Ive been shooting with my D7200 for ages, mainly doing landscapes and some street photography, but my kit lens just bit the dust after a drop. Im heading to the PNW in like two weeks to hike and need something versatile but sharp enough that I wont be crying over the image quality later. My budget is tight, ideally under 300 bucks cause I just dropped a ton on new hiking gear. Ive considered the 35mm f/1.8 but worried its too restrictive for wide shots. Does anyone have a solid recommendation for a sharp prime or a decent zoom that wont break the bank? Really need something soon...
Late to the party but honestly, you have to grab the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G. Everyone says it is restrictive but for street photography, its basically glued to my camera. The sharpness is just insane for the price. If you really need that wide angle for the PNW landscapes and dont mind hunting for a deal, look for a used Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX-II 11-16mm f/2.8. It is built like a tank! You can find them super cheap now since everyone is switching to mirrorless. It makes those epic mountain shots look massive and professional. Whatever you do, dont skip a good polarizer filter, it makes all the difference when you're shooting those wet PNW forests. Seriously, have an amazing trip, the light there is gonna be fantastic!
Coming back to this, I honestly had issues with those cheap wide zooms. The glass is just soft, unfortunately. If you really want that landscape feel without spending a fortune, track down a used Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED. It is sharper than the alternatives, though it might push your budget. Otherwise, just grab the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G and stitch your panoramas. Trust me, dont risk a budget zoom for a big trip.
Honestly, stick to the primes. I tried a cheap third-party zoom once and the chromatic aberration was just brutal, basically ruined my trip shots. Don't make my mistake.
- Check corner sharpness before you commit
- Avoid those super cheap variable aperture zooms
- Bring a solid cleaning kit Really though, for landscapes, you'll regret anything with too much distortion. Just be careful with dust when switching lenses on the trail.
