Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens

by Nikon

• 18-55mm lens with f3.5-5.6 maximum aperture for Nikon DSLR cameras
• Focal length equivalent to 27 to 82.5mm in 35mm photography
• Features a Silent Wave Motor and and Vibration Reduction (VR)
• 0.28 meter/0.9 foot closest focusing distance throughout the entire zoom range

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.1 x 2.9 x 2.9 inches ; 9.3 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000ZMCILW
• Item model number: 2176
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (125 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #50 in Camera & Photo > Lenses > Camera Lenses
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Nikon Total Digital SLR Imaging System includes world-renowned optical quality from Nikkor lenses. Ongoing research and development of Nikkor lenses allows Nikon to continuously provide Nikon digital SLR photographers with additional choices and even greater optical performance.

Nikon is pleased to add to the lineup the new AF-S DX-Nikkor 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR, a lens featuring a built-in Silent Wave Motor and Vibration Reduction (VR). The AF-S DX-Nikkor 18- 55mm f3.5-5.6G VR is an affordable, and compact, 3x zoom lens with amazing versatility. This new lens provides enhanced shooting flexibility as the latest addition to the Nikon DX-Nikkor lens lineup.

Feature and Performance Highlights

• 3x zoom lens covering the most frequently used focal range of 18 to 55mm (picture angle is equivalent to focal length from 27 to 82.5mm in Nikon FX or 35mm format)
• Vibration Reduction enables sharper pictures while shooting at shutter speeds up to three stops slower than would otherwise be possible (as determined by Nikon performance tests)
• Optical design, optimized for use with Nikon digital SLRs for superior performance
• Hybrid aspherical lens element minimizes various types of lens aberration
• High-performance Nikon Super Integrated Coating offers superior color reproduction while substantially reducing ghosting and flare
• Nikon's exclusive Silent Wave Motor ensures fast, quiet autofocus operation
• Rounded seven-blade diaphragm opening makes out-of-focus elements appear more natural
• 0.28 meter/0.9 foot closest focusing distance throughout the entire zoom range
• Accepts 52mm filter attachments
• Comfortable lens barrel features rugged construction; separate zoom and focusing rings provide the smooth operation preferred by professionals

What's in the box:
Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom lens, LC-52 front lens cap, rear lens protector

Product Description

Nikon 18-55MM F3.5-5.6G DX VR (2176)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

114 of 118 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent incremental improvement over an already-excellent lens February 26, 2008

By Scooter

I have the original 18-55mm AF-S DX which came with my D40 kit and love it - it weighs nothing, performs brilliantly, and focuses so close that I can use it as a macro if I want. I decided to get this since I do quite a bit of indoor photography without flash, and wanted some extra stability in low-light, longer-shutter speed situations from the Vibration Reduction which I have on my 18-200mm VR but don't use on my D40 (I use that on my D300, and it almost never comes off). It's performed brilliantly under such circumstances; I can get sharp shots at 1/20, 1/10 and even 1/8 if I'm really stable at the time of the shot - something I couldn't reliably get from the non-VR version. It also helps in the long end (55mm) in uneven light and other times when the VR becomes necessary. In terms of sharpness, light falloff, distortion, and all the other metrics, this lens is as good as, or slightly better, than the original non-VR version. It is also a bit heavier and seems a bit more solid in construction, with a tighter zoom ring and differently-sculpted manual focus ring (with more recessed plastic indentations compared with the original model). I think the addition of VR makes it the perfect lens for the D40, D40x or newly-introduced D60, since its performance is so much better in all metrics and tests (particularly distortion and sharpness) than some of its would-be step-up replacements (i.e. the 18-135, the 24-120, etc.)

If you generally do lots of flash or outdoor photography, and don't tend to experience slower shutter speeds due to lighting issues, or take most of your shots at the wider end of the scale (i.e. 18-25mm) this lens is probably an upgrade that you can either do with or without.... In the end the investment is quite small for those few times that VR might save the shot, so I would get one. Granted, VR at this level (i.e not 200 or 300mm) is less about hand shake in daylight, but more about low lighting conditions and longer shutter speeds. As for some reviewer's comments on the default lens speed, etc. - this is a $200 prosumer lens, not a $1,500 17-55mm pro wide-zoom with f/2.8 costing 8 times what this lens costs; for the money, you can't get anything better for a Nikon with this kind of performance.

Additional notes: There is some clunking sound from the VR occasionally when focusing, and there is no hood or lens pouch included, but that's less of an issue if, as most people do, you have a camera or lens bag, and as for the hood, I've never used one and never had a problem; if there's sunglare, I can cup my hand around the lens (since it's so light) and have no issues. I think some people use lens hoods to somehow show off that they're "photographers" or "hobbyist-pros" rather than for the reduction of flare and glare when outside in bright sunlight (sometimes direct, etc.) or under sharp lighting. Honestly, I've seen guys taking indoor shots of artwork exhibits under soft lighting with the hood on. Read more ›

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice little lens June 1, 2008

By Mark A. Manske

I own both the VR and non-VR versions of this lens and use them on a Nikon D40. I have found no issues or instances where the non-VR outperforms the VR. I get all the picture quality I expect and love to use this lens for outdoor landscape shots as well as indoor shots. I fully recommend this lens, and highly recommend purchasing a polarizing filter to use with it for outdoor shooting. The VR is very useful when shooting indoors as it allows me to take crisp, clear pictures down to 1/20 sec shutter speeds while shooting hand-held.

