According provided by Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor lens huge thanks Vyacheslav Kravchina.
Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor Review
Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor was introduced at the end of 2013 and became a replacement for an existing similar lens Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX Nikkor. For the first time the lens could be seen as a regular on the camera Nikon D3300.
A line of standard (i.e. 'whale') class 18-55 / 3.5-5.6 lenses for cameras Nikon DX:
- Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX Nikkor SWM Aspherical - first version. It was produced from 2005 to 2006. It exists in two colors - black and gray / silver. Announced with the camera Nikon D50.
- Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII ED AF-S DX Nikkor SWM Aspherical - second version. It was produced from 2006 to 2007. There are no serious differences from the first version, the lenses use the same optical circuit. It exists in two colors - black and gray / silver. Announced with the camera Nikon D40.
- Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX Nikkor SWM Aspherical - third version. It was produced from 2007 to the present day. Has a built-in image stabilizer (Nikon VR, Vibration Reduction). Unlike the first two, it does not have 'ED'-elements in its optical scheme. Announced with the camera Nikon D60.
- Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor - the fourth version. It has been produced since 2013. Unlike the third version, it has a new optical circuit and can be folded compactly for transportation. Updated stabilization system. For the first time he could be seen with a camera Nikon D3300.
- Nikon DX AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G - fifth version. Available since January 2016. It has a new optical circuit and a new stepper focus motor. Went on sale with the camera Nikon D3400.
- Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G - the sixth version. The same as the fifth version, but with a built-in image stabilizer. It was presented simultaneously with the fifth version. Went on sale with the camera Nikon D3400.
- Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50 1: 3.5-6.3 VR - seventh version, for mirrorless cameras such as Nikon z50... Available from Fall 2019. New optical design, foldable body, reduced aperture and built-in image stabilization.
Sigma at one time produced an interesting alternative to similar whale lenses in the face of a faster Sigma Zoom 18-50mm 1: 2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM.
Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor with front and rear cover
Main technical specifications of Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor:
| Review Instance Name | Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor 20041147 |
| Basic properties |
|
| Front Filter Diameter | 52 mm, plastic thread for filters |
| Focal length | 18-55 mm EGF for Nikon DX cameras is 27-82.5 mm (that's right, EGF recalculated even for Nikon DX lenses!) |
| Zoom ratio | 3.06 X (it’s customary to talk just about 3x zoom) |
| Designed by | for digital cameras Nikon DX |
| Number of aperture blades | 7 rounded petals |
| Tags | focal lengths for 18, 24, 35, 45 and 55 mm, bayonet mount mark and hood mount. 'L' mark for lens parking. |
| Diaphragm | 18 mm from F / 3.5 to F / 22. 55 mm from F / 5.6 to F / 36. The lens is deprived of the aperture control ring, control is via the camera menu (G - lens type) |
| MDF | 0.28 m during auto focus (with a maximum magnification ratio for macro photography of 1: 3.3) .0.25 m during manual focus (with a maximum magnification ratio for macro photography of 1: 2.8) |
| The weight | 195 g |
| Optical design | 11 elements in 8 groups. The optical scheme includes 1 aspherical element (in the optical scheme, the aspherical element is shown in blue). The image of the circuit is clickable. |
| Lens hood | Nikon HB-69, bayonet type (not supplied, and must be purchased separately) |
| Manufacturer country | MADE IN THAILAND |
| Instructions | See |
| Period | From December 2013 to the present day (at least until the summer of 2015), later Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G is replaced / supplemented |
| Price | View -> |
All kit lenses from Nikon class 18-55 use standard 52mm filters and are very similar in appearance. Also, all have an aspherical front lens. Interestingly, to replace the second version 'GII'version has arrived'VR'(with image stabilizer) in the optical scheme of which the' ED 'element has been removed. Thus, the first two versions ('G'and'GII') have one aspherical element and one' ED 'element in their optical design, and subsequent' VR 'versions have only one aspherical element each. Because of this, it is rumored that older lenses had better image quality. In addition, for some reason, the new version on its body does not have the inscriptions 'Aspherical' and 'SWM' (other models had such inscriptions - proof link for MKI, proof link for MKIII) Of course, image quality does not always directly depend on special elements in the optical scheme of the lens and, whatever one may say, new versions are still better than old ones. You can see the optical circuits of all Nikon DX lenses in this section, and the complete decoding of the letters'G, VR, AF S, DX, SWM, AM'can find here.
