Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm
Tamron Di II B016N 16-300mm
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
Tamron Di II B016N 16-300mm
A versatile all-in-one lens praised for travel, macro, and wildlife, though image quality trade-offs are noted. Build quality is solid, autofocus is generally fast, and the compact size reduces the need for multiple lenses. Some users report softness at long ends, chromatic aberration, and occasional focusing issues, but most find the convenience outweighs the drawbacks.
Pros
- Versatile all-in-one zoom range
- Excellent for travel and hiking
- Good macro capability at all focal lengths
- Solid build quality
- Fast and quiet autofocus
Cons
- Softness at 300mm end
- Chromatic aberration (fringing)
- Occasional autofocus hunt or hesitation
- Zoom creep when camera is vertical
- Not tack sharp for pixel peepers
Scores
Specifications
| Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm | Tamron Di II B016N 16-300mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 55 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 7 | 16 |
| Groups | 5 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | Super Integrated Coating | multiple layers of coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | 3.5-6.3 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | — | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.20 kg★ | 0.54 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | pulse stepping motor★ | Piezo Drive |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 55 mm★ | 300 mm |
| Max Magnification | — | 1:2.9★ |
Pros & Cons
Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm
- Strong macro (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong stabilization (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong build (84th percentile)84th %ile
Tamron Di II B016N 16-300mm
- Strong versatility (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong optical (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong aperture (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Strong bokeh (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
Verdict
Scores 97 overall, wins 6 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.