Customer Rating: 
Summary: Good lens for all around, amateur use
Comment: This is a good, decent lens for all-around use by amateurs. It has a nice, wide zoom range, and takes good photos. Yes, there is some distortion around the edges, but it's not evident on all photos; if you're a pro, you should be buying much higher quality optics anyways; for amateurs that don't want to take out a second mortgage on the house, this is a good lens to have.
Customer Rating:
Summary: OK for a Light Backpacking Lens
Comment: This is the lowest review I have ever given a Nikon product. The distortion issue has been reviewed previously and I absolutely agree that wide-open this lens can act like it came out of a bubblegum machine. At higher f-stops it becomes a resonably good tool. I use it almost excluseively in Aperture mode, and seldom below f-8. If you use higher f-stops at longer focal lengths it noticeably shades the periphery of light objects, a flaw you can use to your advantage with portraits and other specialized purposes. Otherwise it is really annoying.
I purchased it with my D80, which I absolutely love, hoping it would make for a lighter kit. As titled, only for backpacking, when you don't want extra weight and need a versatile tool. In that case, you need to be thoroughly aware of the lens's limitations.
I am surprised that Nikon would catagorize this as an IF lens because of its variables at different apertures. I have f-2.8 28-80mm APO and f 2.8 70-210 APO lenses that are like boulders to carry for general purposes, but if I want professional results, they are my alternatives for best results.
I am going to purchase the 55-200 AF-S DX VR lens as a partial substitute in the field. That has great reviews, still expressing some reservations. However, my bottom line is still going to be quality, no matter how my back feels.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Best all around lens for me
Comment: When I decided on the Nikon D80, I wanted a lens that I could keep on the camera all the time. So I bought a body and this lens. The "kit" lens wasn't as useful and, by separating the purchase of the body and lens I got a very good combined deal. And I got a single lens that does it all (for me).
Sure, a SLR is meant to have interchangeable lenses but for my purposes, a medium zoom covers all the bases. With this lens, I have the 35mm equivalent of 27mm to 205mm; just perfect.
Works well, too. Sharp, not too heavy. A great choice IMHO.
Chaz
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good lens for what I want (not change the lens)
Comment: as you can read in other reviews, it does suffer from pincushion and vignetting so did my old 18-55mm so nothing changed there. I like this lens because of the nice range 18 to 135mm, I was considering the 55-200mm but I don't see myself changing lenses most of the time. I recommend it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: An awesome Nikkor lens with versatile range
Comment: I really hate how everyone whines and complains about distortion with this lens. From the comparison shots I've taken it's not that noticeable unless you get super nit picky about it.
This lens is a versatile zoom lens meant for everyday use. It's not meant for studio work as far as I can tell. For one thing it's slow in low light, F3.5 to me is way to slow for studio work. Not to mention all low cost wide angle lenses distort in one way or another. For studio, portrait, and portfolio shots you should be getting a straight 50mm lens with F1.4 or 1.8. It's only a $100 lens and cuts out any distortion and is closest to the human eye's focal range.
I would not use this for serious architecture work either. Any 35mm or DSLR camera will give you a huge angular distortion, this is where a 4x5 film camera comes in. *at least half of the people giving this lens a bad review just said "duh what?"* With a large format camera you can line up angles perfectly with the camera, not to mention you get the sharpest image you'll ever need. Photoshop does the same thing by enabling you to fudge the angles.
IMO the sub $500 Digital SLR equipment is meant for immediacy, it's meant for you to be able to bang out thousands of images without breaking the bank. It's not meant for making perfect architecture shots or professional grade studio shots, and thats not what I expect from it. The bane of being a photographer is to have multiple sets of equipment. A DSLR for the ability to bang out multiple shots with a wide focal range lens, a 35mm or DSLR with a nice 50mm lens for studio portraits and proof work, and a large format camera for those perfect crystal clear architecture shots.
Pros:
-This is a relatively cheap lens in the grand scheme of things
-It has a versatile focal range
-Quick focus in medium to high light level
-Quiet operation
-Build quality is nice.
Cons:
-Ok it distorts, but it's so subtle that I doubt a normal human will care.
-It does aggravate me that this does not have a focus range indicator, the 18-70DX and the 18-200VR has one why not this model?
-Also when in manual the focus ring slides past the min and max focusing points, I like a focus ring that clicks in and stops when I get to min and max focus.
-The lens wasn't free
These are minor cons compared to the gains you get, it allows an amateur or student to have a full range lens for a reasonable price. I'm a BFA Photo student fresh out of college BTW so this lens is perfect for me. If you are a "Professional Photographer" you shouldn't even be considering this lens. It's definitely not professional grade, it's for us who are at an intermediate level where we can't spend a fortune on 1 lens.
I have heard that this model has a tendency to fail in one way or another, I have had it for 2 weeks and it's still working for me. I'll check back if it does fail. However I bought mine brand spanking new with the 5 year extended nikon warranty. I know nikon service is a pain but it's worth it if you're still under warranty.
