Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm
Tamron Di II A14E 18-200mm
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 A14E 18-200mm
The Tamron 18-200mm lens is praised for its versatility and value, offering a convenient all-in-one zoom range that eliminates the need to switch lenses. While image quality is generally good, some users report issues like softness at the long end, vignetting at 18mm, and lens creep, though these can often be mitigated by sending the lens to Tamron for adjustment or using simple fixes. Focus speed is adequate for most needs but can be slow in low light or live view, and the manual focus is noisy, which is a drawback for video. Overall, it is considered a great budget-friendly option for hobbyists and entry-level photographers.
Pros
- Versatile all-in-one zoom range
- Good value for money
- Decent image quality for the price
- Lightweight and portable
- Includes tulip lens hood
Cons
- Softness at 200mm end
- Vignetting at 18mm
- Lens creep when pointed up/down
- Slow autofocus in low light
- Noisy manual focus for video
Scores
Specifications
| Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm | Tamron Di II A14E 18-200mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 55 mm | 200 mm |
| Elements | 7 | 17 |
| Groups | 5 | 13 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | Super Integrated Coating | Internal Surface coatings, multiple-layered coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/18 |
| 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 |
| Weight | 0.20 kg★ | 0.40 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 62 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | pulse stepping motor★ | Auto Focus |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 55 mm★ | 498 mm |
| Max Magnification | — | 1:3.7★ |
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 Di II A14E 18-200mm
- Strong versatility (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong optical (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong stabilization (79th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (21st percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
Pricing
Verdict
Scores 97 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 21 specs.
