Which lens kit is better for a Nikon D5600: 18-140mm, or 18-55mm plus 70-300mm?
Asked 10/13/2020
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I'm buying my first camera, a Nikon D5600, and I can get either:
- AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
or
- AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
- AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR
for about the same price. I know the D5600 doesn't have a built-in focus motor, so I want to be sure these lenses will autofocus properly. I'm new to photography and don't yet know what genre I want to focus on, so I'd like something versatile for learning and trying different subjects. Which option makes more sense?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
5y ago
2 Answers
2
The camera you're considering has an APS-C sensor. The "normal" focal length for APS-C is about 28-40mm. As long as the lens you start with includes something in this range, it doesn't really matter which one you get. Most people will purchase different equipment as they learn more.
Some recommendations:
- Start with a normal prime. (35mm for APS-C.)
- Consider picking up a 50mm or 60mm macro next.
- If you want a zoom, get a 24-70/2.8, if it's within your budget.
- Fill out wide angle and telephoto later. Consider 70-200/2.8.
- Consider a mirrorless camera instead of DSLR.
Zooms vs Primes:
- Primes seem to help some people improve composition.
- Zooms are more convenient.
- Zooms tend to have slower apertures. This results in reduced low-light performance and increased depth of field.
- Zooms tend to be larger and heavier.
- Zooms tend to have reduced image quality when compared with primes in the same price range.
- The greater the zoom range, the worse image quality tends to be.
- Constant aperture zooms tend to have better image quality than variable aperture zooms.
- The "best" zooms tend to be 24-70/2.8 and 70-200/2.8.
- There's a 24-120/4 that's intended as a walkabout/travel lens.
- You can compare image samples at The Digital Picture.
For the camera, is there a reason you've decided to go for a Nikon DSLR? Have you considered mirrorless cameras? Some advantages of mirrorless cameras:
- Potentially smaller and lighter camera bodies.
- Short flange focal distance allows lenses from other systems to be adapted.
- No need for microfocus adjustment because the same sensor is used for both focusing and imaging.
- Image settings can be previewed directly in the viewfinder.
- Many have In-Body Image Stabilization.
Originally by user75526. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75526
5y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—these lenses are compatible with the Nikon D5600 and will autofocus on that camera.
For a first camera, the 18-55mm + 70-300mm pair is the better choice if both options cost about the same. The main reason is flexibility: together they cover a much wider focal-length range, from general everyday shooting to strong telephoto reach. One answer also notes the 18-55mm is sharp and lightweight, and that the 70-300mm is a good telephoto option when you need extra reach.
The 18-140mm is more convenient because it avoids lens changes, but the community answer suggests it may be slightly weaker optically than the two-lens combination.
So if you want to explore different types of photography and don’t mind swapping lenses, go with the 18-55mm and 70-300mm. If convenience matters more than maximum range, the 18-140mm is still a reasonable all-in-one choice.
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AI5y ago
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