What lens for the D7100?

[PinkDevil]

Dear Csers,

I am planning to get a D7100 with the following choice of lens. I will be mostly shooting my soon to be born baby, streets and travel. I would appreciate if the seniors here can give me some advice on the lens choice. Wouldn't mind 3rd party lens if it's suitable for the camera and IQ is good. Would be great if anyone has bought it before and can share the pricing too.

1. Nikkor AF-S 50mm f1.8g
2. Nikkor 18-300mm
3. Nikkor 17-55 f2.8

My heart is leaning towards the 17-55 but the price is almost double of the 18-300. I do like the flexibility of being able to zoom at 200mm and beyond for some street candid shots though.

 

[Light Machinery]

Well, here are my inputs,

1) for street shots nothing beats the Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G or 28mm f/1.8G, good price and good image quality too. I have both of these two little gems.

2) the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G is also good for most people shots but it doesn't gives the wide perspective needed for most street shots. If you have tried it before on a crop body, it will only cover about two people seated across a large dinner table. For shots across small tables in cramped places, forget about it.

3) Nikkor 18-300mm, it's a personal taste but I will drop it and get the 18-200mm instead if I really need a superzoom (had one sold it with the D7000 recently) . The 18-200mm gives better image quality and lighter. A better option will be the Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-f/5.6 VR or the Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-f/5.6 VC USD, both lenses have better image quality from 70-300mm than the 18-200 and 18-300mm, you can pair this with a cheap Nikkor 18-55mm VR if you need to cover the wide end.

4) The Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8, no need comments here. Crop body mid range zoom for most paparazzi and event shooters (I still have this and using it with the D5100 for party shoots). Used prices are quite low now, you can pick up a very good condition lens for about $1.2k. A lot of users are upgrading and off loading this very good lens in the CS BnS section. You can pair this lens with a Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8, Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 VC USD and you are covered from 17mm to 200mm all the way at f/2.8.

 

[NikF601]

For your budget and range you want to reach..

2. 18-300mm. Can try out at Nikon centre for final decision.

 

[enenyi]

Dear Csers,

I am planning to get a D7100 with the following choice of lens. I will be mostly shooting my soon to be born baby, streets and travel. I would appreciate if the seniors here can give me some advice on the lens choice. Wouldn't mind 3rd party lens if it's suitable for the camera and IQ is good. Would be great if anyone has bought it before and can share the pricing too.

1. Nikkor AF-S 50mm f1.8g
2. Nikkor 18-300mm
3. Nikkor 17-55 f2.8

My heart is leaning towards the 17-55 but the price is almost double of the 18-300. I do like the flexibility of being able to zoom at 200mm and beyond for some street candid shots though.

My suggestion is to wait for the Nikon mount version of the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 to become available and buy it. Then get a 50mm f1.8G for portraits. If you really need, get the 70-300mm (Nikon or Tamron, your choice) for the telephoto end. In this way, u dun need to spend so much to get f/1.8 aperture on the wide end.

 

[PinkDevil]

Very detailed advice. Will keep in mind when I purchase.

Well, here are my inputs,

1) for street shots nothing beats the Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G or 28mm f/1.8G, good price and good image quality too. I have both of these two little gems.

2) the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G is also good for most people shots but it doesn't gives the wide perspective needed for most street shots. If you have tried it before on a crop body, it will only cover about two people seated across a large dinner table. For shots across small tables in cramped places, forget about it.

3) Nikkor 18-300mm, it's a personal taste but I will drop it and get the 18-200mm instead if I really need a superzoom (had one sold it with the D7000 recently) . The 18-200mm gives better image quality and lighter. A better option will be the Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-f/5.6 VR or the Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-f/5.6 VC USD, both lenses have better image quality from 70-300mm than the 18-200 and 18-300mm, you can pair this with a cheap Nikkor 18-55mm VR if you need to cover the wide end.

4) The Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8, no need comments here. Crop body mid range zoom for most paparazzi and event shooters (I still have this and using it with the D5100 for party shoots). Used prices are quite low now, you can pick up a very good condition lens for about $1.2k. A lot of users are upgrading and off loading this very good lens in the CS BnS section. You can pair this lens with a Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8, Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 VC USD and you are covered from 17mm to 200mm all the way at f/2.8.

 

[PinkDevil]

Nikon Center is the one in Capital Square?

For your budget and range you want to reach..

2. 18-300mm. Can try out at Nikon centre for final decision.

 

[PinkDevil]

Any idea when will this be available?

My suggestion is to wait for the Nikon mount version of the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 to become available and buy it. Then get a 50mm f1.8G for portraits. If you really need, get the 70-300mm (Nikon or Tamron, your choice) for the telephoto end. In this way, u dun need to spend so much to get f/1.8 aperture on the wide end.

 

[PinkDevil]

Thought I would like to share with Csers who are looking to get the D7100. Went Funan today and bought the D7100 bundled with the 16-85mm. SLRR is really the place to go. Very good pricing compared to other shops there and the staffs are very helpful. I was served by Ray. Also got the AF-S 50mm 1.8G lens. Anything you need for your camera, this is the place to go. Other shops are kind of cold in a way.

Time to take more pictures.

 

[Kenneth Chen]

There was a good review on the Nikon DX lens 18-200 mm at this price range? Good value.

 

[lewissac]

Also don't forget to take into account of the weight as well.

 

[firesong]

Took the advice of users here and got the Tamron 70-300 VC. It's a very sharp lens. Pretty nice in the hands and not too heavy. =)

From reviews, it appears to trump the Nikon equivalent in some ways, but I think it's a 50-50.

 

[lewissac]

70-300 is a good lens. It was my first choice on my mind before I decide to go for primes. So now my D7100 is equipped with 11-16/2.8, 35/1.8, 50/1.8, 85/1.8

Currently start saving for 70-200/2.8