What are the best travel lens options for Nikon DX cameras because I am literally losing my mind trying to pick one for my trip to Japan next month!! Im so stoked to finally go but I dont want to be carrying a massive bag of glass around Tokyo all day. I have a D7500 and Ive been looking at the Nikon 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6 because everyone says its the ultimate all-in-one but then I saw some people complaining that it gets really soft at the long end and the aperture is kinda slow for those neon street shots at night. Then I found the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 which sounds great for low light but some forums say its super heavy and might have autofocus stuttering issues on my body and now im just confused. My budget is pretty firm at $600 since I spent most of my savings on the plane tickets lol so I cant really go for the high end stuff. I really want something that can handle everything from tight alleyways to shots of Mt Fuji without me having to swap lenses every five minutes while my friends get annoyed waiting for me. Is there a goldilocks lens I missed or should I just suck it up and get a prime to go with a zoom?
Honestly, ive had some issues with that Sigma on newer bodies like yours, so id be careful. Its a bit of a gamble with the AF stuttering and its unfortunately pretty clunky to carry around all day. i tried the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR on a trip recently and it was just... fine. Not as good as expected for those low light street scenes in the evening. Youll definitely struggle in those Kyoto alleys once the sun drops. If you want reliability, maybe look for a used Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR. Its way better built and that f/2.8 at the wide end helps a ton. If thats still too much cash, just grab the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G for cheap to swap in at night. Its tiny and way sharper than any zoom. Boring advice, I know, but losing shots to bad AF or blurry low-light messes is way worse than carrying one tiny extra lens.
I gotta disagree a bit on the 18-140 being your only bet tho... i think you can do way better for $600 if you are cool with buying used. Honestly i was so happy with the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR when i did my last big trip and its basically the goldilocks lens you are looking for. Its way sharper than the 18-140 and having that f/2.8 at the wide end is a total lifesaver for night street photography in Shinjuku. Heres what i would do to keep the budget in check:
- Grab a used Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR for around $400. It was the kit lens for the D500 so there are plenty of clean ones out there and it works perfectly on the D7500.
- Use the rest of your cash to pick up a used Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G. Its tiny and weighs nothing so you can just keep it in your pocket for those super dark ramen shops or when you want that blurry background look. I really think this combo covers everything from Mt Fuji landscapes to the neon lights without weighing you down too much. Have an awesome time in Japan, ngl im super jealous!
This is exactly what I needed to hear. Youre a lifesaver honestly.
