Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm review?

[alexbuck]

Hi all

I've got a Nikon D40 with kit lens which is great, but I'm looking for something a little longer, but without breaking the bank!

Any of you have the 18-105 Nikkor?

Search on the forum is rubbish!

Cheers all
Alex.

[wulf]

Search on the forum is okay but, when that doesn't work, browsing to an appropriate area (and perhaps searching there) often provides good results. Of course, that does rely on people putting things in the right places, which is why I've shuffled yours across to Nikon gear

You might find it useful to take a step back with your question. What do you want to be able to do with a lens and how much have you got to spend? Leaving aside the question of optical quality, on which I've no idea, 105mm is still likely to seem short if you want to photograph subjects like wildlife. Do you consider things like autofocus essential or are you happy to think about old, second-hand lenses (I love the manual lenses I have for my D40)?

Wulf

[alexbuck]

D'oh!

Ok, so the kit lens is actually quite good. However, I'm looking for a little more length for not too much money. I had a look at the 17-200 but the cost was astranomical. I'd prefer to retain the ability to autofocus, to be honest, rather than lose it completely.

It would be interesting to see photographs taken with both the 18-55 and the 18-105 to compare.

I take a fairly broad range of photographs from fairly close to fairly long distances, so wonder what the real-world differences are between 55 and 105.

Thanks.

[Eyesurvey]

Here's some shots i took in the Lake District (Ullswater) in April, using my 55-200VR Nikkor lens, on a very dull day. Great lens, not too expensive, and compact. See what you think.
090428 lakes (3)mod.jpg

090428 lakes (1).jpg

090428 lakes (5).jpg

090428 lakes (16).jpg

[alexbuck]

Originally Posted by Eyesurvey

Here's some shots i took in the Lake District (Ullswater) in April, using my 55-200VR Nikkor lens, on a very dull day. Great lens, not too expensive, and compact. See what you think.
Attachment 15756

Attachment 15757

Attachment 15758

Attachment 15760

Hi

I'd quite like to not have swap lenses which i why i was looking at the 17-200. The 55-200 is certainly a lot more cost effective however!

I think I might take a trip to a spe******t camera shop and try out the various lenses.

[Taallyn]

More reach, not much more money, reduce lens changing and good image quality. It seems to me then that the 18-105mm VR pretty much matches your requirements. It is said to have image quality very close to the more expensive 16-85mm VRII which I have and enjoy.

[Chippee]

Hi Alex,

I do have the 18-105 VR and I absolutely love it. I use it all the time. Unfortunately I don't have any photos to show you as I am at work. The image quality is excellent, in my opinion. It is the lens I use the most. And the cost was reasonable. I think you would like it.

Laura

[milosh]

Hi Alex,

I am also thinking about the 18-105mm and yesterday I read a few reviews of it, and they're all very promissing. Here you have one great review: http://www.bythom.com/Nikkor18-105lensreview.htm
and here you can read a lot of feedback about the lens from what seem to me as experienced users: http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showp...ct/1221/cat/13

Hope it helps!

[drdiesel1]

The 18-105 never comes off my D90.........It`s a great walk around lens...

Here`s a shot from a recent concert...

[alexbuck]

Thanks guys, for all your input. I've decided that 105 isn't really long enough for the times I want a bit more range, so I think I'm going to go for a 55-200 and just have to deal with swapping it with the 18-55 kit.

As I said in an earlier post, I'd really like the 17-200 but its out of the question financially!

Thanks for all your help
Alex.