What is the absolute sharpest budget lens I can get for my D7500 right now? I have been shooting with Nikon DX bodies for over six years and honestly I thought I had my kit dialed in, but my old 18-55mm kit lens finally kicked the bucket yesterday after a drop during a shoot and I am kind of panicking because I have a wedding coming up in two weeks. I am stuck here in Chicago and need something I can pick up or have shipped quickly without dropping a grand because my budget is strictly under 350 dollars. I do mostly portrait stuff and some street photography, so I need something that handles low light decently well. Should I just grab the 35mm f/1.8 DX prime again, or is there something else out there that offers better value? I feel like I keep hitting a wall with corner softness on these cheaper zooms. I am really pressed for time and just need a solid workhorse that wont let me down at this event, its super frustrating having this happen right before a gig...
Man, that is rough timing with the wedding coming up. Honestly, I wouldnt even bother with another kit zoom if you are already dealing with corner softness. I went through the same thing a few years back and finally picked up the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G and it honestly changed everything for my street stuff. It is super sharp and the low light performance is a massive jump from that old plastic zoom. If you want something a bit tighter for portraits that still stays in your budget, look for a used Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR Micro. It handles portraits like a dream. Just stick to the 35mm if you need that extra stop of light for the reception. You will be way happier with the results.
Adding my two cents, if you want something that actually holds up at a wedding, ignore the 35mm. I have used the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G for years and the sharpness beats any kit lens by a mile.
- It is way cheaper than the zooms
- Much faster for low light
- Better build quality than the DX prime Honestly, grab that and a cheap Neewer TT560 Speedlite Flash if you need more light. Good luck at the wedding.
Honestly, if you want something sharper than the kit lens for portraits without breaking the bank, skip the DX primes. I tried the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G and it is honestly way better for portraits on a D7500. The bokeh is smoother and it is sharper across the frame. I had issues with focus hunting on cheaper glass before, but this one is reliable. It fits your budget perfectly.
TL;DR: Grab a fast zoom instead of primes for a wedding gig, trust me you need the flexibility. Regarding what #3 said about adding their two cents on the 50mm, I totally disagree for event work! When my kit lens died right before a big corporate gig last year, I tried running a pure prime setup and it was an absolute nightmare trying to keep up with fast-moving people in tight spaces. You cant be swapping lenses constantly when the bouquet is flying or the couple is walking down the aisle. I ended up scrambling to rent a solid mid-range zoom just to survive the day. For a wedding coming up in two weeks, you want that focal length versatility way more than an extra stop of light, especially since you can just bump your ISO on the D7500. Dont trap yourself with a single focal length when timing is everything!