Nikon AF-S NIKKOR DX 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR APS-C
The 18-300mm zoom range covers wide-angle to super telephoto, equivalent to 27-450mm on DX cameras, with a 4-stop VR system and Silent Wave Motor for sharp, quiet handheld shots. Its 16-element design with three aspherical and three ED elements, plus Super Integrated Coating, controls aberrations and flare across the range. Best for travel and wildlife photographers who want one lightweight 550g lens for varied subjects without changing lenses.
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Panoramica
The 30-Second Version
The Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR is the ultimate convenience lens for DX shooters, with a 99th percentile versatility score and excellent VR. It gets soft past 200mm and the f/6.3 aperture is slow, but for daylight travel and all-in-one shooting, it's a solid buy. Just don't pay top dollar, prices swing by USD 210 in the US alone.
Pros & Cons
Pro
- Massive 18-300mm range means one lens does almost everything 99th
- Lightweight at 550g for a superzoom 95th
- VR stabilization is genuinely excellent 93rd
- Sharp at shorter focal lengths 91st
Contro
- Soft at 200-300mm
- Slow f/6.3 aperture at the long end
- No weather sealing
- Vignetting at wide angle
Cosa dicono i proprietari
The Word on the Street
Come è cambiata l'opinione dei proprietari nel tempo
EsclusivaIn base a quando i clienti hanno effettivamente scritto le recensioni, per vedere se gli elogi iniziali sono durati.
- Q3 201952/100
Buyers praised the lens for its versatile zoom range and compact size, but others reported severe autofocus issues with moving subjects and poor image quality on adapted cameras.
- Autofocus fails on moving subjects; poor consistency even across multiple copies and camera bodies.
- Image quality poor when used with FTZ adapter on Nikon Z7; washed out and blurry.
- Versatile zoom range and good balance for travel and safari; compact and lightweight.
- Lens hood not included; some buyers disappointed by omission and unclear product info.
- Q2 201971/100
Buyers praised the lens as versatile, sharp, and lightweight for travel. One reported a dark vignette at no zoom, and another noted the lens extends on its own.
- Versatile all-in-one zoom, sharp and lightweight for travel.
- Dark vignette at no zoom ruins full-frame use.
- Lens extends by itself at extreme angles.
- Refurbished lens arrived like new and works well.
- Q1 201975/100
Buyers praised the lens for sharpness, wide range, and VR, but one reported a defect with stiff zoom past 25mm.
- Sharp lens with wide focal range and nice bokeh.
- Lightweight with effective VR for handheld shots.
- Good value and convenience for travel photography.
- Defective zoom mechanism stiff past 25mm out of box.
- Q4 201871/100
Buyers praised the lens as lightweight and versatile for travel, but one reported severe focus defects even after replacement, calling it substandard.
- Lightweight and versatile all-in-one lens for travel and everyday use.
- Sharp images and responsive controls for a superzoom.
- Focus defects reported; first copy was defective, replacement still substandard.
- Good value for price but not the sharpest lens available.
- Q3 201893/100
Buyers praise this lens as sharp, lightweight, and versatile for travel and general use. One noted a slightly tight zoom spot, but overall satisfaction is high.
- Sharp image quality and good VR performance, exceeding expectations.
- Lightweight design makes it ideal for all-day carry and travel.
- Versatile all-in-one lens covering wide to telephoto range.
- One user reported a slightly tight spot in the zoom ring.
- Q2 201896/100
Buyers praised the lens as an excellent travel companion, compact, and versatile, replacing multiple lenses. One noted a minor deduction but overall satisfaction was high.
- Excellent travel lens, compact and lightweight.
- Replaces multiple lenses, simplifies gear.
- Fast focus and smooth operation.
- Durable construction and good optics.
- Q1 201887/100
Buyers praised the lens as a good value all-in-one option with great image quality and ergonomic design, though some noted lens flare and a missing hood.
- Great value and image quality for an all-in-one lens.
- Lightweight and ergonomic, ideal for travel or light setups.
- Lens flare noted; hood sold separately, but overall fair for price.
- Good service and convenient all-around performance.
