Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm
Panasonic Lumix G Vario H-FS045200 45-200mm
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
Panasonic Lumix G Vario H-FS045200 45-200mm
The Panasonic 45-200mm f/4-5.6 II lens is widely praised by users for its excellent value, sharp image quality at most focal lengths, and effective stabilization. Many find it a great budget-friendly telephoto zoom that pairs well with Micro Four Thirds bodies for wildlife, sports, and everyday use. A few reviewers note softness at the long end and some build quality concerns, but the overall sentiment is very positive, especially considering its price.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Good image sharpness throughout range
- Effective optical image stabilization
- Weather-sealed construction (II version)
- Lightweight and compact design
Cons
- Softness at 200mm long end
- Zoom creep when tilted downward
- Build feels less robust
- Autofocus struggles with distant small subjects
- F/4-5.6 aperture not ideal for low light
Scores
Specifications
| Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm | Panasonic Lumix G Vario H-FS045200 45-200mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 45 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 55 mm | 200 mm |
| Elements | 7 | 16 |
| Groups | 5 | 13 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1 | 3★ |
| Coating | Super Integrated Coating | Nano surface coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | 4.0-5.6 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | APS-C★ | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | — | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.20 kg★ | 0.38 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 52 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | pulse stepping motor | linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 55 mm | 45 mm★ |
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
Panasonic Lumix G Vario H-FS045200 45-200mm
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong macro (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong versatility (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
Pricing
Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm offers 1.7x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 97 overall, wins 6 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 21 specs.
