Beginner Best Nikon DX Zooms?

Orangecroc

Orangecroc

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So, I have a D5200, so AF-S is are supposed to be the better focus system on this camera, but apparently the new firmware update means the AF-P works too(with limited functionality?).

I have the AF-S 18-55G Kit lens, AF-S 50mm 1.8G and an AF 70-300 (because it was a cheap option to play around with a longer zoom and manual focus).

What I'm thinking about going for next is a good quality zoom with more range than the kit lens with a wide end between 18 and 35mm and a long end between 100 and 200mm.
A lens with a larger aperture than the kit lens would be a bonus but not totally necessary, but something with nice quality throughout the zoom range is what I'm looking for to use as a walkabout lens with a bit more versatility.

Preferred budget - under £200
Maximum budget - £400
 
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The 18-70 was one of the best kit lenses for Dx - not sure if it's been updated and if so, whether the updating was an improvement over the original. For convenience, the 18-200 is hard to beat; some distortions at either end and not the fastest (in terms of light gathering) lens on the market but fairly competent for a superzoom.
 
Nod said:
The 18-70 was one of the best kit lenses for Dx - not sure if it's been updated and if so, whether the updating was an improvement over the original. For convenience, the 18-200 is hard to beat; some distortions at either end and not the fastest (in terms of light gathering) lens on the market but fairly competent for a superzoom.
Click to expand...

18-70 hasn't been updated but as you say was always a little beauty to start with. Not necessarily going to open many new doors for the OP though. 18-200 VR or VRii are both decent enough as is the newer 18-140. I think all of them would fall into budget somewhere either new or used.

Worth mentioning though that none of these are going to offer much extra in terms of speed (max apertures) or necessarily greatly improved IQ over the 18-55. They're all decent enough but so is the 18-55. It's really convenience you're paying for.
 
A longer 'kit' zoom can be handy but I might be tempted to hold out for something like...

Sigma or Nikon? 10-20 -- the Nikon is an AF-P so would need to check re your body
Sigma or Tamron 17-50 -- don't recall the Sigma versions but for the Tamron, no need for the more expensive VC (VR equiv.) version
Tamron 70-300 latest version - I have the Nikon but hear good things about the Tamron
Nikon 35/1.8
Nikon 85/1.8
And keep the 50/1.8

...buy what you can, as and when...
 
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Thank you guys, a lot of good points of view. With the reach in mind, I don't think under 100mm would add to the versatility of the kit lens I already have. Also any of the lenses mentioned that aren't as wide or close to the kit lens I have already would suit for the same reason of versatility. The IQ if the kit lenses are good enough for a walkabout lens. Would I find the quality around 100mm better in the 18-140 than the 18-105? Or better around 140mm on the 18-200 than in the 18-140? It's here I have trouble deciding, especially as I've read reviews that mention a lot more CA in the longer ones.

With primes in mind, I intend to get primes that suit when I've taken a zoom lens about and work out my most used focal lengths. The 35mm 1.8 has already caught my attention because I noticed using the 50mm that I sometimes couldn't move back enough to get shots I wanted.
 
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