Too many choices

My normal walk-around lens for my D7100 is the 18-140. Lately though I have been thinking I need a faster everyday zoom. Something like a 2.8. What are my choices in a fast zoom? Brand is not important as long as the IQ is good.

24-70 mm · f/2.8 just does not seem long enough

70-200 mm · f/2.8 seems like it might be good for my second 2.8 lens but might be too heavy.

Do I need to think more about getting F4 lenses?

Maybe I should be thinking about the 24 mm - 120 mm - F/4.0. What is the IQ of this lens vs the 18-140 I shoot with now? It is a little faster.

Ihave been searching everywhere and I just can't make up my mind. My wife has given me the go-ahead to buy a more expensive lens since I told her she could go spend a week in New York with her choir.
 
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480sparky

Senior Member
I have the 24-120 as my all-around walkabout on the D600. Since you're shooting DX, it would be a superb lens as you're using the best parts of the glass.
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
The only thing I can come up with Don ,is the 24-120 F4. If they did make an 18-140 f/2.8 lens , it would be a bitch to use it as a walkaround lens.:)
About the IQ/ I don't know first hand, but I do look at some of Jakes shots here and there and they look pretty good to me.

A 24-70 would be a bit short for me as well for a walkaround.
 

skene

Senior Member
24-70... no question there... effective FOV on DX 36-105... play with those settings on your 18-140 and see if that is good enough to work with then factor in the fast aperture which you would not see on that lens.
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
24-70... no question there... effective FOV on DX 36-105... play with those settings on your 18-140 and see if that is good enough to work with then factor in the fast aperture which you would not see on that lens.

And his 18-140 has an effective FOV of 27-210mm.
 
In looking around I found this Amazon.com : Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Lens for Nikon Digital SLR (White Box) + AUD Essential Accessory Bundle : Camera & Photo

[h=1]Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Zoom Lens New in White Box $619.99[/h][COLOR=#555555 !important]This is from Amazon so I feel it would be a decent deal. White box means that it was part of a camera kit that was split and sold separately. It is not a returned or refurbished item * Do not know what warranty is has so that might be a deal breaker.

Included in the box (Nikon items):
Snap-On Lens Cap
Rear Lens Cap for F Mount Lenses
HB-53 Bayonet Lens Hood
CL-1218 Soft Lens Case


Items Included in this Kit:

* Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Zoom Lens
* 77mm UV Digital Filter
* Lens Pen Cleaning System Free Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
* Lens Cap Holder

This looks like quite the deal.

[/COLOR]
 

J-see

Senior Member
The 70-200mm f/2.8 is my least favorite lens to walk around with. I love shooting her but she's too heavy to carry around for hours. At least when hand-holding her.
 

Felisek

Senior Member
As Pete said, you will not get a 18-140 f/2.8, so if you want a fast lens, you really need two.

I'd suggest a 17-50 f/2.8 (you have a choice of Sigma and Tamron) and Sigma 50-150 f/2.8, which has terrific image quality and nicely complements the 17-50. Alas, the 50-150 is quite bulky despite being a DX lens. And discontinued...
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
In looking around I found this Amazon.com : Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Lens for Nikon Digital SLR (White Box) + AUD Essential Accessory Bundle : Camera & Photo

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Zoom Lens New in White Box $619.99

[COLOR=#555555 !important]This is from Amazon so I feel it would be a decent deal. White box means that it was part of a camera kit that was split and sold separately. It is not a returned or refurbished item * Do not know what warranty is has so that might be a deal breaker.

Included in the box (Nikon items):
Snap-On Lens Cap
Rear Lens Cap for F Mount Lenses
HB-53 Bayonet Lens Hood
CL-1218 Soft Lens Case


Items Included in this Kit:

* Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Zoom Lens
* 77mm UV Digital Filter
* Lens Pen Cleaning System Free Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
* Lens Cap Holder

This looks like quite the deal.

[/COLOR]

Sounds like a great deal. I would look at the sellers return policy to make sure if the lens is faulty you can return it. It is fulfilled by Amazon though so I would not worry as much.

Amazon.com Help: About Our Returns Policies
 
As Pete said, you will not get a 18-140 f/2.8, so if you want a fast lens, you really need two.

