Used Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Lens for Digital SLR Cameras

2017-04-20T12:14:21

The most used lens in my pack....... Considering the cost of this lens, you would expect only fair results - but you get excellent quality results consistently. Resent photos taken with this lens while on a western vacation blown up to 20x30 show remarkable detail and clarity.

KENTON H.

2013-08-20T21:00:00

It's obvious reading some of these reviews that a lot of you aren't experienced or semi-pro photographers. This lens is an "everyday shooter," meaning I wouldn't use this lens to shoot a wedding. Then I read the one review where the person was complaining because he couldn't zoom in on a bush from a riverboat - well, duh, it's a 55mm lens. If you wanted to focus in on a bush, you should've had a 200, 300 or 400mm lens!!! In short, this is a great, out-of-box, turnkey everyday shooting lens.

NJSteve

2013-04-08T21:00:00

I replaced the lens I broke.

Shawn m.

2013-03-18T21:00:00

I got this lens kitted with my first digital Nikon (the D5100). The optics are actually quite good, but beware of wild distortion at the wide end (the in-camera auto distortion control seems to correct it). My main complaint is that manual focus is a joke; after moving the switch to M, you need to rotate the inner barrel while trying not to fingerprint the front element. Furthermore, the "focus ring" only seems to rotate about 60 degrees to bring you from infinity to 10 inches, making precise manual focus difficult. That being said, for a casual photographer this lens would probably be just fine. It's not that there's much wrong with it, but there's a lot more that could be right.

PhotoPeter

2012-12-23T19:00:00

This is a Christmas gift and the box was dented. After Christmas, I well let's you know if the lens is ok.

Jerry

2012-06-03T21:00:00

While I've got jazzy micro, telephoto and wide angle lenses, this is the one that's always ready to go in my bag.

Photoart D.

2012-04-02T21:00:00

Very nice lens for its low price, excellent for amateur photography.

Berny

2012-03-13T21:00:00

A light basic, but well performing lens. The plastic is cheap feeling but performs surprisingly well.

ALEX Z.

2011-12-18T19:00:00

wide range (also good for macro)

Aleshha

2011-10-30T21:00:00

This lens came with my D5100 kit, and as expect (as I've been told by multiple people, including the sales person) the kit lenses do not perform that great. When in wide angle/zoomed out, the pictures are fantastic, but when using anything between 35mm-55mm, be cautious! Poor focus and poor metering. The images are dull, blown out, and no where near as crisp as you'd expect from an DSLR! I tried the different types of metering as well, but no luck. I recently went on vacation and kept it on automatic (no time to adjust when on the go in all different lighting situations) the differences in my shots were incredible. When I had time I would adjust, but when I didn't I had to put my trust into Auto Mode. When I made this purchase, I knew I also wanted a 50mm f/1.8 prime lens as I was already able to tell this lens had its problems from day One. Unfortunately, I did not have the funds to purchase one before my trip. I regret it now! When I get my hands on one, I will probably still use this one for the wide angle. The images below are unedited, taken from a boat cruise. The red arrow is pointing to the same bush, at slightly different angles, but from the same distance.

Anemone

2011-03-05T19:00:00

Got this lens on a recommendation and it has lived up to all my expectations.

Scuba_Steve74

2010-04-02T21:00:00

I purchased this lens thinking it was the lens I would use 90% of the time, I was wrong. Here is a breakdown of the lenses I own with usage: 55-200mm VR (use 90% of time) 35mm f/1.8 (use 9% of time) 18-55mm VR (rarely use) Here's what I should have purchased: 18-200mm VR 70-300mm VR Zoom is important. The best shots for portraits are past 100mm in focal range.

kaloke19

2010-02-13T19:00:00

Sharp, clear pictures. Easy to use. Good price [...] from Adorama.

FRED C.

2010-01-10T19:00:00

I use this lens on a D90 and am very happy with it. It is currently my only lens and I don't run into many situations where I wish I had an additional lens. This one can do just about anything you need it to do.

BGerdin

2009-01-27T19:00:00

Got this as the kit lens with a D60. I also use a 50mm/1.8 but the 18-55 is my choice for most situations, or when I only want to carry one lens. It's sharp, does not cause noticeable chromatic aberration, does not distort more than any other zoom, does not cause AF errors and works correctly with metering, AF and manual range meter. Going to manual requires flipping the switch (unlike some other AF-S type lenses that allow you to grab the focus ring while in AF mode). AF-S works on all current Nikon models. I've used it on a Nikon film camera (corners are missed at wide zooms because it's a DX lens). It's not a fast lens but VR does work. Without VR I can shoot handheld very reliably at 1/60 and usually get good results at 1/30, and sometimes at 1/15. With VR I get very reliable results at 1/15, so unless the subject is fast moving or I want low depth of field this lens is functionally the same as one that's two stops faster (roughly 1.4-2.8). Getting those results in this price range makes this lens a really excellent value. I'd recommend it very strongly to any beginner who does not need specialty lenses or for general use by anybody not shooting sports or working in very low light.

ANDREW L.

2008-12-22T19:00:00

Should be the first lens you own. The 50mm 1.8 is another great choice (with higher image quality at a slightly lower price), but not so useful for shots requiring a wider angle. As far as I know, the optics are the same as the non-VR kit lens, so may not want to print photos with this lens too big. I use this lens for landscape mostly, around the 18-20mm focal range. Most tout VR for hand-held purposes, and while it is great for that (I can shoot at 1/8 sec with this lens handheld), it has another role I've discovered. On a tripod, with long exposure, VR will pretty much cancel out any vibrations from wind or waves hitting the tripod feet. Again, if you're looking to sell large prints, this isn't the lens for you. But you already know that.

Justin S.

2008-07-25T21:00:00

(Incorrectly & originally under Grey Market Lense) Read the professional reviews on all the D40 lenses available as kits to the D40. Liked this one the best. Not in Nikon USA kit though so I had to buy separately. So far very happy and satisfied, then again I don't know what I don't know so I might be missing a lot. Right now though I'm just a student of light, color and motion and wanted the most forgiving and least expensive Nikon outfit I could buy. I shopped and shopped and waited and bought. Glad I went this way. I'm already selling a few photos (CS2 didn't hurt either) and getting ready to move up to a more expensive, versatile and VR (I never leave home without it) Nikon lense. Thanks, Nikon, for making the beginning so simple

Murkatheling