What zoom lenses you'll pair with your D500?

Howdy,

Just interested to know what zoom lenses you'll pair up with your D500. For me, to keep it compact, I've ordered the 70-200mm f4. But I'm not sure on the 'normal' zoom range lense. Either the 16-80mm f2.8-4 or the 17-55mm f2.8 (or even something else?).

The reviews of the 16-80mm are mixed. And the 17-55mm is aging. I guess the sigma 18-35mm can be a consideration, but I'm worried if there would be any AF issues.

One combination that I think will be a winner for sports and wildlife is D500+80-400mm. Can't wait to try it! -iwbs

If I ever get the D500 (which is very tempting at this point), I will pair it with the 200-500/5.6 for birding purposes only. I have my other system for everything else.

My go to lens is the Nikon 80-400. That's what will be on mine. I really love this lens. But I'd also love to have the 70-200 vrII. That will have to wait awhile until I recover from paying for the camera.

Well, it looks like everyone's going long for the D500. I 'only' have long primes. Anyways I can't wait!

arab_ninja said:

Howdy,

Just interested to know what zoom lenses you'll pair up with your D500. For me, to keep it compact, I've ordered the 70-200mm f4. But I'm not sure on the 'normal' zoom range lense. Either the 16-80mm f2.8-4 or the 17-55mm f2.8 (or even something else?).

The reviews of the 16-80mm are mixed. And the 17-55mm is aging. I guess the sigma 18-35mm can be a consideration, but I'm worried if there would be any AF issues.

Click to expand...

For me:

- Birding, Surfing - Tamron 150-600

- Soccer- 70-200 VRII

- Street- 50-1.4G

- Portrait, Macro -105 Micro

arab_ninja said:

Howdy,

Just interested to know what zoom lenses you'll pair up with your D500. For me, to keep it compact, I've ordered the 70-200mm f4. But I'm not sure on the 'normal' zoom range lense. Either the 16-80mm f2.8-4 or the 17-55mm f2.8 (or even something else?).

The reviews of the 16-80mm are mixed. And the 17-55mm is aging. I guess the sigma 18-35mm can be a consideration, but I'm worried if there would be any AF issues.

Click to expand...

I was puzzled by the Lenstip review. They praised the centre resolution, but were very negative about the edge results. But if I compare their 16-80 test results with those of the 18-140 zoom, so far as I can see, both at the centre and also at the edges, the 16-80 is significantly better than the 18-140. And the 18-140 is a very well respected zoom.


Lenstip resolution tests: 18-140 (left) 16-80 (right); Centres at top, edges below

As you can see, at the centres, the 18-140 hardly gets above 50 lpmm, whereas the 16-80 is up above the line for many settings of aperture and focal length - Lenstip had to increase the scale to accommodate the higher resolution results for the 16-80. Both are similar at maximum focal length.

And at the edges, the 18-140 never gets above 40 lpmm, whereas the 16-80 is up above the line for a significant proportion of the aperture settings and focal lengths. Again, both are similar at maximum focal length.

From what I've seen from a number of posts on dpreview and also the few sets of test results, I think I'd be very happy with the 16-80 on a D500...

I agree the 70-200 f/4 would be a great companion for the D500. Plus the 200-500 would complete a fantastic setup...

--
DaveR

arab_ninja said:

Howdy,

Just interested to know what zoom lenses you'll pair up with your D500. For me, to keep it compact, I've ordered the 70-200mm f4. But I'm not sure on the 'normal' zoom range lense. Either the 16-80mm f2.8-4 or the 17-55mm f2.8 (or even something else?).

The reviews of the 16-80mm are mixed. And the 17-55mm is aging. I guess the sigma 18-35mm can be a consideration, but I'm worried if there would be any AF issues.

Click to expand...

17-55, 18-70, 70-200, 70-300, maybe old 24-135 Tamron. Pluss oddball assortment of primes

JC
Some cameras, some lenses, some computers

I have the 70-200 f/4 and the 16-80 that I use with the D7200. I also have the 20 f/1.8 that I use with the D750. Following two similar shots, one with the D7200 and 16-80 @ 24mm f/8 and the other with D750 and 20 f/1.8 @ f/11. Obviously slightly different shots taken on different days but I think the 16-80 can hold it's own, at least @ f/8.













--
Philip

Chances are for walk-around / vacation the Nikon 17-55.

Sideline sports the 70-200 & the Sigma 100-300 w/teleconverters.

Wide stuff the Sigma 10-20.

Not decided what to use for video...

iwannabesedated said:

One combination that I think will be a winner for sports and wildlife is D500+80-400mm. Can't wait to try it! -iwbs

Click to expand...

My dream team also.

