Brand:
Nikon 24-120mm f/4G
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Announced in 2013, the Nikon D7100 dropped with new advancements like omitting the optical low-pass filter (OLPF) to help better the resolution. To incorporate its benefits, such as what the OLPF absence offers, you need impressive optics and optimal aperture size. Getting the best lens for D7100 is therefore essential to get the results you want.
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Most photographers consider wide-angle lenses as the sweet spot for real estate
Dive in to see how your D7100 is going to benefit by including one of these top lenses.
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Brand:
Nikon 24-120mm f/4G
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Brand:
Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8
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Brand:
Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8
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Compatible Mountings:
Nikon F (FX)
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Compatible Mountings:
Nikon F (DX)
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Compatible Mountings:
Nikon F (DX)
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Lens Type:
Standard
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Lens Type:
Wide Angle
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Lens Type:
Standard
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4.4
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4.7
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4.6
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Thanks to its vibration reduction (VR) feature, the Nikon 24-120mm f/4G ensures you have image stability allowing you to focus your camera with ease. I don’t need to tell you how much image steadiness is important while when shooting house tours or similar videos.
The 24 to 120mm focal length range makes it one of the top options if you are looking for the best overall lens for D7100. Whether you want to use it for exterior or interior real estate photos, or if you even want to venture into other types of
While the maximum aperture of the Nikon 24-120mm is not as impressive as the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8, having an f/4 aperture limits the moving parts inside the lens to ensure longevity. Minimum aperture settings at f/22 make it superb in capturing background details. This unit has the lowest minimum aperture setting on my list and might be best for depth definition.
Like many Nikon lenses, the Nikon 24-120mm f/4G comes with a fantastic build quality. While equipped with VR capabilities, it still maintains a compact size, though the same is not the case for the weight. Even though it's not quite as heavy as the Sigma 18-35mm, at about 1.57 pounds, it's a bit heavy and may not be so kind to your wrists and arms during lengthy shoots.
One of the notable distinguishing features between the Sigma 18-35mm and the Nikon 24-120mm f/4G is the level of affordability. While still on the more expensive side, the Sigma 18-35mm has many excellent specifications to justify its price.
Sure, it may not offer you as much of a focal range that you get with my best lens for the D7100. However, the 18-35mm gives you a broader range within the wide angle spectrum, allowing you to shoot as wide as 18mm. If you're shooting tight spaces, this wide angle lens is ideal.
Unlike the Nikon 24-120mm f/4G which has an extendable barrel, the Sigma 18-35mm only relies on internal zooming capabilities. The unchanging length allows it to maintain a minimalistic design even as you tune it to suit your focus requirements.
With its bright f/1.8 maximum aperture, the unit delivers sharp contrast. This feature also makes it easier to get excellent-looking photos in low-light conditions. Overall, this lens has the best maximum aperture compared to the other zoom lenses I reviewed.
A notable inclusion is the USB port that enables you to enhance your focus or update its firmware manually. However; the thought of tweaking your lens, attaching it to your D7100, and detaching to adjust settings further seems tedious.
One of the main downfalls of this lens is how heavy it is. It weighs 1.79 pounds, making it 0.22 pounds heavier than the Nikon 24-120mm. The Sigma 18-35mm lens is even heavier than the D7100 camera body, which weighs 1.69 pounds.
Although the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8’s barrel extends just like the former Sigma lens, it is considerably lighter than both it and the Nikon 24-120mm f/4G.
Unlike some zoom cameras whose aperture gets affected by what focal range you are using, this unit stays constant similar to the Sigma 18-35mm.
While its maximum aperture may not open up as much as the Sigma 18-35mm, it ties with the Nikon 24-120mm f/4G for the smallest aperture on my list at f/22. Given this, it is one of the best for real estate and landscape
Affordable yet with admirable build quality, the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 is something you’ll use on your D7100 for ages. The lens, however, produces a wiggly sound that you may not like. While clicking into position, its hood tends to fall off with a subtle touch and may come off in your bag.
Another Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 drawback is the mildly noisy motor during autofocusing. For real estate videography, you may need to swap out some sections of your audio. Still, if you want to get amazing real estate footage while still keeping your budget to a minimum, Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 fits the bill.
