Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm

Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm

Nikon
97 Overall Score
vs
Tamron SP 60mm f/2 Di II 1:1 Macro 60mm

Tamron SP 60mm f/2 Di II 1:1 Macro 60mm

Tamron
49 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

Tamron SP 60mm f/2 Di II 1:1 Macro 60mm

82 out of 100 low confidence 9 reviews

This Tamron 60mm f/2 macro lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its sharpness, excellent bokeh, and versatile use for both macro and portrait photography. Users appreciate the good working distance, solid build, and value for money, though some note the autofocus can be slow and noisy, and one verified reviewer reported a severe front-focusing issue that could not be fully corrected. Overall, it is highly recommended for APS-C DSLR users seeking a capable macro and portrait lens.

Pros
  • Excellent sharpness
  • Great bokeh
  • Versatile for macro and portrait
  • Good working distance
  • Solid build quality
Cons
  • Slow autofocus speed
  • Noisy autofocus motor
  • Front-focusing issues on some copies
  • Autofocus hunts in low contrast
  • Lens hood interferes at close range
👍 Image quality 7
🤔 Autofocus performance 6
👍 Build quality 5
👍 Value for money 5
👍 Versatility 4
👎 Focus accuracy 2

Scores

Street
Nikon
91
Tamron
44
Budget
Nikon
90
Tamron
43
Macro
Nikon
89
Tamron
69
Travel
Nikon
86
Tamron
38
Portrait
Nikon
83
Tamron
36
Video Cinema
Nikon
77
Tamron
43
Wildlife Sports
Nikon
71
Tamron
36
Landscape
Nikon
70
Tamron
43
Professional
Nikon
70
Tamron
46

Specifications

Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mmTamron SP 60mm f/2 Di II 1:1 Macro 60mm
Optics
Typezoommacro
Focal Length Min18 mm60 mm
Focal Length Max55 mm60 mm
Elements714
Groups510
Aspherical Elements2★0
ED Elements12★
CoatingSuper Integrated CoatingBroad-Band Anti-Reflective Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/22
Min Aperture3.5-5.6f/2
Constant✗✓★
Diaphragm Blades77
Build
MountNikon FSony A
FormatAPS-CAPS-C
Weather Sealed—✗
Weight0.20 kg★0.39 kg
Filter Thread55 mm55 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF Typepulse stepping motor★Autofocus
Stabilization✓★✗
Stabilization Stops4 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance55 mm★231 mm
Max Magnification—1:1★

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

Tamron SP 60mm f/2 Di II 1:1 Macro 60mm

  • Strong macro (78th percentile)
  • Strong optical (73rd percentile)
  • Strong social proof (69th percentile)
  • Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
  • Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
  • Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
  • Below average stabilization (34th percentile)

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