Review Nikon AF-S DX 18-55 mm 3.5-5,6 G VR and Nikon D3200(N APS-C)
| In 2006, Nikon released the Nikon 18-55 mm, written fully as Nikon AF-S DX 18-55 mm 3.5-5,6 G VR, the first kit lens from Nikon with Silent Wave Motor. We've tested this lens both with a Nikon D5100 and a Nikon D3200 . The optical performance of this lens clearly benefits from the extra resolution of the 24 megapixel Nikon D3200 . This kit lens is often bundled together with one of the cheaper Nikon camera bodies. This lens is not very fast (f/3.5-f/5,6)and the zoom range is limited. An alternative to the Nikon 18-55 mm is the Sigma 18-50 mm; this one too has image stabilization and is half a stop up to two stops faster. |  |
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 Nikon AF-S DX 18-55 mm 3.5-5,6 G VR @ 55 mm |
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The Nikon AF-S DX 18-55 mm 3.5-5.6 G VR has a 3x zoom range with an angle that matches that of a 24-83 mm lens on a camera with full-frame sensor. Thus, the range is too limited for portrait photography. |
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Construction and autofocus |
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Both the house and the mount are made of plastic and the filter rotates during focusing. That is not convenient if you use a polarizing filter. The focus stroke is very short stroke, focusing manually is therefore difficult. The focus ring and zoom ring run very smoothly without the lens feeling cheap. The drive of the autofocus is done with a Silent Wave Motor. The drive is almost silent and fast. Focusing is quick with a Nikon D5100; from 15 meters to 1.5 meters in 0.23 seconds. Commuting in low light is rarely observed. |
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Image stabilization |
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The effectiveness of the built-in image stabilization is measured at a focal length of 55 mm. The effectiveness is about 3 stops. |
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Vignetting |
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We've tesed a copy of the Nikon 18-55 mm earlier on a Nikon D5100. Vignetting, expressed in stops, was remarkably low at all focal lengths and apertures. Move your mouse over the image for the vignetting of our previous measurements on a Nikon D5100. With another copy of this lens, tested on a Nikon D3200 , our Imatest mesaurements show vignetting will be seen in a blue sky when the lens is fully open. |
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Distortion |
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The distortion, expressed as a percentage, is substantial at 18 and 24 mm, but at the other focal lengths nicely low. Distortion can be controlled with software. Move your mouse over the image for the results of another copy tested on a Nikon D5100. |
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Flare |
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The lens suffers from ghosting and flare at an open source. In practice, this should be taken into account. |
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Resolution |
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The resolution, expressed in lines/sensor height, reaches very nice values immediately at full aperture in the center over the entire zoom range. The resolution in the corners is disappointing, when used on a Nikon D5100, it is best to work at f/8.0. At that value, the difference between center resolution and corner resolution is not that high anymore. Click on the image to see all the Imatest data for the Nikon 18-55 mm, mounted on a Nikon D3200 . Click Nikon D5100::Nikon 18-55 mm review]" href="/images/Testen/Lens/NikonLens/Nikon_18_55_apsc/multires-Nikon1855.jpg">here to see the Imatest data for the Nikon 18-55 mm, mounted on a Nikon D5100.
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Nikon D3200 jpg files::Nikon 18-55 mm review]" class="jcepopup" href="/images/Testen/Lens/NikonLens/Nikon_18_55_apsc/maxiResolutieNikon1855mmVRD3200.jpg"> |
Chromatic aberration |
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In this area, the Nikon 18-55 mm performs, mounted ona Nikon D5100, rather poor at 18 mm and in situations of high contrast the chromatic aberration will have to be controlled with software. NMounted on a Nikon D3200 , chromatic correction of the jpg files is corrected in the camera. Click on the image to see all the Imatest data for the Nikon 18-55 mm, mounted on a Nikon D3200 . Click Nikon D5100::Nikon 18-55 mm review]" href="/images/Testen/Lens/NikonLens/Nikon_18_55_apsc/multiCA-Nikon1855.jpg">here to see the Imatest data for the Nikon 18-55 mm, mounted on a Nikon D5100. |
Nikon D3200 ::Nikon 18-55 mm review]" class="jcepopup" href="/images/Testen/Lens/NikonLens/Nikon_18_55_apsc/CAmaxiD3200Nikkor_18-55_VR.jpg"> |
Conclusion
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Nikon AF-S DX 18-55 mm 3.5-5,6 G VR
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Nikon 18-55 review JPG score: The table below shows the performance of this lens with a Nikon D5100 or a Nikon D3200 when you save the files in the camera as jpg, with all available in-camera lens corrections turned on. This score will give you for this lens / camera combination test: "What you see is what you get.” |
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Pros
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Cons
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The Nikkor AF-S DX 18-55 VR mm/3.5-5.6 G is compact and lightweight. The lens does have limitations. The zoom range is somewhat limited and the lens is not fast (f/3.5-f/5,6). We've tested this lens both with a Nikon D5100 and a Nikon D3200 . The optical performance of this lens clearly benefits from the extra resolution of the 24 megapixel Nikon D3200 . The resolution is high, when mounted on a Nikon D3200 . The resolution in the center is higher than in the corners. Chromatic aberration can be an issue for jpg files at 18 mm, if the chromatic aberration is not corrected in the camera. The same applies for NEF files, which don't benefit from in-camera correction of chromatic aberration. If the Nikon 18-55 mm is purchased with a camera, the purchase price is low.