- Q3 201777/100
Buyers praised the lens for its versatility, crisp images, and convenience of replacing multiple lenses. A few noted softness at high zoom, shakiness, and a rattling issue.
- Versatile all-in-one lens eliminates need for multiple lenses.
- Crisp, sharp images across zoom range; great for travel and everyday use.
- Soft and shaky at high zoom; faces blurry, detail poor.
- Lens rattles for no apparent reason; pictures still fine.
- Q2 2017100/100
All 8 reviews are 5-star. Buyers praise the lens as a versatile, all-in-one travel solution with good image quality and VR.
- Excellent all-in-one travel lens for DX bodies, covering wide to telephoto.
- Good image quality, sharp and crisp photos, especially after lens corrections.
- VR helps in low light; compact and reasonable weight for travel.
- Great value and price point; good upgrade from 18-140mm.
- Q1 201786/100
Buyers praised the lens as a versatile travel companion with sharp focus and good low-light performance, though some noted it is slightly heavy and lacks macro capability.
- Sharp focus and good image quality across the zoom range.
- Convenient all-in-one lens for travel, eliminating lens changes.
- Slightly heavy for extended carry, but lighter than some alternatives.
- Lacks macro feature and has some barrel distortion at 18mm.
Basato su 113 recensioni dei clienti datate, raggruppate per trimestre solare. L'analisi per periodo è in inglese.
Le prove
Performance
Sharpness is genuinely good from 18mm through about 200mm, especially stopped down a bit. The three aspherical and three ED elements do real work keeping chromatic aberration in check. But push past 200mm and things get soft. Not unusable soft, but you'll notice it if you pixel-peep. The VR system is a standout, rated in the 92nd percentile, and it earns its four stops of stabilization. Autofocus via the Silent Wave Motor is quick and quiet in good light, though it's not the fastest we've tested. The f/6.3 max aperture at the long end means you'll be cranking ISO indoors or at dusk. Macro performance is underwhelming at 0.32x magnification, landing in the 38th percentile. This lens is happiest outdoors in decent light.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 |
| Focal Length Max | 300 |
| Elements | 16 |
| Groups | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3 |
| ED Elements | 3 |
| Coating | Super Integrated Coating |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/3.5-6.3 |
| Min Aperture | f/22 |
| Constant | No |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
Build
| Mount | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | No |
| Weight | 0.6 kg / 1.2 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 67 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Silent Wave Motor |
| Stabilization | Yes |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 480 |
| Max Magnification | 0.32x |
vs Competition
The Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC will absolutely destroy this Nikon in low light and sharpness, but it gives up 260mm of reach. The Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 is sharper and faster, but you'll need a second lens for anything wide. The Canon RF 28-70mm F2.8 is a fantastic lens, but it's for a different mount entirely and costs way more. The Sony G Master 24mm f/1.4 is a prime, so no comparison on versatility. The Nikon's whole pitch is convenience. If you want one lens that does everything reasonably well, none of these competitors touch it. If you want maximum image quality, all of them beat it.
| Spec | Nikon AF-S NIKKOR DX 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR | Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z | Viltrox LAB AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE | Sony G Master FE 50-150mm f/2 GM | Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC | Tamron Di III 70-180mm f/2.8 VC VXD G2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 18-300mm | 24-105mm | 35mm | 50-150mm | 17-40mm | 70-180mm |
| Max Aperture | f/3.5-6.3 | f/2.8 | f/1.2 | f/2 | f/1.8 | f/2.8 |
| Mount | Nikon F | Canon RF | Sony E | Sony E | Fujifilm X | Sony E |
| Format Coverage | APS-C | full-frame | full-frame | full-frame | APS-C | full-frame |
| Stabilization | true | true | false | false | false | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 550 | 1315 | 910 | 1340 | 535 | 855 |
| AF Type | Silent Wave Motor | Nano USM | VCM | XD linear motors | HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) | VXD |
