Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G review

According provided by lens Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G huge thanks to the official Nikon representative in Ukraine.

Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G. The lens is shown in film slr camera Nikon EL2.

Navigation

1. Browse Navigation
2. In short
3. History
4. Unlike the previous version of GII VRII
5. Main Specifications
6. Assembly
7. L button
8. Stabilizer
9. Focusing
10. Image quality
11. Sample Photos
12. My experience
13. All Nikon DX Nikkor Lenses
14. Prices / where to buy
15. Results
16. User Comments
17. Add your review or question on the lens

Shortened Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G in the review I will call Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G VR.

Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G and camera Nikon D3400

In short

Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G VR - the fifth generation of standard lenses for cameras Nikon DX... The first lens in the Nikon AF-P series. In general - good full-time lens. There must be a clear understanding that the whale lenses (supplied lenses) are the simplest in the entire line of zoom lenses Nikon DXand therefore you should not expect high performance from them. These are lenses for a wide range of tasks, they are great for amateur everyday shooting. However, the Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G VR surprised with its sharpness on a 24 MP camera with an APS-C sensor.

Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G VR usually comes with some entry-level SLR camera. In such a kit, its cost is low.

And now about the sad:

• Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G VR will not work correctly on any Nikon camera released before Nikon D5200 (in fact, until 2013). The lens will not focus either automatically or manually. There is no complete compatibility data with some older cameras.
• On some older cameras, automatic or manual focusing will work, but it will not be possible to control the stabilizer.
• To control the stabilizer on some older cameras, you will need to perform a firmware update.

Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G and camera Nikon D3400

History

Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G VR and his twin brother Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G (without VR) were presented on January 4, 2016, but they found practical application only after they began to complete the camera with these lenses Nikon D3400, which went on sale only in the fall of 2016.

A line of standard (i.e. 'whale') class 18-55 / 3.5-5.6 lenses for cameras Nikon DX:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.

A list of all lenses of the Nikon DX series (for cropped cameras with APS-C sensor) can be viewed here. A list of all AF-P lenses can be found. here.

Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G and camera Nikon D3400

Unlike the previous version of GII VRII

Key differences from the previous model Nikon AF-S 18-55 / 3.5-5.6GII VR II:

• the diameter of the filter increased from 52 to 55 mm
• increased weight by 10 grams
• focus motor has changed
• focus speed is much higher
• focus ring has become electronic
• there was a function of holding focus while changing the focal length (parfocality), very important when shooting a video
• there was a function of constant manual focus control M / A
• lost focus mode switches and stabilizer
• The optical design has changed. Another aspherical element added to the optical circuit
• the new model is not compatible with cameras released before 2013

In general terms, the new lens is better than its predecessor.

Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G and Nikon D3400 Camera

Key Specifications Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G review:

Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G VR and Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G Are the first kit lenses from Nikon in the 18-55 class, in the optical design of which 2 aspherical elements are used.

Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G lens

Assembly

Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G VR assembled in Thailand. The lens uses a plastic bayonet mount, such a bayonet mount is the first sign that the user has a lens from the simplest Nikon Nikkor line of lenses.

Focusing ring plastic, without rubber inserts. zoom ring covered with rubber.

During a change in focal length, the front of the body frame (trunk) moves in a wave-like fashion. The retractable body frame part consists of only one section.

When changing the focal length, the rear lens moves in the middle of the lens body like a pump - it draws in and pushes out air. This behavior of the rear lens is called 'vacuum cleaner effect', which can increase the amount of dust that accumulates in the camera. See the effect of a vacuum cleaner with a lens Nikon 18-105mm f / 3.5-5.6G can here. Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G VR has such an effect much lower. From the side of the rear lens (when it is deepened), the lenses and other lens fillings are visible at the lens.

On the back of the lens is a small rectangular hood that cuts off excess light and prevents flare.

Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G lens

L button

To start using the lens, you must first unlock it. To do this, you have to press a special button that holds the lens in the 'L' position ('Locked' - 'Locked'), located on the zoom ring and rotate it toward the 18 mm mark, after which a slight click will be heard. To fold the lens, just press the button in exactly the same way and turn the zoom (zoom) ring in the opposite direction. When folded, the lens is noticeably shorter than in the working, with a protruding trunk.

On camera Nikon D90 and, most likely, on many other old cameras, when folded, the camera “does not see” the lens, but in the value field aperture the error 'F - -' blinks. Also, when folded in the viewfinder, everything is blurry.