Although the optical scheme of the lens is the same 11 elements in 8 groups with one aspherical element as in the previous version, in fact it is redesigned, which is clearly visible in the schematic image:
Optical design Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor versus Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX Nikkor
Most likely, the processing of the optical circuit was required in order to make the image quality better, especially when used on new multi megapixel cameras that are very picky to optics. Nikon 18-55 / 3.5-5.6GII VR II, like other similar lenses, has only 3x zoom (55/18 = 3.06X) and a small maximum aperture F / 3.5-5.6. The lack of aperture is partly compensated by the stabilizer, and there is no point in demanding something more from a simple 'whale' lens.
Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor when focusing on MDF
A funny thing - on the lens barrel in golden letters you can find its name 'Nikon DX VR AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII', where the pointer 'II' stands next to the letter 'G'. In the name of the lens, written near the front lens, surprisingly, the pointer 'II' has already moved to another place, and the lens has become known as 'Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G VR II'. Usually in my review I indicate the name of the lens exactly as it is written on its body, in this case it became a mystery to me how to indicate the name correctly. In brochures, and on the official website, the name 'Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f / 3.5-5.6G VR II' is used, since it is customary to write the modification number there after the name of the lens. In fact, there is no difference, but it should be noted that in the case of two similar lenses Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm 1: 3.5-5.6G ED SWM VR IF Aspherical и Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII ED SWM VR IF Aspherical manipulations with the designations 'GII' and 'VR II' misled people, forcing them to believe that the new version 18-200 / 3.5-5.6 has a new generation stabilization system. As a result, in the review I named the lens 'Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor'.
Rear view of Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor
Stabilizer
In the new lens, unlike Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX Nikkor, uses an improved stabilization system, allowing to obtain 4 steps of compensation excerpts, while the previous model only claims 3 stages (therefore the designation 'VR II' is very relevant here). In numerical terms, this means that you can shoot at shutter speeds 16 times slower than required by a lens without a stabilizer. For example, when shooting stationary subjects at 55mm focal length, instead of limiting at 1/60 sec., You can shoot at 1/4 sec.
The stabilization system also worked well on the old lens, but on the new one it got even better :). On the lens housing you can find stabilization system operation switch 'VR ON / OFF' (Stabilizer On / Off), you can leave it constantly on and generally forget about its existence.
Disconnect the stabilizer only in rare cases, for example, when shooting with a tripod, or to save battery power. The stabilizer works almost silently. It is stated that the stabilizer can determine the movement of the camera during the creation of panoramas
Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor front view
L button
To use the lens, you must first unlock it. To do this, you have to press a special button that holds the lens in the 'L' ('Locked' - 'Locked') position, located on the zoom ring and turn it towards the 18 mm mark, after which a slight click will be heard. To fold the lens, just press the button in the same way and turn the zoom ring in the opposite direction. When folded, the lens is noticeably shorter than in the working one, with a protruding trunk. Personally, I don't like the fact that to 'activate' the lens you need to press and twist something else, with the Nikon 18-55 / 3.5-5.6GII VR II I shot and transported it without bothering with this button.
On camera Nikon D80, D700 and, most likely, on many other old cameras, when the camera is folded, the lens 'does not see', and the error 'F–' blinks in the aperture value field. Also, when folded, nothing is visible in the viewfinder.
On camera Nikon D3300, and most likely, on many other modern cameras, when the lens is folded, the camera displays the message “Before taking a photo, turn the zoom ring to extend the lens”.
View of the lens with a lens hood on the camera Nikon D3300. The photo does not show the original hood.
Focusing
Ultrasonic focus motor integrated in the lens SWM (Silent Wave Motor) will allow you to focus on All Nikon Digital SLR Cameras, even on the simplest.
