The following sample shots were taken with a D7000 and RAW-converted via CaptureOne.
Click on a thumbnail to view the original file (opens in a separate window).
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D7000
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
24.0mm
Aperture:
f/8.0
Exposure
1/500s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D7000
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
55.0mm
Aperture:
f/8.0
Exposure
1/800s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D7000
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
55.0mm
Aperture:
f/8.0
Exposure
1/400s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D7000
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
45.0mm
Aperture:
f/8.0
Exposure
1/320s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D7000
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
55.0mm
Aperture:
f/8.0
Exposure
1/160s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D7000
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
31.0mm
Aperture:
f/8.0
Exposure
1/400s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D7000
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
55.0mm
Aperture:
f/8.0
Exposure
1/320s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D7000
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
45.0mm
Aperture:
f/8.0
Exposure
1/800s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D7000
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
55.0mm
Aperture:
f/5.6
Exposure
1/640s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D7000
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
32.0mm
Aperture:
f/8.0
Exposure
1/400s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D7000
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
55.0mm
Aperture:
f/5.6
Exposure
1/500s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D7000
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
55.0mm
Aperture:
f/5.6
Exposure
1/1250s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D7000
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
18.0mm
Aperture:
f/9.0
Exposure
1/640s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D7000
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
55.0mm
Aperture:
f/8.0
Exposure
1/400s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D7000
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
31.0mm
Aperture:
f/5.6
Exposure
1/640s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D7000
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
55.0mm
Aperture:
f/5.6
Exposure
1/640s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D7000
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
55.0mm
Aperture:
f/8.0
Exposure
1/400s
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D7000
ISO Speed
100
Focal Length
18.0mm
Aperture:
f/8.0
Exposure
1/320s
Verdict
The Nikon AF-S DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED II shows the typical characteristics of an entry-level kit lens. The build quality is rather poor, but compensates for with a rather low price. However, there's not really much to complain about its performance regarding center sharpness and vignetting. On the current high resolution sensors however the border and corners resolution falls a bit behind. CAs are a bit on the high side, but can be taken care of in software.
The lens shows pronounced distortion towards the short end of the focal range, but that's a quite typical behaviour in this class.
The lens features a silent but not overly fast AF-S drive, which makes it compatible with any current Nikon DSLR.
The biggest competition to this lens comes from Nikon itself. The newer 18-55 VR features similar performance, less pronounced CAs and also offers optical stabilization, all for roughly the same price (at least in Germany at the time of this review). So, it remains a little mystery why Nikon still lists the 18-55 II as a current product.
