Nikon 18 105mm f 3 5 5 6 AF S DX VR ED Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

This 5.8x zoom, designed exclusively for use with Nikon’s DX-format, features Nikon’s VR image stabilization and is perfect for portraits and action. The wide-ratio 5.8x zoom
Compact, versatile and ideal for a broad range of shooting situations, ranging from interiors and landscapes to beautiful portraits–a perfect everyday zoom. Vibration Reduction is engineered specifically for each VR NIKKOR lens and enables handheld shooting at up to 3 shutter speeds slower than would otherwise be possible, assuring dramatically sharper images.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Super People Shooting Lens
If I know I’m going to be shooting people, you know, a wedding, bar mitzvah, baptism, birthday party, especially one with children and clowns, then this is the lens I use. If I take both bodies, I’ll have a wide angle on the other one, so I can get good group shots inside. The 16-85mm range of the camera translates to 24-127mm in real world photography and that’ll give you good wide angle shots and allow you some pretty good closeups from across the room or yard, plus the 80 to 120mm range is perfect for portraits.

This lens isn’t all that expensive and you’re buying better than excellent optics, Nikon quality (the build on this lens is as good as you’ll find on any lens made today) and VR that works (it’s almost like going a couple stops lower).

You might wonder why I’d opt for this lens for people shooting events over the very nice Nikon 18-200mm or the Tamron 18-270mm, well this lens weighs less, focuses faster, takes sharper photos and I’ve never ever wished I’d had a longer lens at an event, well once, when I shot a wedding in Huntington Beach. It was a beach side condo and there was some good surf action going on, great waves, but that had nothing to do with the wedding.

If you want a longer range than the kit lens, this could be a good walkabout lens and there have been days when I’ve used it for that, though I prefer the more compact Nikon 18-55mm for everyday use and one of the above mentioned wide to long telephotos for vacations. Still if you shoot a lot of people or are planning to, you’ll find this lens will serve you well.

5 Stars A great upgrade and overall excellent lens
I want to say that when I first got this lens for Christmas I was utterly disappointed, not because it wasn’t a good lens, but I had my heart set on a prime lens. Well, I pushed my sadness aside and mounted it on my D60. The first thing I noticed about it was the size, it was significantly larger in every way possible over the 18-55mm kit lens that came with the D60. The only thing that didn’t change was the f-stop. It was sort of heavy mounted on the D60′s tiny body but that is something that is easily overcome. The picture quality and the overall use of the lens is where it started to win me over.

I was shooting inside all day with f/3.5, ISO 800 and shutter speed of 1/6 of a second. The pictures came out crisp and clear with the aid of the vibration reduction, whereas my 18-55mm would be a hit-or-miss. I found it great that I could go from shooting wide angle shots to mid-range telephoto shots without having to switch between lenses. I began to see a difference between the quality of my old 18-55mm and the 18-105mm. The 18-105 is the older brother of the 18-55mm kit lens, and it is more useful/ The focusing ring on the lens can override the auto focus. If you are someone in my situation with a three point AF D60, then this comes in handy considering that the focus isn’t always where you want it to be. The feel of the lens was different. It felt like it was made of plastic and rubber on the outside, which isn’t bad and doesn’t inhibit the ability of the lens to do its job, it just feels sort of cheap if you are obsessed with having the best built thing possible. The feeling of cheapness, isn’t something to be concerned about, so long as you realize that the lens is meant for picture taking and not groping. The sheer portability of the lens doesn’t seem to be an issue, it is just bulkier then the 18-55mm, especially on the puny D60.

The lens is the kind you want to have if you enjoy having versatility in your range but don’t want to put more money towards the 18-200mm lens. I look forward to using this lens a lot more and seeing what it can do. Like everything else, it’s flaws are just something that the user will have to learn to overcome. But if you are looking at buying D40, D60 or D5000 I strongly suggest buying the bodies only and buying this lens.

5 Stars Bought this for a short vacation
I originally got a 18-55mm lens with my Nikon camera and decided to buy the 55-200 as my second lens but found that changing out the lenses was a hassle. When I decided to take a short vacation that was about 2000 miles away, I didn’t want to deal with carrying the different lenses around so I bought the 18-105mm. It was one of the best things I ever did. I almost feel like it is the only lens needed for general photography. I chose this particular one because the customer reviews were so good. All my photos with this lens are wonderful. They look professional and that is the point when you buy a good lens from Nikon.

5 Stars Great all-purpose at the right price
Seems like everyone recommends the 18-200 mm VR lens, but at a cost of over $600-700!

Instead, this lens for about half the cost will cover most of the useful range of the 18-200. The VR works great on this lens, especially at 105 where the lens performs admirably.

A very good upgrade to a kit lens with more versatility, a more solid feel and VR to make your telephoto shots much better.

5 Stars My perfect lens
I had been looking for the perfect lens for portraits. This lens covers the exact zoom length I need, while retaining the wide angle.

I was nervous about getting a refurbished camera lens. No problems at all. In fact, you would never even know it’s a refurb.

It’s not a “fast” lens. But, you won’t get a fast lens with VR. That’s ok. It’s easy to make up the difference with shutter speed. And for doing photos in a church, where it’s rude to use a flash, it opens up enough. Again, shutter speed helps there. Plus, shooting in RAW makes all the difference in the world.

Lenses are personal. Just do your research, and figure out what you need.

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