Nikkor 12-24 f4, Tamron 17-50 and 28-75 f2.8 "screwdrivers", Nikkor 70-200 f2.8 VR - the latter two from film days. Of the newer lenses only the Sigma 18-35 f1.8 has made a solid impression on me - it is the first and only "normal" DX zoom to be truly sharp at wide apertures - but the old but compact and light Tamron catches it by f5.6 and is sharper by f8.

arab_ninja said:

Howdy,

Just interested to know what zoom lenses you'll pair up with your D500. For me, to keep it compact, I've ordered the 70-200mm f4. But I'm not sure on the 'normal' zoom range lense. Either the 16-80mm f2.8-4 or the 17-55mm f2.8 (or even something else?).

The reviews of the 16-80mm are mixed. And the 17-55mm is aging. I guess the sigma 18-35mm can be a consideration, but I'm worried if there would be any AF issues.

Click to expand...

Which reviews had mixed results for the 16-80? Except for a little too much barrel dist at 16mm, the lens shows stellar performance, especially detail and CA.

Beware of 3rd party lenses, especially re AF fine tuning and AF speed. I have a Sigma which is borderline on the D7000, and AF FT varies along the FL range. Also, colors, flare resistance and quality of flare (another weak point of my Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS) tend to be better on Nikkors, and this lens has nanocoating.

If I get the D500, I will likely get this lens.

--
Renato.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhlpedrosa/
OnExposure member
http://www.onexposure.net/
Good shooting and good luck
(after Ed Murrow)

One advantage of upgrading within the DX family is keeping my lens kit intact which includes my Sigma 17-70. No focusing problems and no green flare that I have seen. Yes, high but correctable ca's. My copy has had a fragile os system that required two separate trips to Sigma. Repairs covered by the warranty. It's close-up focusing is a great feature for me making it a regular on whatever body I am using. There may be compatibility issues and I have the older nonC version. If I get the d500, I will also transfer my Tamron 70-300 and my Tokina 12-24 (troubled by very high and sometimes not correctable ca's) and then take a pause before getting the long zoom. For some reason, my Tamron has not been bothered by upgraded bodies.
--

arab_ninja said:

Howdy,

Just interested to know what zoom lenses you'll pair up with your D500. For me, to keep it compact, I've ordered the 70-200mm f4. But I'm not sure on the 'normal' zoom range lense. Either the 16-80mm f2.8-4 or the 17-55mm f2.8 (or even something else?).

The reviews of the 16-80mm are mixed. And the 17-55mm is aging. I guess the sigma 18-35mm can be a consideration, but I'm worried if there would be any AF issues.

Click to expand...

I currently have the D300 with 12-24, 17-55, and 70-300VR.

With the D500, I am thinking of:

Keep the 12-24 until a replacement is there.

Replace the 17-55 with the 16-80 (I think the latter will be better).

Replace the 70-300VR with the 70-200 f/4

And maybe add the 200-500.

But let me first see when the D500 gets available here in Qatar.

I saw the mixed reviews re the 16-80mm online, eg ephotozine.com and photographyblog.com.

I anticipate using my 12-24dx, 28-70, 70-200, and 200-400 or 200-500. I also have the 18-55dx, if necessary.

I'll probably be selling my Tamron 17-50 along with my D-300 and purchasing the 16-80 to replace it. I'm good with the Vivitar 50-150F/2.8 II, Nikon 50 F/1.8, Nikon 70-200VRI, Sigma 120-300F/2.8, and the Sigma 1.4X and Nikon 1.4X converters.

--
Glenn
I'm kinda partial to video, but I'm hangin!

arab_ninja said:

I saw the mixed reviews re the 16-80mm online, eg ephotozine.com and photographyblog.com.

Click to expand...

Lenstip has also a review which is quite negative, someone called my attention to it in the thread I started on zooms for the D500.

The alternative from Sigma is slightly better overall, but has very bad flare behavior, like all Sigma lenses, especially zooms. That includes the otherwise very good 18-35 f/1.8.

--
Renato.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhlpedrosa/
OnExposure member
http://www.onexposure.net/
Good shooting and good luck
(after Ed Murrow)

vbuhay said:

arab_ninja said:

Howdy,

Just interested to know what zoom lenses you'll pair up with your D500. For me, to keep it compact, I've ordered the 70-200mm f4. But I'm not sure on the 'normal' zoom range lense. Either the 16-80mm f2.8-4 or the 17-55mm f2.8 (or even something else?).

The reviews of the 16-80mm are mixed. And the 17-55mm is aging. I guess the sigma 18-35mm can be a consideration, but I'm worried if there would be any AF issues.

Click to expand...

For me:

- Birding, Surfing - Tamron 150-600

- Soccer- 70-200 VRII

- Street- 50-1.4G

Click to expand...

Isn't that a bit too long for street photography?

vbuhay said:

- Portrait, Macro -105 Micro

Click to expand...

That's a great lens, but I find it a bit too long for portraits on a DX camera. And a bit on the heavy and hard to hold on the D7000. Maybe will balance better with the D500.