Summary: Good lens for all around, amateur use
Comment: This is a good, decent lens for all-around use by amateurs. It has a nice, wide zoom range, and takes good photos. Yes, there is some distortion around the edges, but it's not evident on all photos; if you're a pro, you should be buying much higher quality optics anyways; for amateurs that don't want to take out a second mortgage on the house, this is a good lens to have.
Customer Rating:
Summary: OK for a Light Backpacking Lens
Comment: This is the lowest review I have ever given a Nikon product. The distortion issue has been reviewed previously and I absolutely agree that wide-open this lens can act like it came out of a bubblegum machine. At higher f-stops it becomes a resonably good tool. I use it almost excluseively in Aperture mode, and seldom below f-8. If you use higher f-stops at longer focal lengths it noticeably shades the periphery of light objects, a flaw you can use to your advantage with portraits and other specialized purposes. Otherwise it is really annoying.
I purchased it with my D80, which I absolutely love, hoping it would make for a lighter kit. As titled, only for backpacking, when you don't want extra weight and need a versatile tool. In that case, you need to be thoroughly aware of the lens's limitations.
I am surprised that Nikon would catagorize this as an IF lens because of its variables at different apertures. I have f-2.8 28-80mm APO and f 2.8 70-210 APO lenses that are like boulders to carry for general purposes, but if I want professional results, they are my alternatives for best results.
I am going to purchase the 55-200 AF-S DX VR lens as a partial substitute in the field. That has great reviews, still expressing some reservations. However, my bottom line is still going to be quality, no matter how my back feels.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Best all around lens for me
Comment: When I decided on the Nikon D80, I wanted a lens that I could keep on the camera all the time. So I bought a body and this lens. The "kit" lens wasn't as useful and, by separating the purchase of the body and lens I got a very good combined deal. And I got a single lens that does it all (for me).
Sure, a SLR is meant to have interchangeable lenses but for my purposes, a medium zoom covers all the bases. With this lens, I have the 35mm equivalent of 27mm to 205mm; just perfect.
Works well, too. Sharp, not too heavy. A great choice IMHO.
Chaz
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good lens for what I want (not change the lens)
Comment: as you can read in other reviews, it does suffer from pincushion and vignetting so did my old 18-55mm so nothing changed there. I like this lens because of the nice range 18 to 135mm, I was considering the 55-200mm but I don't see myself changing lenses most of the time. I recommend it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: An awesome Nikkor lens with versatile range
Comment: I really hate how everyone whines and complains about distortion with this lens. From the comparison shots I've taken it's not that noticeable unless you get super nit picky about it.
This lens is a versatile zoom lens meant for everyday use. It's not meant for studio work as far as I can tell. For one thing it's slow in low light, F3.5 to me is way to slow for studio work. Not to mention all low cost wide angle lenses distort in one way or another. For studio, portrait, and portfolio shots you should be getting a straight 50mm lens with F1.4 or 1.8. It's only a $100 lens and cuts out any distortion and is closest to the human eye's focal range.
I would not use this for serious architecture work either. Any 35mm or DSLR camera will give you a huge angular distortion, this is where a 4x5 film camera comes in. *at least half of the people giving this lens a bad review just said "duh what?"* With a large format camera you can line up angles perfectly with the camera, not to mention you get the sharpest image you'll ever need. Photoshop does the same thing by enabling you to fudge the angles.
IMO the sub $500 Digital SLR equipment is meant for immediacy, it's meant for you to be able to bang out thousands of images without breaking the bank. It's not meant for making perfect architecture shots or professional grade studio shots, and thats not what I expect from it. The bane of being a photographer is to have multiple sets of equipment. A DSLR for the ability to bang out multiple shots with a wide focal range lens, a 35mm or DSLR with a nice 50mm lens for studio portraits and proof work, and a large format camera for those perfect crystal clear architecture shots.
Pros:
-This is a relatively cheap lens in the grand scheme of things
-It has a versatile focal range
-Quick focus in medium to high light level
-Quiet operation
-Build quality is nice.
Cons:
-Ok it distorts, but it's so subtle that I doubt a normal human will care.
-It does aggravate me that this does not have a focus range indicator, the 18-70DX and the 18-200VR has one why not this model?
-Also when in manual the focus ring slides past the min and max focusing points, I like a focus ring that clicks in and stops when I get to min and max focus.
-The lens wasn't free
These are minor cons compared to the gains you get, it allows an amateur or student to have a full range lens for a reasonable price. I'm a BFA Photo student fresh out of college BTW so this lens is perfect for me. If you are a "Professional Photographer" you shouldn't even be considering this lens. It's definitely not professional grade, it's for us who are at an intermediate level where we can't spend a fortune on 1 lens.
I have heard that this model has a tendency to fail in one way or another, I have had it for 2 weeks and it's still working for me. I'll check back if it does fail. However I bought mine brand spanking new with the 5 year extended nikon warranty. I know nikon service is a pain but it's worth it if you're still under warranty.
Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Reviews: Page 2 of 7
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