Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR ED review - Summary

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Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR ED

6 July 2009

Arkadiusz Olech

11. Summary

Pros:

simply sensational frame center picture quality,
very good frame edge picture quality,
coma under a sensible control,
very low astigmatism,
autofocus accurate, silent and quite efficient,
effective picture stabilization,
taking into account the price, generous selection of accessories,
fabulous quality/price ratio.

Cons:

a lot of plastic in the barrel and bayonet,
significant distortion,
visible vignetting at all focal lengths,
changeable work against the bright light.

If only Nikon decided to place this lens in a solid body, even raising the price twice, I would recommend it to all amateur photographers, who want to buy a universal lens for their Nikon D80/D90 or D40/D40x/D60 cameras without any reservations. What can be done, though? We got a less solid construction but at a very affordable price. Perhaps we shouldn’t carp about it too much because the lens’s fabulous performance places it among one of the best kit lenses I’ve ever tested. I think that everybody, who plans to make a purchase of a Nikon D90, should seriously consider buying it together with the Nikkor 18-105 VR.

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Sample shots


Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 18 mm, f/8.8, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 6.9 MB	Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 18 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/250 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 4.9 MB	Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 38 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/250 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 5.2 MB

Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 26 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/180 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 5.9 MB	Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 35 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/180 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 4.5 MB	Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 22 mm, f/4.5, exp. 1/400 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 4.6 MB

Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 18 mm, f/3.5, exp. 1/3200 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 4.8 MB	Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 18 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/350 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 4.7 MB	Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 35 mm, f/4.5, exp. 1/750 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 4.2 MB

Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 50 mm, f/5.0, exp. 1/640 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 4.1 MB	Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 105 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/1000 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 3.9 MB	Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 50 mm, f/5.0, exp. 1/100 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 3.7 MB

Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 18 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/90 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 3.8 MB	Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 35 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/50 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 4.7 MB	Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 24 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/125 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 4.9 MB

Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 105 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/250 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 3.8 MB	Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 70 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/250 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 4.7 MB	Camera: Nikon D200 Parameters: 50 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/250 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 4.9 MB