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D7500 + which lens?

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CMCM

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After debating cameras for 3 months, I've finally settled on the D7500, and I've abandoned my old idea of just getting a body and using my old 2004 18-70 lens after comparing images shot with it on the 7500 compared with same images from the newer lenses...the newer ones were far superior in noticeable ways.

I've also noticed that there is a quite good savings on a lens if you buy the 7500 and a lens as a kit, so I'm wondering what you all think about these three lens choices to go with the 7500:

1. 16-80 f/2.8 - similar to my old zoom in its range (which was actually a useful range), and I've read a lot of good things about this particular lens. It's also the fastest of these 3 kit lenses.

2. 18-300 f/3.5 - obviously slower, size and weight is similar to the 16-80 but the reach is substantially more, but I'm wondering about the sharpness and overall quality of this lens. Is it as good or nearly as good as the 16-80?

3. 18-140 f/3.5 - probably my 3rd choice unless this lens is better than the 18-300.

Aside from choosing one of these lenses, my eventual goal is to also get a 10-20 or so wide, and perhaps also that 35mm f/1.8 as a prime.

I'd be happy to get input from those of you who have used one or more of the above 3 kit zooms and which you would recommend.
 
16-80mm f2.8-4 is the sharpest, the widest and the fastest lens here. For more reach you can always add some of the 55-200VR/55-300VR/70-300VR/ offerings later on.



Unless you have a good reason you don't want to change lenses, I see no reason to go for the 18-300VR, even then I'd rather consider Tamron 16-300.

18-140VR is a good kit choice but you already threw in the mix a lens that is multiple times more expensive (16-80) so it's a bit out of it's league here then.

Personally I'd go the Sigma route and either get 17-50 f2.8 OS if on budget or get the 18-35 f1.8 and later on (or right away?) 50-100 f1.8 and spend many upcoming years just taking photos not thinking about lenses and bodies at all. :)
 
I've used the 16-85 since it came out. I sold it when I moved to FX and then rebought one when I got a D5300 as a lighter walk-around lens. The 16-80 is supposedly even better.

The extra 2mm at the wide end is significant as it makes it into a much more useable lens.

Buy the 18-300 or similar if you don't want to change lens. The 18-140 gives you a bit more reach but if you want reach you'll need something a lot longer, so only;t buy this if you want lightweight and cheap.

The 70-300 VR P and 10-20 VR P are great little lens to make up your kit plus perhaps the 35mm DX.
 
If you have chosen the D7500 i suppose there is some sports / wildlife photography in your future, as you are mostly paying the great AF system with this body.

That said, having already owned dslr cameras, you can understand the goodness that comes with fixed aperture zooms like the already mentioned 17-50 2.8 Sigma. This one replaced my 18-55 and my 35 f1.8 in the walkaround small bag.

Another good, cheap, light lens you can pair with that body for telezoom is the AF-P 70-300 DX, which is very sharp and fast focusing. Let me know if you want samples from either one lens.

I would not suggest any of the kit lens, they will "force" you to have another lens for low light / indoors photography or to bounce a flash.
 
Well, I mainly shoot birds, so if they are close, there is nothing like the 70-200/4.0G. It is also superb for portraits.

The AF-P 18-55 VR and the AF-P 70-300 are two very cheap lenses, that you might even get as part of the kit, and they are fantastic.

If you want fast lenses, say f/1.4, I have two that I really like: the Sigma 30/1.4 Art and the Voigtlander 58/1.4 (this is a manual focus lens). Neither lens with any issues, but the 30/1.4 Art is a much easier-to-handle lens than the Sigma 35/1.4 Art. And cheaper as well!

