Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm

Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm

Nikon
97 Overall Score
vs
Zeiss 2103-749-cr

Zeiss 2103-749-cr

Zeiss
35 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm

85 out of 100 low confidence 9 reviews

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
👍 Image quality 6
🤔 Build quality 4
👍 Value for money 5
👍 Weight and portability 4
👍 Autofocus performance 3
👎 Image stabilization 2

Zeiss 2103-749-cr

87 out of 100 medium confidence 18 reviews

The Zeiss Loxia 35mm f/2 is lauded for its outstanding image quality, sharpness, and compact all-metal build, with many reviewers praising the Zeiss color rendition and the satisfying manual focus experience. However, a few users noted design flaws, including a tendency for the lens hood to detach accidentally and difficulty mounting/unmounting the lens. Overall, it is considered a premium manual lens that rewards deliberate photography, though it may not suit those needing rapid autofocus.

Pros
  • Outstanding image quality
  • Sharp even wide open
  • Compact all-metal build
  • Lovely Zeiss color rendition
  • Satisfying manual focus experience
Cons
  • Lens hood detaches accidentally
  • Difficult to mount and unmount
  • Focus magnifier malfunction on newer cameras
  • No knurling on focus ring for tactile pre-focus
  • Not suitable for action photography
👍 Image quality 6
👍 Build quality 5
👍 Sharpness 4
👍 Color rendition 4
🤔 Manual focus experience 7
👎 Lens hood design 2

Scores

Street
Nikon
91
Zeiss
25
Budget
Nikon
90
Zeiss
23
Macro
Nikon
89
Zeiss
45
Travel
Nikon
86
Zeiss
25
Portrait
Nikon
83
Zeiss
29
Video Cinema
Nikon
77
Zeiss
23
Wildlife Sports
Nikon
71
Zeiss
22
Landscape
Nikon
70
Zeiss
30
Professional
Nikon
70
Zeiss
30

Specifications

Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mmZeiss 2103-749-cr
Optics
Typezoomprime
Focal Length Min18 mm35 mm
Focal Length Max55 mm35 mm
Elements79
Groups56
Aspherical Elements2★—
ED Elements11
CoatingSuper Integrated CoatingZEISS T* anti-reflective coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/22
Min Aperture3.5-5.6f/2
Constant✗—
Diaphragm Blades710★
Build
MountNikon FSony E
FormatAPS-Cfull-frame★
Weather Sealed—✓★
Weight0.20 kg★0.77 kg
Filter Thread55 mm52 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF Typepulse stepping motor★manual focus only
Stabilization✓★✗
Stabilization Stops4 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance55 mm★300 mm
Max Magnification—1:5.9★

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

Zeiss 2103-749-cr

  • Strong user sentiment (76th percentile)
  • Strong macro (69th percentile)
  • Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
  • Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
  • Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
  • Below average bokeh (34th percentile)

Pricing

Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm

Zeiss 2103-749-cr

No current pricing available

Verdict

★ Winner: Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm

Scores 97 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 22 specs.

Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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