Oklahoma;
You have a great camera, and your 18-140 lens is a great "walk- around"lens! On a budget, the Nikon 70-300 F/4-5.6 VR may be probably your best choice, or, maybe the newer 55-300 mm lens. For soccer, which is mostly outside, they will do well. I use my 70-300 VR for Auto racing, Airshows, Soccer, Bathing Beauties, gymnastics and wildlife. Iirc, mine cost about $600 when I got it about 6 years ago.
I've never found this to be a problem, but my camera has, as does yours, has a DX format sensor, which is smaller than an FX (full-size, 35mm)sensor. There are lenses designed for the DX sensor, like the Nikon 55-300mm, which is about the same price as the 70-300 VR lens.
MY 70-300 VR and the mentioned 70-200 F/2.8 VR, as well as the newer 70-200 F/4 are all FX (Full size 35mm sensor) lenses.
The practical difference is that you should never use a DX lens on an FX sensor camera. The lens' coverage is not sufficient for the larger sensor. Kinda looks like you're taking pixes through a knothole!
OTOH, FX lenses work very well with DX sensor cameras! The coverage of the FX lenses is much wider than the smaller sensor can use, so the central portion of the projected image is used, which is the most corrected and sharpest area. An additional feature is that the "crop factor" of the DX sensor gives an apparent focal length of about +150%, meaning an equivalent focal length range of 105-450mm for a 70-300mm lens.
As you go up the spectrum, the cost and weight ~double...round figures, $600 for the "consumer" 70-300mm VR, ~$1200 for the lighter 70-200mm VR F/4, and $2300 for the 70-200 F2.8 VR, which is pure quality, built like a tank, and really heavy!
The non-VR 70-300 mm lens is said to be of lesser build quality and sharpness, but I can't speak to that.
Do not be afraid of consumer" lenses...some photographers and reviewers are snide about them, but they are not CHEAP! And they do stunning work!
VR is definitely a goodness! If your budget can't stand the cost of a new lens, KEHcamera.com often has excellent used lenses at lower prices.
I hope I haven't told you how to build the bicycle, when all you wanted to know was how to change a tire, but good luck in your search!
Last edited by 257Rob; 10/08/16.