30 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Lens February 26, 2009

By Ali S.

This is a great lens, and a good upgrade over the older 18-55mm ii with NO VR. The image stabilization really helps you here, i used to get blurry pictures in the evenings and dark environments. This one solves those problems. There is one fundamental problem with this lens. It lacks ED and that means severe lens flare and ghosting. Only way to solve this is to avoid taking pics in the direction of the sun or bright lights. A lens hood may also help. However during night times you may not be able to do anything about street lights as you are probably taking a direct photo of them. For that The 55-200mm VR does have two sets of ED which dramatically reduces flare and ghosting making it probably the best telephoto lens for Nikon. Couple this with the 55-200mm VR and 90% of your photography needs are covered. If you really care about lens flare then you should probably stick with the NON-VR 18-55mm as it is a better lens during day time with ED. Stock NON-VR 18-55mm is proven to be also sharper. Your choice but overall its a fantastic lens. I have this with the 55-200mm VR and i probably wont ever need another lens.

66 of 81 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Upgrade over the kit lens except for one important thing... March 12, 2008

By atomic240

I agree with other posters that this lens is an upgrade over the non-VR version. It is quite sharp, and the VR is effective, especially at the longer focal lengths. However, I tend to take pictures in very demanding eenvironments with low light and very high contrast, for example, night scenes with street lights as this is one of my typical shooting environments. I noticed something in the shots made with this lens that I never noticed in the kit lens. Ghosting and flare. If it is present in the non-VR version, it is not present in an objectionable amount. People may argue that I expect too much from such a low budget lens, but the non-VR lens doesn't exhibit this. I noticed in the product description that there are no ED elements in this lens compared to the non-VR version. This may partially explain this. I returned the lens and now await the new 16-85mm VRII lens that was just announced as I see the value of VR in this range for the type of shooting that I do. However, if you don't shoot in the above mentioned environment, you will have no issues with this lens and will do fine with it as it is priced quite well. For me, the ghosting and flare was a deal breaker and I don't feel like spending time in Photoshop to fix it.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic value with compromise January 1, 2011

By Nathaniel Reynolds

Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm not going to bash this lens simply because of its construction materials or cheap feel. Before I purchased the lens I knew that the majority of the metal in the construction are the screws holding it together but none-the-less I couldn't pass on the value. I purchased a Nikon refurbished copy of this lens primarily for the warranty and I have not had to call it in yet.

This lens is a diamond in the rough because of its relatively superb optical quality in addition to VR. No other Nikon lens has the value of this lens since it can be had used for just over $100 and that is a steal.

Why it doesn't cost more, the cons:
1) Construction materials are plastic
2) Blatant distortion at 18mm and 55mm wide open
3) Slower f-stops (F3.5 @ 18mm and F5.6 @ 55mm)
4) DX design means not fully compatible with Full Frame (D)SLRs

Why is this such lens such a value, the pros:
1) VR ... VR ... VR
2) Super lightweight and when paired with a plastic bodied Nikon is a superb travel companion
3) 11 elements in 8 groups, including one hybrid aspherical element.
4) Produced as kit lens, means used market has saturated

My pros list is short but to expand on the hybrid aspherical element as to what it does it substantially compensates for distortion aberrations at wide angles and effectively eliminates comatic flare.

Its a challenge to compare the Nikon 17-55mm to the 18-55vr since they are built for two different reasons but at a technical level they share a common (albeit different) special lens element technology. The 17-55 utilizes ground aspherical lenses and the 18-55vr utilizes a single hybrid aspherical lens.... The result is that the 18-55vr optical quality (albeit on paper) has comparable optical quality to the 17-55 at a FRACTION of the cost.

I agree my review has continued too long but perhaps I'm passionate about this lens because people complain about the plasticity of it. Read up on the lens because every single person who reviews it mentions that its plastic. There are CONS to an all plastic construction ... duh. Anyway, rants aside, this lens is the best Nikon lens value you can find because of its price and optical quality. I believe the second best is the Nikon DX 35mm F1.8 prime. If you are a shooter that likes to kneel and be close to the subject there is no better optics/price value Nikon lens that is comparable.

Lastly, buy a good multi-coated filter for this lens and you will have a protected low-light solution that costs less than $150. I recommended the HOYA HMC UV(0)/UV(C) and can be had used for around $15 on amazon.com. The Tiffen is tempting because of the price, hey I bought one, but you will be as disappointed as I was in the quality of your low-light photography. Read more ›