| Lens Type | zoom | zoom | prime | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Prodotto | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Reach | Video | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Wide Angle | Portability | Versatility | Riscontro degli utenti | Affordability | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon AF-S NIKKOR DX 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR | 83.5 | 48.5 | 64.5 | 71.7 | 92.6 | 63.5 | 90.7 | 26.6 | 31.8 | 66.9 | 44.9 | 99.4 | 81.8 | 42.8 | 94.9 |
| Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z Compare | 89.9 | 78.9 | 95.3 | 69.3 | 73.7 | 88.2 | 98 | 44 | 81.7 | 74.7 | 11.2 | 91.9 | 87.9 | 8.2 | 96 |
| Viltrox LAB AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE Compare | 95.4 | 69.1 | 90.8 | 45.1 | 29.2 | 72.5 | 92.8 | 96.1 | 81.7 | 53.4 | 20.7 | 32.9 | 87.9 | 33.4 | 36 |
| Sony G Master FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Compare | 95.4 | 96 | 98.9 | 51.9 | 80 | 88.2 | 95.7 | 64.1 | 66.4 | 40.2 | 10.9 | 82.1 | 92.6 | 7.2 | 36 |
| Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Compare | 95.4 | 53.1 | 95.3 | 54.2 | 52.8 | 88.2 | 97.3 | 74.7 | 98.7 | 68.9 | 47 | 75 | 92.6 | 33.7 | 36 |
| Tamron Di III 70-180mm f/2.8 VC VXD G2 Compare | 95.4 | 86.6 | 77.4 | 75.5 | 80.9 | 84.4 | 96.5 | 44 | 66.4 | 29.3 | 22 | 77 | 92.6 | 27.6 | 97.4 |
Prezzo
Value & Pricing
Pricing is all over the place. In the US, you'll see this lens listed anywhere from USD 630 to USD 840 across nine listings. That's a USD 210 spread for the same glass. If you're shopping in the US, hunt for the lower end of that range. In Europe, prices run EUR 567 to EUR 699, a EUR 132 gap. The best deals tend to show up on Newegg bundles, which often throw in filter kits and tripods. For a lens with this much range and solid optical performance, anything near the bottom of those price windows is a good buy. Paying top dollar? Not so much.
Price History
Approfondisci
Overview
The Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR is the lens you buy when you're tired of hauling a bag full of glass. It covers a 27-450mm equivalent range on DX bodies, which means one lens for landscapes, portraits, and wildlife. At 550g, it's shockingly light for that reach. The trade-off is a slow variable aperture, but for most daylight shooters, that's a fair deal.
Our database puts this thing in the 99th percentile for versatility. That's not marketing talk, it's just math. The optical quality lands in the 93rd percentile, which is impressive for a superzoom. But the build quality sits at a mediocre 44th percentile, and the aperture is a weak spot at 35th. So it's a convenience king, not a low-light specialist.
Common Questions
Q: Is this lens sharp at 300mm?
It's usable but noticeably softer than at shorter focal lengths. Stopping down to f/8 helps, but if you need critical sharpness at 300mm, a dedicated telephoto will serve you better.
Q: Will this work on a full-frame Nikon camera?
It's designed for DX-format bodies. On a full-frame camera, you'll get heavy vignetting or need to shoot in crop mode, which defeats the purpose.
Q: Is the autofocus fast enough for sports or wildlife?
The Silent Wave Motor is quick and quiet in good light, but it's not the fastest AF system we've tested. For fast action, you may miss shots. For casual wildlife and general shooting, it's fine.
Who Should Skip This
If you shoot in low light regularly, skip this. The f/6.3 aperture at the long end will have you fighting high ISOs constantly. If you need critical sharpness at 300mm for wildlife or sports, look at a dedicated telephoto instead. And if you're on a full-frame Z body with an FTZ adapter, several owners report poor performance, so this isn't your lens.
Verdict
This is the lens for travel photographers, casual wildlife shooters, and anyone who hates changing lenses mid-hike. It's not for pixel-peepers or low-light specialists. The 18-300mm range is liberating, the VR is excellent, and the weight is manageable. Just know that the long end gets soft and the aperture is slow. If you're a DX shooter who wants one lens to rule them all, this is about as close as it gets. If you need pro-level sharpness at 300mm, save up for something faster and heavier.
Usage Scores
- Macro50.9
- Complessivo70.4
- Budget78.7
- Street60.4
- Travel75.8
- Portrait55.6
- Landscape64.5
- Professional57.7
- Video Cinema60.9
- Wildlife Sports87.3
