EdgarCPoone wrote:
I should have asked for advice or opinions before acquiring some of my current lens but after the fact am asking for your views, opinions or suggestions. I have had Nikon equipment since an early film 8008. Tried some other brands and still use Nikon as my go to equipment. I do some domestic and international travel so my subjects range from individual people to distance landscapes. I have a D5300 and a D7200 with the kit lens Nikon DX VR AF-S Nikkor 18-140mm 3.5-5.6 G ED. These seem to work well for most situations. In case I wanted to get out a little further I also have a Nikon DX VR II AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 4-5.6 II ED, and a Nikon AF-S Nikkor 55-300mm VR 4.5-5.6 G ED and when I really want to touch someone a Nikon VR AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm 5.6 E ED. My question comes down to the quality, sharpness, and focus ability of my lenses. I have heard various comments on the board about some ‘glass’ being good or some not so good. Are there any suggestion about possibly swapping out some of my current lens for something that would be considered better glass (sharper image, faster focusing or bigger aperture etc)? Thanks for any suggestions.
I should have asked for advice or opinions before ... (
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First, do you still have any of your older lenses? A lot of those will work on the newer digital cameras, but have to look at compatibility [on Nikon's website] to know if they will need to be used only in manual focus.
You have a lot of lenses that are redundant - they cover the same focal lengths. What you need to consider is what focal lengths work best for the types of photography you prefer. Sounds like you are a generalist for the most part! As for quality, Nikon lenses are all decent, but the highest quality ones are weather-sealed, have a wider available aperture, and [if available] VR. They are more expensive, but if you can handle the cost, that is where you should put your money.
If you want sharp images, get good glass [I prefer f/2.8 or wider]. For zooms it is also usually better to have a short focal length range, although there have been advances that have made those "all-in-one" types of zoom lenses better than they used to be. There are a lot of different opinions on what would be the best choices for lenses. I can give you my opinion as an example.
When doing portraits, a lot of people suggest a focal length of around 85mm, and others prefer something shorter. For portraits, if you have a favorite focal length to use, a prime lens with a low f/number would be a good choice. However, if you want more versatility, a lens like the 24-70mm f/2.8 [FX] is a wonderful lens [one of Nikon's "classic trio"]. It is an FX lens, but it can be used on a DX camera as long as you are aware of the effect of the crop factor. It can take just about any kind of image unless you need a wider angle or more magnification.
You own the 200-500mm f/5.6 [FX] which is a fine lens, and is great for when you need more reach [once again the crop factor works in your favor on the long end].
To fill in the gap between the 24-70mm and the 200-500mm a good lens would be the 70-200mm f/2.8 [FX], another member of Nikon's "classic trio" and is very highly recommended.
That would leave the wide end of the focal length range to fill. You have the 18-140mm [DX], which covers the wide end, as well as some of the extended focal lengths. I am not familiar with this lens, so cannot speak to its sharpness throughout its focal length range. But following the general rule that shorter is better, you could consider the 16-35mm f/4 [FX] or the 14-24mm f/2.8 [FX], another of Nikon's "classic trio".
You have undoubtedly noticed my recommendations are all FX lenses. Together, they cover all the focal lengths you will need without redundancy. Some would argue about whether that makes a good choice for a DX camera. My first DSLR was a Nikon D7000 [DX], and I started with "kit" [DX] lenses. Wanting better glass, I bought the 24-70mm f/2.8 [older model without VR] and used it for about a year on that camera until I bought the D810 last fall. I loved it on the D7000, and love it even more on the D810! My other lenses are also FX, and a few more are on my wish list! Still have the D7000 as a backup camera, but sold the DX lenses. Buying FX lenses provided better glass, and when I decided to get a FF camera did not have to buy all new lenses! The primary caveat to these lenses is that they tend to be heavier than other choices. It is up to you whether weight is an issue.
Hope this helps!
Susan