On camera Nikon D3400, and most likely, on many other modern cameras, when the lens is folded, the camera displays the message "Before you start taking pictures, rotate the zoom ring to lengthen the lens."

UPDATE, critical error

With heavy use, the lens will wear out and the position lock will stop working. This is fraught with the fact that after rotating the zoom ring from 55 to 18 mm, it does not stop (abuts) at the value of 18 mm, but continues to rotate to the folded position. This is very annoying and very disruptive to shooting. The photographer thinks that he has set the widest possible angle of view, but in fact crossed the 'L' line and received a message that the lens is not extended and shooting is prohibited. I think this is a very serious problem with this lens.. I observed this situation with lenses with a range of over 60.000 frames.

Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G lens

Stabilizer

Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G VR uses a stabilizer with the same efficiency as in the previous model Nikon AF-S 18-55 / 3.5-5.6GII VR II. The stabilizer allows you to get 4 steps of compensation excerpts. In numerical terms, this means that you can shoot at shutter speeds 16 times longer than what a lens without a stabilizer requires. For example, when shooting stationary subjects at 55 mm of focal length, instead of being limited to 1/60 sec., You can shoot at 1/4 sec.

The stabilizer works well. The stabilizer can track the movement of the camera while shooting panoramas.

Important: for cameras that were presented before the release of Nikon D3400, and which are compatible with this lens, you should update the firmware to be able to control the stabilizer from the menu. These cameras include models D3300, D5500, D5300, D5200, D7200, D7100 (possibly others, there is no exact data). This is due to the fact that the lens does not have a stabilizer switch. The stabilizer needs to be turned on or off only using the camera menu.

Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G lens

Focusing

Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G VR and Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G Are the first lenses to use Nikon's new 'P' focus motor. Lenses are now labeled with a new abbreviation AF-P: 'Auto Focus Pulse motor '-' pulsating focusing motor '. The new 'Pulse Motor' is actually a Stepping Motor.

Canon has long implemented such motors in its whale lenses. First model Canon Zoom Lens EF-S 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6 IS STM (STepper Motor) was introduced at the beginning of 2013.

The focus motor is very quiet. Auto Focus Speed ​​- Fast (closer to very high).

When used on a camera Nikon D3400 with unpretentious Multi-CAM 1000 focusing system the lens behaves well, rarely focuses incorrectly. I had no problems with focus accuracy and focus.

On camera Nikon D3400 I checked the presence of back and front focus at different focusing distances and different focal length values ​​(infinity and MDF as well). As a measure, the images were taken using the Live View mode (which actually does not suffer from back / front focus). Focusing accuracy using a center cross-type phase focusing sensor was exactly the same as in Live View.

The lens does not have a focus mode switch. To put the lens in manual or automatic focus mode, use the camera menu. In auto focus mode can be supported focus mode 'M / A'... To do this, activate the 'Manual focus ring' item in the camera menu. at AF '. In 'M / A' mode, autofocus works with constant manual focus priority. 'M / A' mode very convenient and useful - for manual focusing or focus correction, you do not need to additionally put the lens in the 'M' mode using the camera menu.

During focusing, the front and rear lenses remain stationary, as the lens uses internal focus 'IF'-'Iinternal Focus' - 'Internal Focusing' (this abbreviation is used on the official website). Thus, it is possible to use any filters without problems, for example polarizing or gradient.

Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G VR uses electronic focus ring. The ring rotates freely without locking in the extreme positions. In manual focus mode, the ring actively rotates about 120 degrees. During auto focus, the focus ring remains stationary. The focus ring travel is very smooth and pleasant (almost like with old manual lenses). On cameras D810, Nikon D810a, Df,  D750,  D7200,  D7100, D5200 the focusing distance previously set by auto focus will be lost when the camera exits standby mode.

The closest focusing distance is only 24 cm. Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G VR focuses closer than other similar lenses, while the maximum zoom ratio (important for macro photography) is 1: 2.6.

Auto focus with AF-P lenses will only work with cameras (exact list):

D5200, D5300, D5500, D5600, D3300, D3400, D3500, D7100, D7200, D7500, D500 + D4, D4s, D5, D6, Df, D800, D800E, D810, D810a, D850, D750, D780, D600, D610 + Nikon z6, Nikon z6 ii, Nikon z7, Nikon z7 ii, Nikon z5, Nikon z50 with adapter FTZ

Important: some of these cameras will need to use the latest firmware.