Nikon 18-55 / 3.5-5.6GII VR II has a focus switch 'AM', be sure to set it to the' M 'position for manual focusing, otherwise the focus motor may be damaged. Unfortunately, the lens does not have a continuous manual focus control mode - Nikon M / A.
Auto focus on the lens not fast. The focusing speed is exactly the same as the previous version of the lens.
When focusing front the lens does not rotate, but drives forward with the trunk of the lens. Focusing manually is inconvenient, the focus ring moves only 45 degrees, and the focus ring is not rubberized. Of course, the lens is designed for fans who use exclusively automatic focus.
Symbols on the Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor
The lens has different MDF when working with automatic and manual focusing. The body is marked with '∞-0.28m / 0.92ft' focusing limits, which is real only when working with autofocus. In this mode, you can focus up to 28 cm and at the same time obtain a maximum magnification ratio of 1: 3.3, but if you switch to manual focusing mode, the MDF will become 25 cm, and the magnification ratio for macro will become 1: 2.8, which is very good for the standard 'zoom'. With the Nikon 18-55 / 3.5-5.6GII VR II, it is very easy to shoot small objects up close. Why there is a limitation of the MDF in automatic focusing mode - I do not know.
Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor and Nikon 80-200mm AF Nikkor 1: 4.5-5.6D
When the focal length changes, the front lens moves forward with the trunk, but does not rotate, while the rear lens moves like a pump, creating a slight vacuum cleaner effect (sucking in air, and with it dust). When the focal length changes, the lens trunk travels in waves - it lengthens and then shortens.
The lens can be purchased with an original Nikon HB-69 bayonet hood, which is installed in special grooves near the front lens. The hood can be installed in the opposite direction for transportation, in which case access to the focus ring will be lost.
Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor view on the ZK Nikon AF N8008s
Behavior on Nikon FX cameras
Nikon 18-55 / 3.5-5.6GII VR II designed for cameras Nikon DX (cropped cameras) and when used on Nikon full-frame cameras (in 'FX' crop mode) it will produce black edges in the image, as shown in the first photo below:
It's funny, but in the range of focal lengths from 24 to 55 mm, the dimming of the corners when used on a full-format camera is not so serious.
If on Nikon FX cameras select 'Image area' -> 'Auto. DX Crop '->' On ', then after attaching a Nikon DX lens to such a camera, the camera will automatically use' DX Format (24x16) '.
Cunning: if in the menu of full-size cameras in the “AF point illumination” setting, select “Off”, then after you enable the cropping mode 'DX 24x16 format (in fact, crop), the unused area of the image visible in JVI, will be darkened, which will greatly facilitate sighting / photography using the Nikon DX lens.
because of crop factor Nikon DX cameras EGF lens (equivalent focal length) will be 27-82,5 mm (18 * 1.5 and 55 * 1.5, where 1.5 is crop factor Nikon DX cameras). Please do not write in the comments with the 'Shift' button held down and a million exclamation points that 'DX lenses are designed for cropped cameras, and therefore, it seems, the focal length does not need to be recalculated'. For cropped cameras EGF recalculated always, for any lenses without any exceptions. In general, this range of focal lengths is really convenient - here you have both a wide angle of 18 mm and the ability to get a little closer using 55 mm.
Inside Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor. Users are better off not seeing all of these boards :)
The lens barrel is made of plastic, including a plastic bayonet mount. From the bayonet side, boards, springs and other internals of the lens are visible. Nikon 18-55 / 3.5-5.6GII VR II made in Thailand. The aperture consists of 7 blades and closes down to F / 22 @ 18mm and F / 36 @ 55mm. The lens itself is very simple - apart from the focal length values, the bayonet mount mark and the hood mount, there is nothing useful. For example, a whale lens SMC Pentax-DA 1: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL also has a focus distance scale.
Everything is relative. Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor is not so small. Left on the photo shows the lenses Industar-50-2 3,5 / 50 и MS Helios-81H 2/50
Image quality
When used on Nikon D80 I did not notice any serious differences from the previous version as an image. Perhaps on cameras with a breathtaking amount of megapixels, such as Nikon D3200, D5200, D5300, D3300, D7100 You can see the improvement in the picture.