The Nikon 18-135mm is one of the best telephoto zoom lenses for the D7100 and has the greatest focal range on my list. Taking the second spot among the most affordable lenses, right behind the Sigma 17-50mm, the Nikon 18-135mm is another superb choice.
Another advantage it holds over the other lenses is its minimalistic design. Being the lightest lens for D7100 on my review, this 0.85 pound lens is a suitable option for lots of traveling and extended shooting sessions.
Soundwise, the Nikon 18-135mm operates silently and won’t interfere if you're taking videos for real estate. Its speed is pretty good, and while not the fastest, it is a real highlight at this price point. Accuracy is similarly quite good, although the focusing is not as good compared to a lens like the Sigma 18-35mm.
With full-time manual focus, getting the amount of precision you need in your images is fast. Even with autofocus on, you can quickly turn on manual focus if the situation demands. The manual focusing itself is not as good as pricier options on my list, though acceptable given its cost.
Although the image quality is not at par with my higher-end recommendations, it offers an affordable solution if you want the flexibility of a superzoom lens.
If you seek an excellent wide-angle lens to pair with your D7100, the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 is one of the top options. It has a constant focal length of 35mm suitable for you if you need a prime lens for D7100.
Its maximum aperture at f/1.4 also sets it apart from my other top picks. Given this aperture specification, the lens allows you to open it up wide, allowing an adequate amount of light to flow to your sensor. Ample lighting makes this a great companion if you are planning to shoot scenes in the dark.
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 has excellent construction, with the manual focus ring being pleasant and easy to use. The body is rugged and durable, with the numbers being effortlessly legible after quite some use.
It has a silently operating motor, convenient for filming without background noise. With its ability to focus pretty quickly, handling is a walk in the park, and its output being sharp and accurate.
my main concerns lie with the absence of a weather gasket. This way, there is nothing to prevent moisture from entering between your lens and the body of your D7100. It is slightly heavy at 665g, so it may not be as great an option as the Nikon 18-135mm for lengthy
The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 is a suitable choice if you are looking for an affordable prime lens for D7100. The f/1.4 aperture at this focal length ensures it is exemplary in low light conditions.
One of Sigma 30mm f/1.4’s biggest highlights is the sharpness it offers. Even with your aperture at f/1.4, the sharpness is still incredible from corner to corner.
In most cases, you may not need the impressive bokeh qualities given you want sharp focus in the background. With its minimum aperture settings at f/16, it ensures you got this sorted.
The autofocusing is reliable and steady, and while it may miss this in very low light, this tends to happen with almost all lenses.
This lens has the tiniest size among my favorite options. It is a convenient choice during your busiest days, given it is also the second lightest lens on the list. At 435g, it won’t add much impact to the overall weight of your D7100.
Its lack of optical stability is one of my biggest dislikes with the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. With this in mind, you may want to be more cautious, especially when shooting video.
Capturing all the crucial details in your real estate images or videos needs a keener analysis of your lenses. As you decide on a lens for D7100, here are factors to consider to be able to shoot massive scenes while maintaining a realistic perspective.
| Lenses | Weight (Pounds) | Aperture | Diaphragm Blades |
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| Nikon 24-120mm f/4G | 1.57 | f/4 | 9 |
| Sigma 18-35mm | 1.79 | f/1.8 | 9 |
| Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 | 1.25 | f/2.8 | 7 |
| Nikon 18-135mm | 0.85 | f/3.5 - 5.6 | 7 |
| Sigma 35mm f/1.4 | 1.47 | f/1.4 | 9 |
| Sigma 30mm f/1.4 | 0.956 | f/1.4 | 9 |
One of Nikon D7100’s most remarkable things is the inclusion of the Auto ISO Program. While this is popular now, it was only in a select few during its release. The Auto ISO program automatically sets the minimum shutter speed, depending on the focal length in use.
Given its Auto ISO support, the lens is suitable for use, whether with prime or zoom lenses. The ability to get appropriate shutter speed settings automatically is convenient in real estate videography and other filming ventures.