Have a great day,

Tord
 
Bender79ita said:
If you have chosen the D7500 i suppose there is some sports / wildlife photography in your future, as you are mostly paying the great AF system with this body.
Click to expand...
No sports, but perhaps limited wildlife...I already have a P900 for the big reach and wildlife/birds etc. And one thing that attracted me to the 7500 is the autofocus, which at this point in life, I need help with to some degree.
Bender79ita said:
That said, having already owned dslr cameras, you can understand the goodness that comes with fixed aperture zooms like the already mentioned 17-50 2.8 Sigma. This one replaced my 18-55 and my 35 f1.8 in the walkaround small bag.
Click to expand...
I'll check out the Sigma, but it's a lot larger and heavier, isn't it? Also, I would really rather have a bit more reach in a main lens zoom.
Bender79ita said:
Another good, cheap, light lens you can pair with that body for telezoom is the AF-P 70-300 DX, which is very sharp and fast focusing. Let me know if you want samples from either one lens.
Click to expand...
I had a 7500 to test out awhile back and got to use the 70-300, it seemed like a nice lens.
Bender79ita said:
I would not suggest any of the kit lens, they will "force" you to have another lens for low light / indoors photography or to bounce a flash.
Click to expand...
I guess I'm less concerned about this because I mostly shoot outdoors.

Thanks for your comments!
 
Tord S Eriksson said:
Well, I mainly shoot birds, so if they are close, there is nothing like the 70-200/4.0G. It is also superb for portraits.

The AF-P 18-55 VR and the AF-P 70-300 are two very cheap lenses, that you might even get as part of the kit, and they are fantastic.

If you want fast lenses, say f/1.4, I have two that I really like: the Sigma 30/1.4 Art and the Voigtlander 58/1.4 (this is a manual focus lens). Neither lens with any issues, but the 30/1.4 Art is a much easier-to-handle lens than the Sigma 35/1.4 Art. And cheaper as well!

Have a great day,

Tord
Click to expand...
 
CMCM said:
Tord S Eriksson said:
Well, I mainly shoot birds, so if they are close, there is nothing like the 70-200/4.0G. It is also superb for portraits.

The AF-P 18-55 VR and the AF-P 70-300 are two very cheap lenses, that you might even get as part of the kit, and they are fantastic.

If you want fast lenses, say f/1.4, I have two that I really like: the Sigma 30/1.4 Art and the Voigtlander 58/1.4 (this is a manual focus lens). Neither lens with any issues, but the 30/1.4 Art is a much easier-to-handle lens than the Sigma 35/1.4 Art. And cheaper as well!

Have a great day,

Tord
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
CMCM said:
No sports, but perhaps limited wildlife...I already have a P900 for the big reach and wildlife/birds etc. And one thing that attracted me to the 7500 is the autofocus, which at this point in life, I need help with to some degree.
Click to expand...
I would say not really comparable :) With the D7500 you can focus a bird in flight with no effort.
CMCM said:
I'll check out the Sigma, but it's a lot larger and heavier, isn't it? Also, I would really rather have a bit more reach in a main lens zoom.
Click to expand...
It's definitely heavier and larger then the kit lens, for a good reason. Not as big as a FF glass though, and far from the price of a FF lens. I don't really like the softness of superzooms, it's a waste to use that kind of lens a good body. On a D3100 or D90, yeah maybe why not.

If you find yourself always struggling for zoom, perhaps you should shoot only 1 prime lens for a couple months (i did it with the 35 f1.8), might help your composition and perspective when you zoom with your feet.
CMCM said:
I had a 7500 to test out awhile back and got to use the 70-300, it seemed like a nice lens.
Click to expand...
It's very good, i find that sometimes i have to decrease clarity and sharpness when shooting portraits with those lens. The AF is also perfect. Mind i'm talking about the new AF-P, the older ones might be different.
CMCM said:
I guess I'm less concerned about this because I mostly shoot outdoors.

Thanks for your comments!
Click to expand...
Your welcome! I mostly shoot at friend's dinners and clubs, so low light performance and portraits are very important for me.

Either way, great body, i'm sure it will not disappoint.
 