Auto and manual focus will not work with cameras (exact list):

D700, D3, D3s, D3x, D1, D1h, D1x, D2x, D2h, D2xs, D2hs, D100, D200, D300, D300s, D50, D70, D70s, D80, D90, D7000, D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3100, D3200, D5000, D5100 + Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro, S2 Pro, S3 Pro, S3 Pro UVIR, S5 Pro, IS Pro + Kodak DCS PRO 14n и Kodak DCS Pro SLR / n.

Features:

• There is no depth of field scale, focusing distance and mark for working in the infrared spectrum. There is nothing at all, except for the focal length marks.
• Focus shift (shift-focus) was not noticed during operation and testing.
• During focusing on the MDF, the distance from the front lens to the subject is approximately 10 cm.
• The lens has an effect 'Focus breathing'(changes in viewing angle during focusing).
• While changing the focal length, the lens holds the focus distance (electronic analogue of the parfocal lens).

Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G lens. Minimum trunk length when unfolded.

Image quality

The quality depends very much on the settings of the camera or the original RAW Converter, allowing you to automatically correct some lens flaws (geometric distortion, vignetting, chromatic aberration).

There is nothing more difficult than writing about the image quality produced by kit lenses, especially when you know about the capabilities of modern 'real' lenses. However, I would like to point out that the lens is surprisingly sharp in the center of the frame even from open apertures. This is one of the sharpest whale lenses I've shot.

As befits a modern lens, the Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G VR behaves well in backlight.

In general, the image quality is at a decent level.

Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G lens

Sample Photos

Pictures from Nikon D3400. The photos in the gallery below are shown without processing, on-camera JPEG. A couple of photos were taken with two 'naked' cartridge flashes Godox s45t.

You can download source photos in '.JPG / .JPEG' and '.RAW / .NEF' format at this link.

Pictures from Nikon D5600:

You can download the original photos in RAW format at this link (15 files, 400 MB).

Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G lens

Prices

Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G and Nikon ED AF Nikkor 80-200mm 1: 2.8 (MKI)

My experience

Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G VR did not start on my Nikon D90. Nikon had little to pervert Nikon D40 (lost compatibility with a huge amount of optics), now it has touched its whale lenses.

Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G VR itself is good, the Nikon system, with its amateur cameras, is strange and illogical.

On the official website there are simultaneously 5 relevant models of the class 18-55 / 3.5-5.6 (proof screen, link), users can choose for themselves any color and taste.

The electronic focus ring, the absence of switches and the parking system make modern lenses more and more similar to their mirrorless counterparts.

An accurate list of all Nikon DX Nikkor lenses

1. 10.5 mm/ 2.8G AF Fisheye [gold ring]
2. 35 mm/1.8G AF-S
3. 40 mm/2.8G AF-S Microphone
4. 85 mm/3.5G AF-S VR Microphone
5. 10-20 mm/4.5-5.6G AF-P VR
6. 10-24 mm/3.5-4.5G AF-S
7. 12-24 mm/4G AF-S [gold ring]
8. 16-80 mm/ 2.8-4IN AF S VR [gold ring]
9. 16-85 mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR
10. 17-55 mm/2.8G AF-S [gold ring]
11. 18-55 mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S [black / silver]
12. 18-55 mm/3.5-5.6GII AF-S [black / silver]
13. 18-55 mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR
14. 18-55 mm/3.5-5.6GII AF-S VR
15. 18-55 mm/3.5-5.6G AF-P
16. 18-55 mm/3.5-5.6G AF-P VR
17. 18-70 mm/3.5-4.5G AF-S
18. 18-105 mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR [Thailand / China]
19. 18-135 mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S
20. 18-140 mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR [Thailand / China]
21. 18-200 mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR [Japan / China]
22. 18-200 mm/3.5-5.6GII AF-S VR
23. 18-300 mm/3.5-5.6G VR
24. 18-300 mm/3.5-6.3G VR
25. 55-200 mm/4-5.6G AF-S [black / silver, Japan / China]
26. 55-200 mm/4-5.6G AF-S VR
27. 55-200 mm/4-5.6GII ED VR
28. 55-300 mm/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR
29. 70-300 mm/4.5-6.3G AF-P
30. 70-300 mm/4.5-6.3G AF-P VR

Nikon DX VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G lens

Results

Nikon AF-P 18-55 / 3.5-5.6G VR is a good lens as the first and only one bought with a modern amateur camera. Who just wants to buy a DSLR camera with this lens - feel free to buy. Who knows a lot about photography - look for something else.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram.