is the fact that they are virtually silent... I shoot video and this is a major game changer for Nikon...
How does Nikon achieve this high level of performance over the "Super Zooms" 18-200 and 18-300?
By using a much narrower zoom range (3X and 4X respectively for the AF-P optics) thus distortion/CA etc can be more effectively minimized.
Caveat: Be certain you choose the VR versions of these lenses... Nikon actually offers a non-VR version (cheaper) also...

Oh, you'll have to upgrade your camera's firmware to use these AF-P lenses...

btw, the close focus distance on the AF-P 18-55mm is a mere 9.8" which nearly eliminates the need for macro and/or extension tubes...
Also want to mention the lighting fast focus speed on the 70-300mm This was a shock! I'm amazed at the speed at which this tele locks focus... You will not believe AF speed until your try it... Seriously fast AF, it focuses as quick as my a Pro lenses... thank you Nikon!

Is there a down side? Yes the build quality is decidedly prosumer... they are delicate and will unlikely take much abuse...
That said if you are careful with your kit it should pose no problem... Still I would suggest not going for a cheaper "white box" deal and instead get the 5 year Nikon warranty... penny wise and pound foolish is a brutal lesson to learn...

Here is the link for your firmware upgrade http://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/download/fw/176.html
And what it will do for your D5500

Changes from “C” Firmware Version 1.00 to 1.01

• AF-P DX NIKKOR 18–55​mm f/3.5–5.6G VR and AF-P DX NIKKOR 18–55​mm f/3.5–5.6G lenses are now supported. Vibration reduction can be enabled or disabled using the new Optical VR option in the photo SHOOTING MENU, which is displayed when an AF-P DX NIKKOR 18–55​mm f/3.5–5.6G VR lens is attached. The CUSTOM SETTING MENU now contains an a5 Manual focus ring in AF mode option that can be enabled or disabled when an AF-P DX NIKKOR 18–55​mm f/3.5–5.6G VR or AF-P DX NIKKOR 18–55​mm f/3.5–5.6G is attached.

Hope this helps or is at least food for thought
I wish you well on your journey Trrjohn

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

The 18-300 would have the greatest range, the 18-200 should be slightly sharper with less range and lower cost, the 18-105 leave at home.

cthahn

There is no better one. It depends on what works for the photographer.

par4fore Loc: Bay Shore N.Y.

All things considered I would get the 18-200.

Jeffcs Loc: Myrtle Beach South Carolina

Having had the 18-200 thought it was a bit soft for me it was a vacation lens, did not have the 18-300 with a 6.3 f-stop that's also out the 18-105 nice n sharp my daughter is currently using it I picked up the 18-140 great walking around lens also sharp I'm using it on my D500

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

All three of these lenses are good. It depends on the range needed. The Nikon 18-300mm is perhaps the better overall lens to have. The next best for range would be the 18-200mm. I would purchase the 18-140mm over the 18-105mm. Good luck on your choice.

aflundi Loc: Albuquerque, NM

I hate to not answer the question you asked, but I'd like to throw out something to consider.

The D5500 does not allow focus fine tuning. I personally can't imagine having the focus a little off as acceptable. The D5500 has a 24mp sensor which will show enough detail that there's a very good chance the lens you buy will see a problem. Just as a point of data, I have to fine tune about 70% of my lenses. This means that if you're not lucky, the only way you'll have to get sharp focus is to use LiveView mode (inconvenient and slow), or to manually fine adjust after auto-focus (slow, and near impossible).

Since you can't do a camera-based AF fine tune, you might consider instead buying Sigma Global Vision lenses which allow fine tuning the lens using a USB lens dock and software on your PC or Mac. Your roughly compatible choices there are the 17-70/2.8-4, 18-200/3.5-6.3, or 18-300/3.5-6.3.

Or, if you don't already own the D5500, consider instead a D7100 which does do AF fine tuning. Refurbished D7100s are regularly available for less than $600.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

First consider whether you are more interested in the wide angle or the distance capabilities. All the lenses you mention combine both, but be aware of the fact that it is going to have its "soft" focus focal lengths because of the wide range of focal lengths in one lens. It is easier to make a lens that is sharper over its entire range when the range of focal lengths is smaller.

Next consider whether you anticipate going to a full-frame camera in the future. FX lenses will work very well on a DX camera, with the understanding that the lowest focal length will become equivalent to approximately 1.5x longer, same thing for the longest focal length. So you would lose on the wide angle end and gain on the highest zoom end.

I am not familiar with the lenses, so cannot make a recommendation. Just wanted to mention a couple of things to consider when making a choice. Nikon is constantly improving its lenses, so the focal length range is not as much of a factor as it used to be, but it is still a factor to keep in mind.

AK Grandpa Loc: Anchorage, AK

I would think the 18-300 would cover just about any situation. Everything from moderate wide angle to moderate telephoto. My 5500 has a 18-270 Tamron on it about 90% of the time. It mostly depends on the kind of shots you lean towards. If you don't need the longer telephoto, I've heard that the 18-105 is a good walk around lens.