Supplement after Nikon D3300 Reviewon which I used Nikon 18-55 / 3.5-5.6GII VR II, the latter showed itself very, very well. See examples in D3300 review.
Here link to the archive with the originals - 704 MB, 79 photos in .NEF format (RAW) from cameras Nikon D80 (DX) and D700 (FX). More sample photos on Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor with original RAW files can be found in the Nikon D3300 review.
Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor view on the ZK N8008s, the lens is mounted backwards with reverse macro adapter KO-N / 52 produced by the Arsenal plant, costing 5 cu :)
The Nikon 18-55 / 3.5-5.6GII VR II is the lightest lens for Nikon DX cameras, weighing only 195 grams and will not get in the way when traveling or hiking. The lightest autofocus zoom lens in the Nikkor lineup is Nikon AF Nikkor 35-80mm 1: 4-5.6D MKII with a weight of 180 grams.
By the way, this lens can be easily converted into a super macro lens, which is described in the 'Macro adapter for Nikon G-type lenses'. If there is a desire to change or supplement the Nikon 18-55 / 3.5-5.6GII VR II with something else, I recommend that you look into section on the selection of cameras and lenses Nikon.
What the creators of this button really dreamed about :)
My experience
Not for the record. Of course, a whale lens is not the pinnacle of perfection. This is a pretty soulless plastic lens with a hard image. Even today, 3x zoom is a fossil from the Paleozoic era. I observe that many users who bought a DSLR camera for over 9000 units of currency, and at the same time received a similar whale, are unhappy with the zoom ratio. Some people sell an SLR camera along with a prime lens, then I have to do it in personal correspondence anwser the questions like “Where to turn the zoom?”. Sometimes, to make an interesting shot with the Nikon 18-55 / 3.5-5.6GII VR II, you have to make love with your camera for a long time. True, the one who, after all, learn to take good pictures on a whale - will take good pictures on any optics... Therefore, to summarize, a whale lens is a two-faced beast, and it is bad with it, and not good without it. As for the Nikon 18-55 / 3.5-5.6GII VR II itself, this is a logical evolutionary development of standard lenses with a tilt for modern mirrorless cameras.
Video review can be viewed at my youtube channel:
Prices for various modifications of Nikon class 18-55 / 3.5-5.6 lenses:
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An accurate list of all Nikon DX Nikkor lenses
- 10.5 mm/ 2.8G AF Fisheye [gold ring]
- 35 mm/1.8G AF-S
- 40 mm/2.8G AF-S Microphone
- 85 mm/3.5G AF-S VR Microphone
- 10-20mm/4.5-5.6G AF-P VR
- 10-24mm/3.5-4.5G AF-S
- 12-24mm/4G AF-S [gold ring]
- 16-80mm/ 2.8-4IN AF S VR [gold ring]
- 16-85mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR
- 17-55mm/2.8G AF-S [gold ring]
- 18-55mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S [black / silver]
- 18-55mm/3.5-5.6GII AF-S [black / silver]
- 18-55mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR
- 18-55mm/3.5-5.6GII AF-S VR
- 18-55mm/3.5-5.6G AF-P
- 18-55mm/3.5-5.6G AF-P VR
- 18-70mm/3.5-4.5G AF-S
- 18-105mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR [Thailand / China]
- 18-135mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S
- 18-140mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR [Thailand / China]
- 18-200mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR [Japan / China]
- 18-200mm/3.5-5.6GII AF-S VR
- 18-300mm/3.5-5.6G VR
- 18-300mm/3.5-6.3G VR
- 55-200mm/4-5.6G AF-S [black / silver, Japan / China]
- 55-200mm/4-5.6G AF-S VR
- 55-200mm/4-5.6GII ED VR
- 55-300mm/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR
- 70-300mm/4.5-6.3G AF-P
- 70-300mm/4.5-6.3G AF-P VR
Results
Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor - expected update from previous version Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX Nikkor SWM Aspherical. A whale lens, he is also a whale lens in Africa, with all its obvious advantages and disadvantages :).
