Should I have gone for other lenses? Nikon DX 18-55 and 55-200mm

hypnotics · Apr 23, 2011

I know they're kind of default lenses, but is there a more optimal choice for the price? If I return what I just bought, would there be one single lens that's much better than those two?

480sparky · Apr 23, 2011

Nikon does offer a single 18-200.

Personally, I sold the 18-55/55-200 and got the 18-105 and 70-300.

photocist · Apr 23, 2011

Depends on what you like to shoot.

I got a 35mm f2 for 130 and havnt looked back.

KmH · Apr 23, 2011

You will not find better lenses for the same price. No, there is not a single lens that would be better than those 2, however as mentioned there is an $800 (new), single lens (18-200) that covers that focal range.

Many consider Nikon's 18-200 mm superzoom lens their current worst lens value. It is a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none lens that incorporates many lens design compromises to attain it's 11x+ zoom range.

TexJoachim · Apr 23, 2011

480sparky said:
Personally, I sold the 18-55/55-200 and got the 18-105 and 70-300.

I have the 18-105 and the 70-300 as well. However, I mostly use the Tamron 2.8 28-75 and to a lesser degree the 70-300.
Of course, I would have preferred the Nikkor 28-70, but it was a tad too expensive.

Regards,

Joe

KmH · Apr 23, 2011

You don't mention what Nikon camera body you have, but you can cover most kinds of photography with a Nikon Trinity -
The Budget Trinity is the:

Amazon.com: Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED IF Autofocus DX Nikkor Zoom Lens: Camera & Photo

Amazon.com: Nikon 24-85mm f/2.8-4.0D IF AF Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo

Amazon.com: Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo

and the Pro Trinity is:

Amazon.com: Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens: Camera & Photo

Amazon.com: Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens: Camera & Photo

Amazon.com: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens For Nikon Digital SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo

kundalini · Apr 23, 2011

There is nothing wrong with your two lenses. Both can produce very sharp images. They only require enough light.

KmH · Apr 23, 2011

And a good understanding of how to use them within their limitations.

All lenses have limitations of one sort or another.

hypnotics · Apr 23, 2011

Thanks all, I'll stick with them. I heard from another forum that I was crazy for buying those simple lenses, but as a beginner I think they'll do just fine.