Nikon 18-105 alternative

[Kaeoize]

I'm getting into nightclub photography and I need a new lens for my D7000. I intend to replace my current 18-55 kit lens with a more versatile lens with a longer reach. I've used the 18-105 and found it to be a good fit for my needs, although after looking at the focal lengths I used in Lightroom I reckon I probably don't need any more than 85mm. It's also important I have a single lens for this as flying alcohol and drunk people aren't good things to have around you when swapping lenses.

Before I go ahead and buy anything I wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions for lenses that I might have missed.

A quick summary of what I'm looking for:

• Similar price range to 18-105 (~£200)
• Need to keep the wide range as I do a lot of landscape photography and my student budget sadly doesn't allow for a dedicated wide lens
• Good range of focal lengths so I don't have to swap lenses
• The faster the focusing the better.
• Low light performance isn't important. f4/5 is perfectly adequate.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Cope]

Look at the 16-85.

 

[Kaeoize]

I've looked into the 16-85 and as well as it fits my requirements it's too far out of my price range, especially as it's less than two months since I upgraded to the D7000.

I also want to keep the value of equipment exposed to drunk people and flying alcohol to a minimum if possible (another reason for the single lens solution).

 

[Chuck Yadmark]

18-70 3.5-4.5 afs

24-85 2.8-4 afd FX

24-85 3.5-4.5 afs not vr

 

[tektrader]

The 18-105 is a pretty good lens sharpness wize. I have some great shots with this lens on my D7000 when I had it. I am sure there is better but at a reasonable price probably not.

The maximum aperture on this lens is a bit of a problem IMO. Its pretty slow, Zoom range however is great.

 

[gear1box]

The 18-105VR is problee yer best alt; another bottom-feeder candidate would be the 18-135, which is available for song now. But, it is NOT VR, and VR would seem to be useful for your application.

I can tell you that it is a remarkably sharp lens, though . . . well, so is the 18-105. In fact, i've read somewhere that the 18-105 is optically very similar to the 18-135 but when they added VR they had to lop off the end of the scale.

That's problee wrong though. It is still a great lens and i have used it extensively.

-- gary ray
Semi-professional in early 1970s; just a putzer since then. interests: historical sites, virginia, motorcycle racing. A nikon user more by habit than choice; still, nikon seems to work well for me.

 

[kithg]

I would find a used Nikon 18-70 3.5-4.5. It'll keep your wide end and be a little faster than yours for indoor shots. I used to have one that I'm sorry I sold. It doesn't have VR, but you're shooting on a D7000, so you have all that good high ISO head room, and you can open it up a bit more than the 18-105. And they're very reasonable most of the time, now.

 

[Kaeoize]

Chuck Yadmark wrote:

18-70 3.5-4.5 afs

24-85 2.8-4 afd FX

24-85 3.5-4.5 afs not vr