Im seriously losing my mind trying to lug around three different lenses for my Nikon D7500. Its way too heavy for my upcoming hiking trip in Colorado next month and honestly Im just fed up with swapping glass every five minutes. Does anyone know a solid all-around lens under 600 bucks that actually works?
To add to the point above: if you want something sharper and lighter than those massive zooms, you should look at the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM. It is basically a staple for DX sensors.
- Constant aperture makes a huge difference in low light.
- Much sharper than the kit lenses.
- Fits well under your 600 dollar budget. Its not gonna give you that crazy long reach, but for hiking, the weight savings are massive. You lose the telephoto end, but you gain way better image quality and that f/2.8 consistency. I used one for a while on my old body and it was a workhorse. Tbh, carrying less gear usually means I actually take more photos. Just dont expect miracles if you are trying to shoot wildlife way off in the distance.
Honestly, skip the huge zooms if you want decent image quality without breaking the bank. For hiking, I really prefer the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G for low light or just grabbing the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR if you need reach.
- Way lighter than dragging extra glass
- Much cheaper on the used market
- Keeps the weight down for those long trails Just pack light, you dont need everything.
I feel your pain. Lugging glass up those peaks is no joke. I switched to the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR a while back and honestly, it never leaves my body.
- Super versatile focal range
- Vibration reduction works well
- Saves my back on trails I was skeptical of superzooms, but it honestly keeps me happy. Just watch for used deals to stay under that budget.
Solid advice 👍