Bender79ita said:
Bender79ita said:
No sports, but perhaps limited wildlife...I already have a P900 for the big reach and wildlife/birds etc. And one thing that attracted me to the 7500 is the autofocus, which at this point in life, I need help with to some degree.
Click to expand...
I would say not really comparable :) With the D7500 you can focus a bird in flight with no effort.
Bender79ita said:
I'll check out the Sigma, but it's a lot larger and heavier, isn't it? Also, I would really rather have a bit more reach in a main lens zoom.
Click to expand...
It's definitely heavier and larger then the kit lens, for a good reason. Not as big as a FF glass though, and far from the price of a FF lens. I don't really like the softness of superzooms, it's a waste to use that kind of lens a good body. On a D3100 or D90, yeah maybe why not.
If you find yourself always struggling for zoom, perhaps you should shoot only 1 prime lens for a couple months (i did it with the 35 f1.8), might help your composition and perspective when you zoom with your feet.
Bender79ita said:
I had a 7500 to test out awhile back and got to use the 70-300, it seemed like a nice lens.
Click to expand...
It's very good, i find that sometimes i have to decrease clarity and sharpness when shooting portraits with those lens. The AF is also perfect. Mind i'm talking about the new AF-P, the older ones might be different.
Bender79ita said:
I guess I'm less concerned about this because I mostly shoot outdoors.

Thanks for your comments!
Click to expand...
Your welcome! I mostly shoot at friend's dinners and clubs, so low light performance and portraits are very important for me.

Either way, great body, i'm sure it will not disappoint.
Click to expand...
I do agree with Bender. It is a really nice camera, and it has easy-access buttons where you'd want them to be on all cameras!

Would still prefer an upmarket EVF to the optical viewfinder, but that's just me.

The shots below were shot through a double-glazed window.

A Eurasian Robin shot with the AF-P 70-300 DX VR, no PP, on a Nikon 1 V2.
A Eurasian Robin shot with the AF-P 70-300 DX VR, no PP, on a Nikon 1 V2.



Same bird. Using a Nikon 1 camera tests the lens more than a D7500, due to its higher pixel-pitch,
Same bird. Using a Nikon 1 camera tests the lens more than a D7500, due to its higher pixel-pitch,



I love the D7500, here a shot with the AF-S 70-200/4.0G (very little crop or PP).
I love the D7500, here a shot with the AF-S 70-200/4.0G (very little crop or PP).

Of course, the AF-P 70-300 DX VR can be combined with the D7500:



Same Robin, another day! But with the D7500 + the AF-P lens.
Same Robin, another day! But with the D7500 + the AF-P lens.



--
tordseriksson (at) gmail.....
Nikon V2, J5, D3300, D7500 & D600.
 
Very nice photos indeed, and I'm impressed with that lens!
 
Among my D5500, D610, D810 and D7500, the D7500 is my favourite camera when travelling.

The 16-80 f2.8-4 lens when used with the D7500 is really sharp with great micro contrast and is currently my favourite lens.
 
I have the D7500 with the 16-80 and it’s a fantastic lens. It’s fast and very sharp. I don’t think anyone would be disappointed with that lens.
 
CMCM said:
Very nice photos indeed, and I'm impressed with that lens!
Click to expand...
Like the AF-P 18-55 VR, an excellent lens. Both feel a bit tacky, the zooming is not super-smooth, but the results, very impressive.
 
Labmom60 said:
I have the D7500 with the 16-80 and it’s a fantastic lens. It’s fast and very sharp. I don’t think anyone would be disappointed with that lens.
Click to expand...
How do you like your Tokina 11-16? How does it compare size-wise with the 16-80? I'm also going to get a wide angle of some sort...
 
We have a 18-140 on the D7200. Best lens? Probably not, got lots of better choices at home. Easy choice when wanting to just bring one, such as travelling? Yup.

Everything in life is a compromise. You pick what's important to you at the time.
 
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