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This 5.8x zoom, designed exclusively for use with Nikon's DX-format, features Nikon's VR image stabilization and is perfect for portraits and action. The wide-ratio 5.8x zoom
Compact, versatile and ideal for a broad range of shooting situations, ranging from interiors and landscapes to beautiful portraits--a perfect everyday zoom. Vibration Reduction is engineered specifically for each VR NIKKOR lens and enables handheld shooting at up to 3 shutter speeds slower than would otherwise be possible, assuring dramatically sharper images.
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Technical Details
- Includes - LC-67 67mm snap-on front lens cap; LF-1 rear lens cap; HB-32 Bayonet lens hood, CL-1018 Flexible lens pouch- Vibration Reduction is engineered specifically for each VR NIKKOR lens and enables handheld shooting at up to 3 shutter speeds slower than normal.
- Aspherical lens element virtually eliminates coma and other types of lens aberration, further improving image integrity.
- Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) enhances light transmission and offers superior color consistency and reduced flare.
- Close focusing to 1.48 feet - Creative close-up photography is possible throughout the entire zoom range.
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By Mark Alsip (Kentucky, USA)
Of the dozen or so Nikon lenses I've owned, this is the first I've been unhappy with. Features vs. price isn't a problem, but quality of materials has turned out to be a huge issue. To save money or weight (or both) Nikon has used thin, cheap plastic instead of metal for the bayonet mount. I didn't notice just how thin and fragile this plastic was until shooting in 28 degree weather last month, when the lens literally fell off the camera body as I was zoomed in on a subject.
Inside the body I found a tiny shard of black plastic that turned out to be all that ever held the lens on the body. Comparing the shard to the remainder that had NOT broken off the lens, I was shocked to see just how thin this very important of plastic had been on the day the lens left the factory -- what I mean is, I wasn't looking at a mount worn thin by repeated use: this was original material and workmanship with no signs of abuse or wear in the 10 months since I'd purchased it new.
The lens is on its way to Nikon repair now but the only thing I fear more than them NOT fixing it for free is that they'll replace it with another poorly-made lens that's going to fall apart on me in the middle of an important shoot. I don't "baby" my equipment but I do take care of it and I expect it to last for years as a result. This used to be what Nikon stood for and I'm still using Nikon lenses purchased over 20 year ago. Corners were obviously cut to produce this lens cheaply and in looking at how it's made, I'm not surprised it fell off the camera body and into a snow bank during normal use. This lens does NOT represent a commitment to quality. Unless you plan on never removing it from the camera body, I would look elsewhere...
By Jeffrey I. Turkel (North Pole, Alaska, USA)
I got this as the kit lens when I purchased my Nikon D90. It's a good all around lens with very convenient focal range. Fast focusing with the D90 and the vibration reduction works as advertised. Ocassional the photos are a little soft, but easily fixed with software. Doubt I'd pay the full price for this as an "additional" lens but perfect as a kit lens. As far as the plastic lens mount, just be careful.
By Cheap-n-Easy (Triad, NC)
I got this lens with my D90 kit. I am also a fan of Ken Rockwell, his reviews and deep expert knowledge about cameras, film and digital. Especially his expertise with Nikon over the past 30 or so years helped me a lot to be smarter about equipment and take better pictures. Ken is not the biggest fan of this AF-S 18-105 VR lens and that would naturally lead many people to caution. I have done my own comparison and truly believe he is too negative about this lens.
What I have:
Nikon D90 (SOLD - great cam but I am eventually getting the D300s - Need a better/faster autofocus system to capture fast moving kids)
Nikon D40 (My all around favorite - For everyday "grab-it-and-go" use as well fast flash photography)
AF-S 35mm f/1.8 prime (you MUST get this one)
AF-S 18-105 VR (This review - I actually kept this lens when I sold the D90 body because I like it so much)
AF-S 18-55 VR D40 kit lens
AF-S 55-200 VR (My travel zoom)
AF-S 70-300 VR (Tripod wildlife shots and similar)
What is good about the AF-S 18-105 VR:
- Very versatile! Great zoom range for most of your photography needs.
- Better AF "hit rate" than the AF-S 18-200 VR
- Sharp, well exposed pictures with really great colors all the time.
- Still "relatively" portable for the zoom range it provides.
- Probably the best bang for the buck AF-S DX VR lens!
What could be better:
- The plastic lens mount is my biggest complaint and the only reason I gave it 4 stars. Nikon has to cut somewhere, I get that ... but the lens mount? C'mon ... this is a real goof by Nikon and in my book inexcusable.
- The lens has a good bit of barrel distortion at 18mm, but then again all super zooms have this issue. Correct in Photoshop is easy if you must. Pincushion distortion is there but much less noticeable.
- No distance range scale/window on lens. Not a must but would really be nice.
- For my liking this lens already on the heavy side of the range, while probably still considered "light" for these now so popular "all around" wide range zooms. Weight is the enemy when it comes to photography. It really changes the dynamics of handling the camera and your entire photography when you have one of these fat primadonnas mounted (they actually handle better on heavy bodies like the D300s than lighter bodies like the D40 since the lighter cams get very "front heavy"). I can only imagine how it might affect your photography when you put the even much heavier AF-s 18-200 VR on you D body. This is also a reason I prefer the D90 over the D300s. I however will need the D300s for its better autofocus capabilities since I you shoot fast moving objects (= kids!). Now if you don't shoot fast moving objects ... by all means get the D90! It does really everything the D300s does IF speed (AF and FPS) is not the issue. So as you can see that personally I am not a big fan of heavy super zooms and, when needing a zoom, prefer to shoot as much as I can with the super light AF-S 18-55 VR which has also a better optical and image quality than both the AF-s 18-200 VR and this AF-s 18-105 VR. If more zoom is needed I take out the AF-s 55-200 VR which is an excellent lens while still very light. When travelling I take my D40 body (super light!) with the AF-s 18-55 VR and the AF-s 55-200 VR most of the time (these two lenses together weigh less or no more than a single AF-s 18-200 VR!). When indoors I try to use the 35mm prime because it is much, much faster than the zooms and has excellent image quality.
