So I have been shooting with my D7500 for a few years now and I usually just stick to my 35mm or 50mm primes for street stuff but my sister just invited us to this big wildlife park trip in San Diego next Tuesday and I realized I have literally zero reach in my bag right now. I dug out my old 70-300mm but it is the ancient non-VR version and honestly the glass is just trash at the long end and the hunting is driving me crazy so that is out. I need something budget friendly because I just dropped a ton on the hotel and I am kinda panicking trying to find the best bang for buck zoom lens that wont leave me with blurry messes of the lions.
My logic was maybe getting one of these three:
- AF-P 70-300mm DX VR
- 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
- 55-200mm VR II (the collapsible one)
I heard the AF-P stepping motor is super fast and quiet but then I saw some people swearing by the 18-140mm for an all-in-one kit lens replacement so I dont have to swap glass in the dust. But then I am worried 140mm just isnt gonna be long enough for the animals if they are far back in the enclosures. I have about $250 max to spend and I am looking at used stuff on MPB or even local shops but I need to pull the trigger tonight to get it here in time. Is the AF-P definitely the way to go for the sharpness or is there some hidden gem I am missing for DX sensors...
Honestly, you should just grab the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR and dont even look at the others! Its seriously amazing for the price and works perfectly on the D7500. I used this exact setup for a safari park trip and the autofocus speed is just fantastic compared to the older gear. Since your camera supports that AF-P stepping motor, the focus is basically instant and dead silent... perfect for catching the animals without any annoying hunting. While the 18-140mm is a nice kit lens, you definitely need that 300mm reach for wildlife. San Diego is huge and those lions love to hang out way in the back. The 140mm just wont get you close enough for a good shot. You can usually find the AF-P version used for under 200 bucks right now. Its easily the best bang for your buck lens for DX shooters who need reach on a budget!
