Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm
Panasonic LUMIX S S-R70300 70-300mm
What Buyers Say
Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm
This Nikon 18-55mm lens is widely praised for its sharpness, light weight, and excellent value for money, especially as a kit lens. Users highlight its vivid colors and quiet autofocus, though some note the plastic build feels fragile and the barrel can wobble at extended focal lengths. Overall, it's considered a fantastic starter lens that outperforms its modest price point.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Lightweight and portable
- Excellent value for money
- Vivid color reproduction
- Quiet autofocus
Cons
- Plastic build feels fragile
- Barrel wobbles at extended focal lengths
- No image stabilization
- Loose tolerances can affect focus
Panasonic LUMIX S S-R70300 70-300mm
This Panasonic 70-300mm lens receives mostly positive feedback for its sharpness, build quality, and value for money, especially for sports and wildlife photography. However, several users note that 300mm may be insufficient for distant wildlife, autofocus can struggle in low light, and the lens is heavy and unbalanced on a tripod without a collar. Overall, it's seen as a great starter telephoto zoom for non-professionals.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Good build quality and weather sealing
- Great value for money
- Versatile for sports and wildlife
- Snappy autofocus in good light
Cons
- 300mm insufficient for distant wildlife
- Autofocus struggles in low light
- Heavy and unbalanced on tripod without collar
- No tripod collar included
- Macro performance only okay
Scores
Specifications
| Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm | Panasonic LUMIX S S-R70300 70-300mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 70 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 55 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 7 | 17 |
| Groups | 5 | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | Super Integrated Coating | — |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | 4.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 11★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | L-Mount |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | — | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.20 kg★ | 0.45 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 77 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | pulse stepping motor★ | Linear AF Motor |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops | 5.5 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 55 mm★ | 540 mm |
| Max Magnification | — | 0.5x★ |
Pros & Cons
Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm
- Strong macro (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong stabilization (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
Panasonic LUMIX S S-R70300 70-300mm
- Strong stabilization (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong versatility (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong optical (74th percentile)
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
Verdict
Scores 97 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.