I'd suggest a 17-50 f/2.8 (you have a choice of Sigma and Tamron) and Sigma 50-150 f/2.8, which has terrific image quality and nicely complements the 17-50. Alas, the 50-150 is quite bulky despite being a DX lens. And discontinued...

Really do not want two lenses for the walk around use. Just about decided on the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Zoom Lens. I really think I could live with this range.
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
Really do not want two lenses for the walk around use. Just about decided on the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Zoom Lens. I really think I could live with this range.

Once you get it, I will drive down to Prattville to test it out for you. You need a young man in his 50's with good vision to make sure everything is in working order. I will provide this service for you free of charge.:eek:
 
Field of view does not matter a bit since my 18-140 is on my DX so a 24-120 is 6mm shorter on the wide end and 20mm shorter on the long end.

Unlike a FX camera a DX camera does not see the FX lens any different. Just that you are using the best part of the lens.
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
Field of view does not matter a bit since my 18-140 is on my DX so a 24-120 is 6mm shorter on the wide end and 20mm shorter on the long end.

Unlike a FX camera a DX camera does not see the FX lens any different. Just that you are using the best part of the lens.

You will probably miss the 6mm on the short end more than the 20 mm on the long end. If I'm walking with my wife taking shots, I alway have the 11-16 in her purse just in case anyway.
If not, I just usually have it in my front pocket. It doubles as a chick magnet.:barbershop_quartet:
 
Once you get it, I will drive down to Prattville to test it out for you. You need a young man in his 50's with good vision to make sure everything is in working order. I will provide this service for you free of charge.:eek:

Come on down and I will buy you lunch and we can go out shooting. I am presently looking for Dark-Sky. Going out with my mentor kevin michael snyder Photography on Thursday to check out a place that is supposed to be dark according to the dark sky maps, A place called Millers Ferry, AL.
 

Felisek

Senior Member
It depends on the style of your photography. I couldn't live without the wide end of my lens. As a matter of fact, most of my pictures (taken with the 17-50 lens) are taken at 17 mm. If this is not wide enough, I have the Tokina 11-16 with me. I just like wide!

Have a look at the pictures you have already taken and see the distribution of focal lengths. If you tend to shoot mid- and long-range, you will be happy with the 24-120. Otherwise, you might need something wider.
 
It depends on the style of your photography. I couldn't live without the wide end of my lens. As a matter of fact, most of my pictures (taken with the 17-50 lens) are taken at 17 mm. If this is not wide enough, I have the Tokina 11-16 with me. I just like wide!

Have a look at the pictures you have already taken and see the distribution of focal lengths. If you tend to shoot mid- and long-range, you will be happy with the 24-120. Otherwise, you might need something wider.


I have the Tokina 11-16 for those time I need something super wide. Going to keep the 18-140 for just playing. You can see my lenses in my Sig below. I just realized I need to add my sweet little 35mm 1.8. I used it today because I was shooting an event in a library and I know the light would not be good. With my 18-140 I would have been at 5.6 but I think at f4 I would have done pretty good. Could have kept the ISO reasonable and still at a decent shutter speed for hand held. No tripod would have worked. had to get up and walk around to get the shots I needed.
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
Come on down and I will buy you lunch and we can go out shooting. I am presently looking for Dark-Sky. Going out with my mentor kevin michael snyder Photography on Thursday to check out a place that is supposed to be dark according to the dark sky maps, A place called Millers Ferry, AL.

Thursday for me actually IS a Thursday. It is not one of the 6 Saturdays that you enjoy, which means it's a working day. I wouldn't mind driving down on a Sunday however.
Although I love dark skies. Sunny bright days are just boring to me. (Unless I'm shooting BIF)
 
Thursday for me actually IS a Thursday. It is not one of the 6 Saturdays that you enjoy, which means it's a working day. I wouldn't mind driving down on a Sunday however.
Although I love dark skies. Sunny bright days are just boring to me. (Unless I'm shooting BIF)

I have started shooting more in the golden hour recently. Trying to branch out and try new things. But BIF is still one of my favorite activities.


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