Lens Dilema

Tractor Boy

Tractor Boy

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Nick
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Hello wise people,

I was just wondering what peoples opinions on the Nikon 18-70 AF-S and the 18-105 AF-S VR were. At the moment they would be used on the D40 but I would like to upgrade in the next year or so to either a D90 or D300/s.

I regularly see people waxing lyrical about the sharpness of the 18-70 but have not heard too much about the 18-105 so if anyone has used both and could enlighten me I would be very grateful.

The VR on the 18-105, I know from the 70-300, is great for adding a bit more useability in lower light/ longer exposure but is the lens image wise as good as the 18-70 is reckoned to be :shrug:

The lens would be used mainly as a general lens kinda replacing the kit and bridging the gap between the kit and the 70-300.

Many thanks in advance :thumbs:

Nick
 
Had the 18-105 with my D90, and now have the 18-70. Both are good lenses although I feel the 18-70 is slightly sharper and it is f3.5-4.5 opposed to f4-5.6 i think. Dont think there is loads in it, but my pics with the 18-70 are generally a bit better.

Dont miss the VR at all although dont do much really low light stuff. I do sometimes miss the extra reach but that is lazyness in my part!

If I was to have your choice, I would probably go for the 18-70.
 
cambsno said:
Had the 18-105 with my D90, and now have the 18-70. Both are good lenses although I feel the 18-70 is slightly sharper and it is f3.5-4.5 opposed to f4-5.6 i think. Dont think there is loads in it, but my pics with the 18-70 are generally a bit better.

Dont miss the VR at all although dont do much really low light stuff. I do sometimes miss the extra reach but that is lazyness in my part!

If I was to have your choice, I would probably go for the 18-70.
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Thanks for that - good to get the opinion of someone who has used both. I think the 18-70 will be the choice as it fits nicely with the 70-300 but not sure if the overlap that the 18-105 gives may be a bit more flexible - decisions decisions decisions :bang::bang::bang:
 
I brought the 18-105 for the overlap, as like you ive got the 70-300 aswel

I think the 18-105 is a good lens. Its just like the 18-55 but zooms more.

The 18-70 would produce better photos but might lose its sharpness at 70 if it was low light like you say.

I havnt been taking photos for very long but im impressed with the 18-105.
 
I have just had the chance to see results from a dear persons' 18-105VR and then got to play with it; frankly I don't like it at all. It isn't particularly sharp.

As for the 18-70 AF-S; had a copy of that, sold it, then went back and bought the exact one I sold .. it's a fantastic bit of glass. I think the only DX glass, within its' price range, that compares would be the 16-85VR.
 
Wail said:
I have just had the chance to see results from a dear persons' 18-105VR and then got to play with it; frankly I don't like it at all. It isn't particularly sharp.

As for the 18-70 AF-S; had a copy of that, sold it, then went back and bought the exact one I sold .. it's a fantastic bit of glass. I think the only DX glass, within its' price range, that compares would be the 16-85VR.
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Thanks for that Wail. Do you think it was just the copy of the 18-105 that you tried that was not sharp or do you think it is indicative of the model :shrug:.
 
mark.abersoch said:
I brought the 18-105 for the overlap, as like you ive got the 70-300 aswel

I think the 18-105 is a good lens. Its just like the 18-55 but zooms more.

The 18-70 would produce better photos but might lose its sharpness at 70 if it was low light like you say.

I havnt been taking photos for very long but im impressed with the 18-105.
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Thanks for that Mark. I get the feeling that the 18-70 is held with very high regard and is sharp throughout the range. I don't need really low light stuff but do take pictures of the kids indoors etc so it shouldn't bee too much of an issue. Eventually when the lottery win comes in I will upgrade to fast glass :thinking:
 
I hope it was just her copy that wasn't sharp. I am going to try another one early next week to see if hers should be replaced. She just bought her D90 with this kit lens a couple of weeks ago; if it does turn-out to be a soft copy then the store will replace it for her.

Still, I am a big fan of the 18-70 AF-S; and am inclined to think the 16-85VR (given its' price, too) to be a much better lens.
 
Wail said:
I hope it was just her copy that wasn't sharp. I am going to try another one early next week to see if hers should be replaced. She just bought her D90 with this kit lens a couple of weeks ago; if it does turn-out to be a soft copy then the store will replace it for her.

Still, I am a big fan of the 18-70 AF-S; and am inclined to think the 16-85VR (given its' price, too) to be a much better lens.
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Unfortunatley the 16-85 is out of my price range :bang: but I think that I will be heading for a used 18-70. I would be interested though to hear your thoughts on the other 18-105 you are trying next week.

Thanks

Nick
 
By all means, I will be testing it Monday; I will post here how I find the other copy.
 
Having looked through my recent pics one more time there is a difference in quiality from when i got the 18-70, i hadnt realised how much better the pics looked than the old lens, although I do not think the 105 was that bad. The only reason I am planning to sell mine is due to lusting after a 17-55 2.8 !!! Still, its cheaper than my other lust of a D700!
 
For the money, the 18-70 DX is really hard to beat - the only DX lens I've kept since going full frame. Excellent lens that always surprises me with how good it is.
 
puddleduck said:
For the money, the 18-70 DX is really hard to beat - the only DX lens I've kept since going full frame. Excellent lens that always surprises me with how good it is.
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Thanks for that, I think it is what I will go for - now to prise the chains of the bank account:bat:
 
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