Im so excited Im finally upgrading my old kit lens this weekend! Got about 500 bucks saved up and Im taking a trip to Yosemite next month so I really need to nail this. Ive been reading endless forum threads online all week. Half the people swear by a 24-70mm f2.8 for versatility while others say a 35mm prime forces you to be a better photographer. But my logic was that swapping lenses on a windy trail sounds like a nightmare. So I was thinking maybe an 18-140mm walkaround zoom is the safest bet? But then what about low light... Is there actually a holy grail lens that does everything without breaking the bank?
In my experience shooting landscapes at Yosemite, you really want optical reach without changing glass in the dust. Over the years Ive tried many walkaround zooms, but the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f 3.5-5.6G ED VR hits the absolute sweet spot for range and sharpness on a crop sensor. Skip the heavy f 2.8 zooms for hiking.