DX Glass for use with D7100

jrs146

Senior Member
Hi All,
I'm curious to see what others are using to shoot with on their D7100. Currently I have a 35mm 1.8G and the 18-200 VR lens. I find myself using the 35mm when I'm indoors, shooting pictures of my kids, etc. I've been using my 18-200 when I'm travelling or moving around where I'd like to have some zoom capabilities. I've rarely found myself in a position where I've needed anything else. But I've often wondered what else is out there?? My main interests are landscape photography, architecture and taking pictures of my kids in action.


  • I've thought about the 10-24mm or the newer 10-20mm which seems to be a good value. Do the extra 8mm on the wide side make a big difference?
  • I've thought about a 50mm 1.8G - Would this add much?
  • What else is nice in DX format?

Thanks!

JS
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
I had the original 10-24mm lens and really enjoyed that lens as a landscape lens. I didn't find myself shooting at 10mm very often, but 12-14mm was common so yes ... noticeable beyond the 18mm of most DX lenses.

On the other end, the 200-500mm should pair nicely with the D7100. :)
 

lokatz

Senior Member
Hi there, The 18-200 is a good compromise for most shooting situations. It performs pretty well in the standard zoom range but weakens a bit on the wide end and considerably more on the tele one. With your shooting preferences, the tele side should not be too much of a worry, though.

I do a lot of landscape and architecture shooting. Believe it or not, I've found myself taking multiple shots and stitching them into a panorama later with my 12-28mm on the D7100 (same with the 11-16 I had before), so yes, I do believe the 8mm make a big difference. Stitching (using Microsoft's excellent-and-free ICE) is not that hard, but with an effective length of 27mm for your 18-200, you'll have a lot of pictures to stitch when you want to take a shot that 'shows it all'. Even 10, 11 or 12 are sometimes not enough. So, yes, go for a wide lens - you'll love what it gives you that your current lens can't.

The reason I went for Tokina's 12-28mm instead of the comparatively-priced Nikons you mention: a German magazine I value highly for its diligent lens testing gives the Tokina 61 points for image quality where the Nikons get 51.5 respectively 54.5. Only Nikon's fantastic-but-pricey 14-24mm scores higher among wide lenses.

As far as a 50mm 1.8 goes. that'll do wonders when shooting your kids indoors. As far as "what else is nice" goes: how much money do you want to spend? ;)
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Hi All,
I'm curious to see what others are using to shoot with on their D7100. Currently I have a 35mm 1.8G and the 18-200 VR lens. I find myself using the 35mm when I'm indoors, shooting pictures of my kids, etc. I've been using my 18-200 when I'm travelling or moving around where I'd like to have some zoom capabilities. I've rarely found myself in a position where I've needed anything else. But I've often wondered what else is out there?? My main interests are landscape photography, architecture and taking pictures of my kids in action.


  • I've thought about the 10-24mm or the newer 10-20mm which seems to be a good value. Do the extra 8mm on the wide side make a big difference?
  • I've thought about a 50mm 1.8G - Would this add much?
  • What else is nice in DX format?

Thanks!

JS
See this article by respected photographer and all-around-good-egg Thom Hogan: Excellent Lenses for DX Shooters.

While most lenses are Nikon branded, select third-party lenses are included as well.
 

jrs146

Senior Member

Ironwood

Senior Member
I have the Tokina 11-16, after my macro lenses and long birding lens, the 11-16 would be my most used lens.
And yes, there is a huge difference between 11mm and 18mm. Its a whole other world with a wide lens, and you will have to change your shooting style to suit.
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
Yes, you definitely want something wider than 18mm (which is 27mm on a DX camera). I have a D7200 with the 18-200mm but also have the Tokina 12-24mm and yes even that 6mm difference on wide angle is huge, to a 10 or 11mm would be even better. You might want to play with the Nikon Lens Simulator at Nikon | Imaging Products | NIKKOR Lens Simulator to really see the difference.
 

jrs146

Senior Member
Yes, you definitely want something wider than 18mm (which is 27mm on a DX camera). I have a D7200 with the 18-200mm but also have the Tokina 12-24mm and yes even that 6mm difference on wide angle is huge, to a 10 or 11mm would be even better. You might want to play with the Nikon Lens Simulator at Nikon | Imaging Products | NIKKOR Lens Simulator to really see the difference.

Wow very cool tool. It's great to see the differences.

Does anyone have experience with the Nikon 10-20mm? It seems to be a great lens for the price.


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RocketCowboy

Senior Member
Does anyone have experience with the Nikon 10-20mm? It seems to be a great lens for the price.


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I had the 10-24 (not the 10-20) with my D7100, and it was a great lens. I think the Tokina offerings were a little better though.


