Best Nikon Kit Lens

[blive]

the extra reach be nice for a walk abt lens too. 18-55 is really too short for a length. if it doesnt works out i can sell it off the 18-70

18-55 not really too short. (equivalent 35mm is 27.5 - 82.5, which is pretty standard for a film SLR) There is such a thing called physical zoom... I mostly use the 18-55 for my travel, streets, children, until I got the 18-200mm VR. :angel: Best thing about 18-55 is its extremely light and simple to use.

 

[ahquan]

Very useful for guys shooting IR. For those who use screw in filters and for cameras wherein the focus were not adjusted after conversion.

true. i got the 18-70 from a fellow CSer. wide angle can get soft when compared to 18-55 but its SHARP esp at ard 30-60mm even at 70mm its pretty sharp. here's a shot i took just today.

i can tell you i am keeping this piece for a loooong time. i know i said 18-55 was gd b4 but really 18-70 is my fav now haha

 

[Simon_84]

btw i'm also using the 18-70mm as my primary lens over the 18-55mm ED-II.
for this price to have dust and waterproof rubber sealing mount is something very seldom in the basic kit lens line up of nikon.

just bought a 18-55 vr.
so far having used the 18-70mm,18-55mm ED-II and 18-55mm vr, i conclude that the best low light kit lens has got to be the new 18-55mm vr.
vr really helps in fading light by pushing shutter speeds faster up by 1 or 2 stops allowing handheld shots without tripod.
i'm a really lazy tripod user so this lens really fits the bill for me.
and is going to stick with me for quite a while until i get a real job (no more temp staff!) to purchase the sigma 30mm f1.4
even without the ED element, the lens flare is still quite minor only.
goes to show that new technology really can create better lens even though there is lesser elements being build in.
downside is the AF lock is slower than the 18-70mm in low light conditions as it tends to fine tune itself to focus.

built wise, it still loses out to the 18-70mm (metal mount) which feels more solid in the hands.
the 18-70mm has the best built among all the kit lens and also have the fastest AF lock among the rest of the kit lens.

 

[mcn]

the one and only Nikkor DX 18-55mm VR !!!

coupled with the Nikkor DX 55-200mm VR ... no hose run :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[blackdrakes]

the one and only Nikkor DX 18-55mm VR !!!

coupled with the Nikkor DX 55-200mm VR ... no hose run :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

The 18-200 VR will fix you up. :sticktong

 

[Fotophilic]

The 18-200 VR will fix you up. :sticktong

it comes @ about 2x the price.....

 

[Dinosour]

it comes @ about 2x the price.....

Assuming price is not an issue....
Does it mean that it is better to go with 18-200 instead of 55-200?
I've 18-55 VR with me, now looking for another lens.

Any bro out there can advise? thanks!

 

[ahquan]

for me i did go for 18-200mm. best liao

 

[Simon_84]

Assuming price is not an issue....
Does it mean that it is better to go with 18-200 instead of 55-200?
I've 18-55 VR with me, now looking for another lens.

Any bro out there can advise? thanks!

the 55-200mm vr is the cheapest vr zoom around, heard from some users saying it's a bit softer than the 70-300mm vr.

if you dont take much zoom shots, i suggest that might wanna take a look at the 16-85mm vr which i think is the best all round vacation lens at the moment.
another cheaper counterpart option is the 18-70mm.

 

[Dinosour]

Just went to Nikon website to check.
16-85mm VR is one of the latest lens offered by Nikon.

Good recommendation. Any idea how much it cost??

 

[froisnaidu]

Got my 18-70 jus but a few days ago...and yes,it has my vote as well.

 

[ahquan]

my vote for 18-70mm too

 

[blackdrakes]

my vote for 18-70mm too

hey bro, ur signature got typo. ;p

 

[madmacs]

hey bro, ur signature got typo. ;p

super wideangle reversed lens! :bsmilie:

 

[Simon_84]

Just went to Nikon website to check.
16-85mm VR is one of the latest lens offered by Nikon.

Good recommendation. Any idea how much it cost??

the lens price list is on top as a sticky.
still cost roughly about 950 plus onwards.
drop the shops with an equote if interested or check out serialsnapper/the oracle pricing in mass order sub thread.

 

[MattH]

I bought my 16-85mm for $1000. And love it more than my 17-55mm. I got it a pillow for when it's in the dry cabinet...

 

[Nenjia]

It seems that the "Best" kit lens would be the 18-70mm.
While "Worst" should be the 18-135mm.
Just want to know what you guys think, and why?

I voted 18-70, the build, the IQ, the best thing I like is the manual over write on AF, and HF possibility and widows

 

[alleggerita]

18-55 II and VR got difference?

18-55 MkII got one ED glass and it has 7 elements in 5 groups, the 18-55mm VR no ED glass and has 11 elements in 8 groups.

I've heard for two lenses with similar focal lengths and aperture, the less elements and groups, the better? Is it true?

 

[lsisaxon]

18-55 MkII got one ED glass and it has 7 elements in 5 groups, the 18-55mm VR no ED glass and has 11 elements in 8 groups.

I've heard for two lenses with similar focal lengths and aperture, the less elements and groups, the better? Is it true?

I feel that the 18-55VR is better corrected and gives me slightly better image quality at the corners than the 18-55II which is better than the first version that was bundled with the D50 kit.

 

[alleggerita]

I feel that the 18-55VR is better corrected and gives me slightly better image quality at the corners than the 18-55II which is better than the first version that was bundled with the D50 kit.

Nikon provided an ED glass in the 18-55mm II because there's less elements and groups (7/5), and they need to add an ED glass to reduce flaring. But for the new 18-55mm VR, they added more elements and groups (11/8) to correct flaring, hence no need for an additional ED glass. Don't know how true is that.