With a zoom lens on your D7100, you can have more details of the middle ground when standing in a confined position. A zoom lens offers you versatility, and you can use it for real estate
A zoom less may also mean that you can carry less gear. With a wide-angle zoom lens, you might be able to enjoy the performance of several wide-angle prime lenses with different focal lengths. The zoom lenses I recommend for the D7100 are the Nikon 24-120mm f/4G, Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6, Sigma 18-35mm f/4, and, Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8
Prime lenses tend to be faster than zoom lenses and generally have larger maximum apertures. The images from prime lenses typically seem sharper than those from zoom lenses as well.
When it comes to sharpness, an affordable prime lens is likely to perform better than a similarly priced zoom lens because of internal stationery components. This way, they are less prone to deviating from manufacturer stipulations and may offer better positioning.
Zoom lenses tend to make you lazy as to what angle you can capture subjects. A prime lens forces you to move about, which may offer you a better location to take your shot. The prime lenses I recommend with the Nikon D7100 are the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 and Sigma 30mm f/1.4.
Deciding between a zoom or prime for your Nikon D7100 is preferential. Landing on your perfect lens may further boil down to features like:
Wide-angle lenses (14 to 35mm) are the most popular amongst real estate and landscape photographers, and why all my best lenses for D7100 support wide angle operation. If you want a lens that primarily focuses on wide angle photos, the Sigma 18-35mm will be your best option for the Nikon D7100.
These lenses provide a good depth of field and a wide field of view. Both of these attributes are convenient during the shooting of expansive areas. If you want to capture the neighborhood while still having your subject in the foreground, these lenses allow you to squeeze in the numerous details.
Their depth of field also ensures you get a sharp focus from your foreground through to your background.
Detailed backgrounds are vital in listing photos to bring out what clients should expect of their potential new neighborhood. Some detail might be the selling point a particular listing needs to close a deal.
Longer focal lengths are perfect if you are a versatile photographer. Ranges between 35 to 135mm are excellent for street
While many lenses are famous for the level of brightness at maximum aperture, this may not be much of a deal for most real estate photographers.
The aim is to capture more depth of field with your D7100 than restricting focus to a particular subject. You may therefore consider picking a lens for your D7100 with excellent sharpness across various f stops. Of course, this does not discredit the beauty of night shoots with low depth of field.
Many real estate photographers tend to rely on the middle range in aperture settings at f/5.6 to f/16. The necessity of an aperture at f/1.4 may not be as much though it offers you the versatility to play with an effect like bokeh.
Unique compatibility requirements for the D7100 also lie with the aperture settings. At f/5.6 or faster, you can enjoy rangefinder advantages to measure your image distance and capture images with sharpness.
The Nikon D7100 also offers the center focus point feature for lenses f/8 or quicker. You may want to grab a lens that supports this level to enjoy such benefits.
How do my best lenses for D7100 compare in terms of minimum f/number:
However, lenses with variable aperture settings tend to get dirty quickly and may be more prone to breaking.
Sometimes you may need to take photos of poorly lit areas without your tripod. Image stabilization is crucial in ensuring you preserve your image quality.
With exterior day settings and properly lit interior, and full use of lighting, the effect of image stabilization is not as conspicuous.
While image stabilizers may not be of prime importance to most real estate photographers, you may need them in your niche. Some of my best lenses for Nikon D7100 lack image stabilization, so take note if this is essential for you.
Yes, a Nikon D7100 comes with built-in WiFi, which you can wirelessly connect to your smartphone through the Nikon app, allowing you to control it remotely. However, the feature is effective when you attach the optional WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter to the camera.
A lens with a 50mm focal length is best for macro photography. Generally, the 50mm lens gives a natural field of view like that of a human eye. However, the size depends on the distance you are taking the macro photos.
Yes, the Nikon D7100 is capable of shooting Full HD videos at 24, 25, or 30 frames per second and 24Mbps bitrates.
It is clear that picking a lens for your Nikon D7100 requires a deeper look into these details to make the most of what your camera provides.
After giving you all the secrets enabling you to grab excellent chances with your D7100, I believe your preferred selection amongst my best lenses for D7100 paired with the best flashes should enhance your game.
