Nikon NIKKOR AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

Nikon NIKKOR AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

Nikon
80 Overall Score
vs
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD

Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD

Tamron
100 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Nikon NIKKOR AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

72 out of 100 medium confidence 13 reviews

The Nikon AF-P 18-55mm lens receives mixed feedback. Many users praise its sharpness, silent autofocus in video mode, and lightweight design, but compatibility issues with older Nikon cameras like the D5000 and D3300 (without firmware update) are a recurring complaint. Some users report defective units where autofocus fails entirely, while others find it a significant upgrade over older AF-S lenses for video work.

Pros
  • Sharp image quality
  • Silent autofocus in video mode
  • Lightweight and compact design
  • Fast autofocus speed
  • Good value for money
Cons
  • Compatibility issues with older cameras
  • Autofocus failure on some units
  • Zoom noise picked up by internal mic
  • No VR or manual focus button on lens
  • Requires firmware update for some cameras
👎 Compatibility 4
🤔 Autofocus performance 6
👍 Image quality 4
🤔 Noise level 4
👍 Build quality 3
👍 Value for money 3

Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD

92 out of 100 medium confidence 13 reviews

The Tamron 28-300mm super-zoom wins praise for its lightweight design, versatile focal range, and solid image quality. Users appreciate the compact build and smooth zoom mechanism, but note the slow aperture and trade-offs in sharpness compared to more expensive zooms. Verified reviewers find it an ideal travel lens that pairs well with Sony bodies.

Pros
  • Lightweight design
  • Versatile 28-300mm focal range
  • Smooth zoom ring operation
  • Compact build for travel
  • Good integration with Sony bodies
Cons
  • Small maximum aperture (f/4-7.1)
  • Reduced sharpness vs. premium zooms
  • Not an internal zoom lens
  • Slow autofocus at high fps on some bodies
👍 Build quality 3
🤔 Sharpness 3
👎 Aperture 2
👍 Weight and portability 3
👍 Zoom range 4
👎 Autofocus performance 1

Scores

Budget
Nikon
87
Tamron
95
Macro
Nikon
83
Tamron
91
Portrait
Nikon
80
Tamron
87
Landscape
Nikon
59
Tamron
86
Professional
Nikon
62
Tamron
85
Wildlife Sports
Nikon
63
Tamron
85
Video Cinema
Nikon
72
Tamron
82
Street
Nikon
69
Tamron
81
Travel
Nikon
58
Tamron
81

Specifications

Nikon NIKKOR AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VRTamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
Optics
Typezoomzoom
Focal Length Min18 mm28 mm
Focal Length Max55 mm300 mm
Elements—20
Groups—13
Aspherical Elements23★
ED Elements—2★
CoatingSuper Integrated Coatingfluorine coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/4
Min Aperture3.5-5.64-7.1
Constant✗✗
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountNikon FSony E
FormatAPS-Cfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✗✓★
Weight0.74 kg0.59 kg★
Filter Thread52 mm67 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF Typepulse stepping motorVXD linear motor★
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops4 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance83 mm★190 mm
Max Magnification—1:2.8★

Pros & Cons

Nikon NIKKOR AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

  • Strong macro (94th percentile)94th %ile
  • Strong stabilization (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Strong af (86th percentile)86th %ile
  • Strong versatility (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
  • Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile

Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD

  • Strong versatility (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong optical (96th percentile)96th %ile
  • Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile

Pricing

Nikon NIKKOR AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR is ¥54,319 cheaper (1.8x less).

Nikon NIKKOR AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD

Verdict

★ Winner: Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD

Scores 100 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 8 of 22 specs.

Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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