- Front lens cap is a bit fiddly to put on as others have noted here, but that's not a biggie.
Bottom line: For those of you thinking about dropping three times as much or more on the (in my opinion) overhyped and very heavy AF-S 18-200 VR ... THINK HARD ABOUT IT and try the AF-s 18-105 out first if you need a super zoom.
I would not pay the huge premium for the AF-S 18-200 VR for several reasons:
- When I compared, and contrary to Ken Rockwell's comments, I find the image quality with the AF-s 18-200 VR poorer than the AF-s 18-105 VR and all other lenses I have (above). Other technical online reviews such as dpreview also support this observation. The AF-s 18-200 has a fuzzier image and more distortion which (contrary to the AF-s 18-105 VR) is also present across a wider zoom range.
- In addition ... think of it this way: With a little shopping you can get the AF-S 18-105 VR, the AF-S 70-300 VR and the must-have AF-s 35mm f/1.8 for the same or just a little more money than a single AF-S 18-200 VR lens. Even better! If you substitute the excellent but a bit pricey AF-s 70-300 VR with the fantastic and ultra cheap AF-s 55-200 VR you'll pay actually less for this entire kit than you will for a for a single AF-s 18-200 VR lens. Almost a full DX system for the price less than one AF-s 18-200 VR lens to which I would only add a super wide angle such as the fantastic (but pricey) Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX.
Unfortunately the AF-S 18-105 VR is often underrated and therefore cheap on the used market as people flock to the AF-s18-200VR. I cannot duplicate the concerns around softness in the corners or fuzziness Ken Rockwell is noticing on this lens. It is an excellent budget lens for a do-it-all if you need that and a real bargain. The only real drawback being the plastic mount. Give it a try before you disregard it or get my budget Nikkor DX "system suggestion" above which is still better than either of these (AF-s 18-55 VR plus a AF-s 55-200VR). I think you'll agree with the other lens owners here!
By Tiffany Ann (Black Diamond Bay)
If I know I'm going to be shooting people, you know, a wedding, bar mitzvah, baptism, birthday party, especially one with children and clowns, then this is the lens I use. If I take both bodies, I'll have a wide angle on the other one, so I can get good group shots inside. The 16-85mm range of the camera translates to 24-127mm in real world photography and that'll give you good wide angle shots and allow you some pretty good closeups from across the room or yard, plus the 80 to 120mm range is perfect for portraits.
This lens isn't all that expensive and you're buying better than excellent optics, Nikon quality (the build on this lens is as good as you'll find on any lens made today) and VR that works (it's almost like going a couple stops lower).
You might wonder why I'd opt for this lens for people shooting events over the very nice Nikon 18-200mm or the Tamron 18-270mm, well this lens weighs less, focuses faster, takes sharper photos and I've never ever wished I'd had a longer lens at an event, well once, when I shot a wedding in Huntington Beach. It was a beach side condo and there was some good surf action going on, great waves, but that had nothing to do with the wedding.
If you want a longer range than the kit lens, this could be a good walkabout lens and there have been days when I've used it for that, though I prefer the more compact Nikon 18-55mm for everyday use and one of the above mentioned wide to long telephotos for vacations. Still if you shoot a lot of people or are planning to, you'll find this lens will serve you well.
By Weston Powers (Pennsylvania)
I want to say that when I first got this lens for Christmas I was utterly disappointed, not because it wasn't a good lens, but I had my heart set on a prime lens. Well, I pushed my sadness aside and mounted it on my D60. The first thing I noticed about it was the size, it was significantly larger in every way possible over the 18-55mm kit lens that came with the D60. The only thing that didn't change was the f-stop. It was sort of heavy mounted on the D60's tiny body but that is something that is easily overcome. The picture quality and the overall use of the lens is where it started to win me over.
I was shooting inside all day with f/3.5, ISO 800 and shutter speed of 1/6 of a second. The pictures came out crisp and clear with the aid of the vibration reduction, whereas my 18-55mm would be a hit-or-miss. I found it great that I could go from shooting wide angle shots to mid-range telephoto shots without having to switch between lenses. I began to see a difference between the quality of my old 18-55mm and the 18-105mm. The 18-105 is the older brother of the 18-55mm kit lens, and it is more useful/ The focusing ring on the lens can override the auto focus. If you are someone in my situation with a three point AF D60, then this comes in handy considering that the focus isn't always where you want it to be. The feel of the lens was different. It felt like it was made of plastic and rubber on the outside, which isn't bad and doesn't inhibit the ability of the lens to do its job, it just feels sort of cheap if you are obsessed with having the best built thing possible. The feeling of cheapness, isn't something to be concerned about, so long as you realize that the lens is meant for picture taking and not groping. The sheer portability of the lens doesn't seem to be an issue, it is just bulkier then the 18-55mm, especially on the puny D60.
The lens is the kind you want to have if you enjoy having versatility in your range but don't want to put more money towards the 18-200mm lens. I look forward to using this lens a lot more and seeing what it can do. Like everything else, it's flaws are just something that the user will have to learn to overcome. But if you are looking at buying D40, D60 or D5000 I strongly suggest buying the bodies only and buying this lens.
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Buy Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Now
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