In January 2016, a new model came to Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor add / change - Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G.
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval.
Thank you very much for the comprehensive answers!
I read it, watched the video. About distortion, a couple of words “suffer a little”.
I have a terrible barrel on all FRs up to about 40 mm. Without correction in the photo editor is very striking. Directly impossible.
At the same time, I look at my old photos taken on the previous model 18-55, in which the lens rotated, there is no such barrel.
Either I got married, or the GII version is worse in terms of distortion
It seems not a marriage - this is what caught my eye in the first place, and also, in my opinion, the color rendition of red-pink suffers, at least the color of the sunset, which was, could not be obtained, no matter how I struggled with tinctures.
It's simple. Filmed in JPG, the camera applied the correction for the old version of the kitten she knew. And the id of the new version and the corrections in the camera are not registered, so the barrel was not corrected. Updating the camera firmware (if still supported) would solve this nuance. Not a hot problem.
I decided to buy a whale, for my 5100, just to be (it is good in its own way, especially new ones for $ 20-25).
Is it worth taking the latest 6th version, or was that chio originally developed for generation 3 & 5100?
If you mean AF-P, then you will not have autofocus. And so it makes sense to take the freshest
Thanks. I already read that starting from 5200 they work correctly.
I will continue the campaign on fixes, well, or I’ll get 18-105. But it is larger, darker, 3 times more expensive and not the fact that at least 10% more pleasant in the picture. (Do you think it draws no better than 18-55 in the same segments?)
In fact, it is lighter. Look at the picture in the review of Arkady.
18-105 is soapier. Fact. But more universal is also a fact. Think about it.
and there will be no manual focus either
Where will he go?
Will the lens from the review work on the nikon d3100?
yes it will
will it work on nikon d2h?
Yes it will work
Good day. On d40, the aperture on it does not open wider than 5. Is this something with the camera settings or a lens for diagnostics to carry?
Good day, Dear Forum.
Please tell me, are these two different lenses, or the same?
https://catalog.onliner.by/lens/nikon/nikkor1855vr
https://catalog.onliner.by/lens/nikon/afsd1855f3556vr2
The same
Thanks for the quick response.
Arkady good day. Thank you very much for your site, a lot of useful information.
Please tell me how this lens will work on the Nikon d3200? It seems that this model was a kit starting from 3300.
Will there be a problem with the lens unlock button?
AF-S VRII came with the d3200. This AF-P is not compatible with d3200
I was faced with the paradox that for some reason this particular version of the lens cannot be found anywhere - neither new nor used at OLKh ...
She's relatively new, just
Is there any point in changing lenses?
Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX Nikkor SWM Aspherical - third version
Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor is the fourth version.
In terms of pictures on the nikon d3200 will there be any difference?
There is no point in changing. It will not be easy to feel the difference. If you change, then for something like 18-105, 18-140
Arkady thanks. On Avito for 2 TR For sale, I thought to change.
I bought this lens (Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor) for 2 tr, it was just interesting to compare them with each other. There is a difference compared to the previous version - faster focusing. You can check it when shooting a video - the previous version slowly focuses on the subject, while the new one is clearly ahead of it. The difference in the sharpness of the photo on the nikon d3200, if any, is only when the picture is enlarged.
Which device to choose d5300 18-55 or d5100 18-105? If you use a 35 mm 1.8 fix, then the d5300 has much better details, sharpness due to the lack of a moiré effect filter? Before that I used the canon 1000d fix 50 mm.
Preciso do manual de serviço da lente AF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6GII.
Onde posso conseguir?
Leggi le istruzioni. Interruttore dell'obiettivo e anello della cornice anteriore.
On objects illuminated by the sun (houses, for example), a picture is obtained that is too “plastic” and unpleasant for the eye, so it’s better not to light it up on the street than to overlight it. When the sun is weak outside, there is no problem. I'm new to this business and I don't understand the reason, but I will assume that these are chromatic aberrations
These are not chromatic aberrations, this is too harsh a contrast. Can be corrected when processing RAW. It really isn't worth it to overdo it.