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SteveH

Senior Member
I *love* my Sigma 24-105 F4, and that along with the Sigma 150-600 are my favourite lenses. I recently acquired a 105 f2.8 Macro too, which is great on the D7100 - But overall favourite has to be the 24-105 art.
 

carguy

Senior Member
Hi All,
I'm curious to see what others are using to shoot with on their D7100. Currently I have a 35mm 1.8G and the 18-200 VR lens. I find myself using the 35mm when I'm indoors, shooting pictures of my kids, etc. I've been using my 18-200 when I'm travelling or moving around where I'd like to have some zoom capabilities. I've rarely found myself in a position where I've needed anything else. But I've often wondered what else is out there?? My main interests are landscape photography, architecture and taking pictures of my kids in action.


  • I've thought about the 10-24mm or the newer 10-20mm which seems to be a good value. Do the extra 8mm on the wide side make a big difference?
  • I've thought about a 50mm 1.8G - Would this add much?
  • What else is nice in DX format?

Thanks!

JS

Welcome :)

I shoot a D7100 and my glass is listed in my signature below. I've tried to buy mostly FX glass for future growth, I do have some DX glass due to my current needs however.
 
Last edited:

jrs146

Senior Member
Well I threw a few offers out on eBay and snagged a NIKKOR 12-24 in like new condition for $350. Seems to be a pretty good price. Thanks all for the advice. I'll post some pics when I get it. I think it will be a great addition to my 35mm 1.8 and my 18-200!


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If you fill out your profile and add the camera gear we can better answer any questions that you might have.
You can do that at http://nikonites.com/profile.php?do=editprofile

Under camera just put the model number like D7100; Once you put the first letter like D you will see a list of all the cameras in the database pop up. The more numbers you put in the smaller the list becomes. When you see your camera just click on it, Be sure to click on "Save Changes" in the lower right corner.

And to add photos.

Guidelines to adding a photo to your post.

1. Resize photo to 1000px on the long side.
2. Resolution set to 72ppi (Pixels Per Inch)

These guidelines will be good for viewing on a computer but will not be good for printing. This will help safeguard your copyright.







 

jrs146

Senior Member
If you fill out your profile and add the camera gear we can better answer any questions that you might have.
You can do that at http://nikonites.com/profile.php?do=editprofile

Under camera just put the model number like D7100; Once you put the first letter like D you will see a list of all the cameras in the database pop up. The more numbers you put in the smaller the list becomes. When you see your camera just click on it, Be sure to click on "Save Changes" in the lower right corner.

And to add photos.

Guidelines to adding a photo to your post.

1. Resize photo to 1000px on the long side.
2. Resolution set to 72ppi (Pixels Per Inch)

These guidelines will be good for viewing on a computer but will not be good for printing. This will help safeguard your copyright.








Got it! I updated my profile. Any tips for posting pics on an iPad?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

jay_dean

Senior Member
If you fancy pushing the boat out a bit, the Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR1, a fantastic lens. Only available second hand now but essentially as good as the VRII on an aps-c frame!
 

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
I like variety.

On my D7100, with DX lenses specifically I love the 35mm 1.8 - can't beat it for indoor use.

The shorter zoom that gets a fair amount of mileage on the D7100 is a 16-85mm Nikkor - not as fast as 35mm but with a flash does great indoor and makes for a fine walk about.

To go wide I have a Tokina 11-20 2.8, works very well. Wish it went a little longer find myself at the 20mm end more often than the 11mm.
I also have a Sigma 10mm fisheye in DX - when you want to go really really wide.

If indoor speed is an issue a fast 50 or 85mm works well. I've shot both my FX 1.4 50mm (an artsy Sigma) or the FX 1.8 85mm G by Nikon.

For longer lenses I have a 55-300 but don't use it.
I've also relegated my 18-55mm to the glove box. Found it useful there a few times when I was out with just my long lens (200-500) and suddenly the urge to shoot wider overcame me.

When going long I tend to use one of my FX lenses on the D7100
If size matters then the 70-300 Tamron works well. This is my cycling combo, the 70-300 on the D7100.
For fast and long cannot beat the 70-200 2.8 workhorse (I have the older VRI version - if it ain't broke don't fix it or replace it)

But the one that gets the most use would be the 200-500mm or at least it used to.
Now that I have a D500 the 200-500 spends most of it's time connected to the D500.

And if my funky artsy side gets lose I pull out my case of Lensbaby gear and plunk it onto the D7100 when I want the DX crop benefit.

I do not have one of those ultra zooms 18-XXX but have looked at them. Sigma has a 18-250 that is a macro and the price is tempting, but if money is no object the new 18-400 Tamron looks very interesting as an all in one with great reviews. If I was just starting out I'd look hard at that one if the 18-200mm is coming up short for you.
 
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