Which lens is actually the best all-arounder for a Nikon D7500? I am super stoked to finally upgrade my kit but Im totally stuck deciding between the Nikon 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6 or the Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3. I have a wedding coming up in August in upstate New York and I really dont want to be switching lenses all day while trying to grab candid shots. My budget is around 500 bucks max. Is the extra zoom on the Sigma worth the loss in sharpness compared to the Nikon glass? Ive been reading mixed reviews and my head is spinning trying to pick one before my trip...
Honestly, if you are stuck between those two, just grab the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR. The build quality is decent for the price and the optics are definitely cleaner than what you get with a massive zoom range. Trying to push a lens out to 300mm on a crop sensor is just asking for shake unless you are in bright midday sun, and weddings usually have tricky indoor lighting anyway. Since you are doing a wedding, you should really think about adding a cheap prime for the reception if the lighting gets dim. Here is why the 18-140mm is the safer play:
- Sharpness is noticeably better across the board compared to the Sigma 18-300mm.
- Autofocus is snappier, which is huge for candids.
- You have just enough reach for ceremonies without sacrificing image quality. If you have any cash leftover from that 500 dollar budget, definitely pick up the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G. It will save your life when the sun goes down and you need that extra light that the kit zooms just cant provide. Trust me, swapping to a prime for the dance floor makes a way bigger difference than having 300mm reach you probably wont even use. Just keep it simple and dont stress over the gear too much, focus on the shots.
@Reply #2 - good point! Tbh, im kinda wary of putting all my eggs in one basket at a wedding. Are you gonna have a backup body or just the one? I would suggest sticking with the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR but maybe save some cash for a cheap prime like the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G. That way you have a reliable backup if the zoom fails or light gets low.
Honestly, skip the superzooms for a wedding. I tried the Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM once and the softness at the long end ruined my shots. Youre better off with the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR for the consistency. If you can stretch the budget, try grabbing a cheap 35mm prime too, because you really need that wider aperture for the reception lighting. Trust me, the extra reach isnt worth the blur.
