What is the best budget zoom for a Nikon DX body that won't break the bank? I really need to figure this out fast because my family trip to Zion and the Grand Canyon is happening in ten days and I just realized my 18-55mm kit lens is totally useless for anything far away. I'm rocking an older D5300 and my budget is super tight, like $200 max if I can find something used on eBay or locally here in Phoenix.
I did some digging and everyone keeps mentioning the AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR as the go-to cheap option but then I saw a few threads saying the AF-S 55-300mm has better reach and color? But then someone else said the AF-P is way faster at focusing which I probably need if I see any bighorn sheep or birds or whatever. I'm also really stressed about the compatibility—I read that some AF-P lenses don't even work on older bodies like mine without a firmware update and I've never done one of those and I'm terrified I'll brick my camera right before vacation.
Is the AF-P actually better than the old 55-200mm ones that are all over the place for like eighty bucks? I just want something that isn't a total blurry mess when I zoom all the way in...
In my experience, the AF-P version is the only one worth buying if you care about actual sharpness. I've tested many of these DX zooms over the years and the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR is the clear winner for travel. Heres the technical breakdown for your D5300:
- Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR: The stepping motor is basically instant. Optics stay sharp even at 300mm which is rare for a budget lens. You just need firmware 1.03 or later for it to work on your D5300.
- Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR: Much slower autofocus. It uses an older micro-SWM that hunts a lot in low light. Reach is the same but the user experience is honestly frustrating.
- Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II: Very portable but you'll definitely miss that extra 100mm for wildlife at Zion. Updating the firmware is simple and wont brick your camera as long as the battery is charged. Its worth it for that AF-P speed.
@Reply #1 - good point! Are you gonna be shooting handheld?
- Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR: Faster AF.
- Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR: Reach, tho sluggish...
Same here!
Nice, didn't know that
