replacement for kit lens on d7000

[palmtrees]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new here and ready to invest to time and money into bettering myself as a photographer. I'm a beginner, although I have second shot a couple weddings for a well known photographer in my area. I put the camera down for so long that I'm very rusty (so many people told me to stop being a silly little girl with my camera and go get a real job.)

I currently have a d7000 with the kit lens (18-105) and a 50. I like the 50 well enough, but I just prefer a zoom lens. My kit lens is slowly biting it and I want a good all purpose lens to carry with me when I don't want to drag a full camera bag around. The kit lens is having trouble auto focusing and is producing very soft results in any light, flash or no flash, it's not motion blur, and any settings- I try to stay in manual to better myself but also sometimes revert to aperture, it's even soft in full out auto. I thought it was user error but I've had several people shoot with it-all producing the same results. I've shot the same exact photo with the 50 and the kit and the 50 is sharper of course, but when I say the kit is soft, it's practically unusable.

Does anyone have a good suggestion for me? I was looking at the sigma 18-200 but I've heard mixed opinions on it, does anyone have an opinion? I've got a decent budget to work with, was also looking at the nikon 18-200.

 

[analog.universe]

If you're really looking for a quality upgrade, I would say avoid superzooms. The 18-200 is over 10x zoom range, high quality zooms are rarely much over 3-4x. There is a class of lenses in the 17-55, 17-50, etc range that are f/2.8 and usually stabilized. If you find yourself on the wide end, they seem pretty impressive on a crop sensor body. If you'd rather a tele lens, I'd be looking at some iteration of a 70-200 or 80-200. There are also the 24-70's and 28-70's sortof in the middle...

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Welcome to the forum. What part of Florida? I'm in Tampa.

18-200 can't be expected to take sharp images compared to others

 

[palmtrees]

Welcome to the forum. What part of Florida? I'm in Tampa.

18-200 can't be expected to take sharp images compared to others

Thanks! I'm in the orlando area. I love tampa, I always said I was going to move there one day!

Do you have another suggestion? I want something that gives me a bit of a range...

 

[palmtrees]

If you're really looking for a quality upgrade, I would say avoid superzooms. The 18-200 is over 10x zoom range, high quality zooms are rarely much over 3-4x. There is a class of lenses in the 17-55, 17-50, etc range that are f/2.8 and usually stabilized. If you find yourself on the wide end, they seem pretty impressive on a crop sensor body. If you'd rather a tele lens, I'd be looking at some iteration of a 70-200 or 80-200. There are also the 24-70's and 28-70's sortof in the middle...

My husband always double checks any research I start into (he has a much more technical brain than me) and he was also suggesting a 17-50ish range. I'd rahter have a shorter range but a crisper image.

I clearly have a ton to learn!

 

[thierry]

You can not beat the Nifty Fifty Lens especially at less than $125. You can get a used or refurbished model for around $100. This would be a great focal length and aperture for portraits and weddings as well.
Nikon 50mm F1.8 D

For a zoom lens, I would go with a 17-50. I went with a 55-200 at first and found myself barely ever using it compare to my 18-55. (I Have since upgraded) Anyways the Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 is a very sharp lens and the F2.8 is perfect for portrait and wedding photography as it looks like you are into. I would highly suggest this lens as an alternative Nikon's model. (Though nothign beats a Nikon) This lens is a lot less expensive and I had an older model of this Tamron for my D7000 for about 2 months and receive very sharp pics. Very smooth lens overall.
Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens with Built In Motor for Nikon Digital SLR