D5500 kit lenses

Hi! I am new to this group, albeit not to digital photography or film photography. I have replaced my much used (and well loved) D90 with a new D5500 plus two lens kit. The package economics made it cheaper to buy the new camera with a 2 lens kit, even though they duplicate lenses already in my kit. The questions I have deal with lens performance. I certainly could look up MTF's and do my own (informal) resolution tests, but I though maybe I would get the group's opinions first.

1. The new kit has an AF-P 18-55 f3.5-5.6 VR lens. My old lens is an 18-55 f3.5-5.6 GII non-VR. Which will have better performance? Is it worth giving up the VR for the nicer A/M control and manual focussing of the old?

2. The new kit has an AF-P 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 3G ED (non-VR) lens. The old lens is an AF 70-300 f4-5.6 G. Which has better performance at the same aperture? How is it that the EG elements lost 1/2 stop at 70 mm?

3. Also (lessons learned the hard way, in spike of Nikon's advice), my favorite lens (of my zooms) for portraiture is a Sigma 24-70 f2.8 DG HSM. Unfortunately, it does not autofocus on the new camera! Any solution? Will Sigma perhaps update?

Nice threads, here!

Charles Keith

First off welcome to the forum.

With the D5500 I doubt you will see much difference in image quality. Go out and shoot the lenses and see if you can see any difference

Welcome aboard. Enjoy the ride.

Are you sure your Sigma 24-70 f2.8 DG is an HSM lens. HSM means it has a built-in autofocus motor and should autofocus on your D5500. If it is non-HSM lens it will NOT autofocus on your D5500. If this lens is about the same vintage as your D90, it is probably not an HSM lens. The only way to update the lens is to buy a new HSM model.

Welcome to the forum Charles. Hope you enjoy it here. I am not familiar with the new P lens. I have read good things but cannot speak to their performance. It is worth calling Sigma to see if that lens is compatible. I had an issue with one of mine when I upgraded to the D7200 and they had to recalibrate it.

Like I said, hope you enjoy it here. Look forward to seeing some of your photos posted.

Welcome to the forum. The previous comments have given you more than I can, so just go out and play with the lenses and have fun. Ha!

Your current 70-300 Nikkor is a FX lens if I am correct, and the new kit lens is DX specific. Not sure if you plan to go to full frame... I'm debating between those two and the 55-300 for my D5500. Leaning towards fx 70-300


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Howdy and welcome to Nikonites!

I would probably prefer the newer 18-55mm kit lens with VR over the older kit. I'd actually be curious if that kit lens isn't a VRII also, rather than the original 18-55 with VR.

On the 70-300, my preference is the FX lens with VR, rather than the new AF-P variants (VR and a non).


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No activity from the OP since this thread was created so I would guess they have moved on. There have been a rash of new posters of late with strange problems who post and you never hear from them again.

Yes, it is. I actually posted in "Lenses" that I give major kudos to Sigma. The lens was purchased in June 2013 - whereas Sigma's 4-year warrentee initiated in July 2013.

However, I called Sigma, and they told me that firmware updates were done for no charge, even outside of warrantee. I sent it to them and they did so, and it fixes the problem! Hooray!

Dynamite - and very informative answers!

Glad to hear you got your issue resolved. It really appears that Sigma is doing a great job and deserve the kudos.