Best standard zoom for D7000?

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surf monkey
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p.1 #1 · Best standard zoom for D7000?

I have a friend buying an upgrade for his wife and was wondering if a lens upgrade makes sense.
Upgrading from a D80 to a D7000.
Current lenses are the 18-135, 60 micro, and 35f1.8.

Is there an affordable upgrade for the 18-135 that improves IQ?
I believe that the 18-135 is surprisingly good for a consumer kit zoom.

Less than $800 would be good, less than $500 would be ideal.

Standard zoom FL is fine, no need for a superzoom.
It doesn't need to be super fast, but obviously that would be a bonus.
Priority of good stopped down performance for landscape.
Center resolution wide open is a bonus.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Jul 24, 2012 at 03:54 PM

krickett
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p.1 #2 · Best standard zoom for D7000?

I think the choices are between a Nikon 16-85 3.5-5.6 and a Sigma 17-50 2.8 OS. The 16-85 will just be a very very slight boost in IQ. Mostly it's just an improvement in compact-ness and build quality. The lens isn't super sharp at 85mm, so there is a bit of sacrifice.

The Sigma 17-50 will get you speed. Central IQ is good through the aperture range. Stopped down, the corners become decent.

I did prefer the 16-85 as a landscape lens, but after I got the 17-50, I didn't want two standard zooms. The Sigma is more versatile.

Jul 24, 2012 at 08:32 PM

surf monkey
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p.1 #3 · Best standard zoom for D7000?

Has anyone compared the Sigma 17-50 OS and Tamron 17-50 non-VC lens?

Edited on Jul 24, 2012 at 08:52 PM · View previous versions

Jul 24, 2012 at 08:45 PM

surf monkey
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p.1 #4 · Best standard zoom for D7000?

krickett wrote:
The Sigma 17-50 will get you speed. Central IQ is good through the aperture range. Stopped down, the corners become decent.

I saw the "which 17-50 thread" and your comment regarding the Sigma and Tamron 17-50s.
Did you ever try the Tamron non-VC, which is reported better IQ-wise than the VC version?
Did you find the Sigma as sharp as the Tamron.
What about contrast, color, bokeh?

Thanks for your input.

Jul 24, 2012 at 08:48 PM

brewercm
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p.1 #5 · Best standard zoom for D7000?

Not quite the same reach but the Tamron 28-75 2.8 is my main lens on my 7000 and splits duty with my 70-200vr on my 700. It's a very sharp lens, to the point I can't justify paying 4 times more for the Nikon 24-70.

Jul 25, 2012 at 02:06 AM

surf monkey
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p.1 #6 · Best standard zoom for D7000?

brewercm wrote:
Not quite the same reach but the Tamron 28-75 2.8 is my main lens on my 7000 and splits duty with my 70-200vr on my 700. It's a very sharp lens, to the point I can't justify paying 4 times more for the Nikon 24-70.

Thanks.
They're looking more at a standard zoom FL and the 42mm equivalent for the wide end of the Tamron isn't wide enough.
I did like my Tamron 28-75 on my FF cam when I had it. It's a great value and quite sharp, but I got tired of the slow AF speed and it hunted too much in low light.

Jul 25, 2012 at 02:21 AM

brewercm
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p.1 #7 · Best standard zoom for D7000?

if that's the case and you want the wider end i've heard nothing but good about the Tamron 17-50 but not the same for the VC version.

Jul 25, 2012 at 03:53 AM

surf monkey
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p.1 #8 · Best standard zoom for D7000?

Maybe a comparison between the Tamron 17-50 non-VC and Sigma 17-50 OS is in order.
I'll recommend they try those out first.

Jul 25, 2012 at 04:14 AM

Steven Park
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p.1 #9 · Best standard zoom for D7000?

I had both Nikon 16-85 & Tamron 17-50 non VC. Both are excellent lenses however I found tamron slightly better with constant aperture. I sold Nikon & kept Tamron. I used to have both Tamron 17-50 & 28-75 in Canon days also. Both were excellent also. I have not tried Sigma so I can't say much about it but I believe Tamron is hard to beat when you compare IQ and the cost.

Jul 27, 2012 at 06:15 AM

rangefindr
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p.1 #10 · Best standard zoom for D7000?

+1 for the Tamron 17-50 - it's my main go to lens on the D7000 and I've had almost no problems with it, just be careful shooting wide open on the wide end because of field curvature.

The Sigma is nice as well, but is a large premium over the Tamron - unless you really need the OS (only reason I can imagine is for video), I'd say stick with the Tamron, great deals can be found on B&S!

One more thing. Get the older screw drive Tamron if you can used, AF is much faster and much more accurate than the newer BIM model.

Jul 27, 2012 at 05:36 PM

Berschwinger
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p.1 #11 · Best standard zoom for D7000?

Honestly, if you're stopping down, I doubt you'd be able to tell a difference. I would suggest looking into something like a Tokina 12-24 or 11-16 to add to the kit rather than replacing the kit lens. If he wants more flexibility (ie larger aperture) with a standard zoom, I think the Tamron 17-50 is great.

Jul 27, 2012 at 05:40 PM

surf monkey
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p.1 #12 · Best standard zoom for D7000?

Berschwinger wrote:
Honestly, if you're stopping down, I doubt you'd be able to tell a difference. I would suggest looking into something like a Tokina 12-24 or 11-16 to add to the kit rather than replacing the kit lens. If he wants more flexibility (ie larger aperture) with a standard zoom, I think the Tamron 17-50 is great.

Thanks for the UWA suggestion. That might be a better way to go and continue to use the original 18-135.

Jul 27, 2012 at 05:58 PM

sjms
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p.1 #13 · Best standard zoom for D7000?

the best is always in the eye of the beholder. on my D7K i use the Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4 and i like it a lot.
http://www.pbase.com/crusader/image/143886285
10% crop of original image
http://www.pbase.com/crusader/image/143874938

Jul 27, 2012 at 11:26 PM

Two23
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p.1 #14 · Best standard zoom for D7000?

Berschwinger wrote:
Honestly, if you're stopping down, I doubt you'd be able to tell a difference. .

+1. Especially if you don't use a tripod. If you aren't unhappy with your current lens, you might also consider the convenience of 18-135mm compared to 18-50mm.

Kent in SD

Jul 28, 2012 at 12:04 AM

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