Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm
Samyang SY12M-N 12mm
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
Samyang SY12M-N 12mm
The Samyang 12mm f/2.8 Fisheye Lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from verified users, who praise its sharpness, color, and contrast. It is widely recommended for 360° virtual tours, creative fisheye effects, and landscape photography on full-frame Nikon cameras. The lens works with most Nikon DSLR and mirrorless bodies, though users note the protruding front element requires care. Some Q&A clarifications confirm manual focus and aperture ring settings for Nikon AE compatibility.
Pros
- Sharp edge-to-edge optics
- Excellent color and contrast
- Great for 360° virtual tours
- Versatile for creative fisheye effects
- Good build quality
Cons
- Protruding front element needs careful handling
- Manual focus and aperture ring required on some Nikon bodies
Scores
Specifications
| Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm | Samyang SY12M-N 12mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | fisheye |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 12 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 55 mm | 12 mm |
| Elements | 7 | 12 |
| Groups | 5 | 8 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 | 2 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 3★ |
| Coating | Super Integrated Coating | Nano Coating System |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weight | 0.20 kg★ | 0.50 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | — |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | pulse stepping motor★ | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 55 mm★ | 200 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
Samyang SY12M-N 12mm
- Strong user sentiment (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong macro (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong optical (79th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average build (29th percentile)
Pricing
Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm offers 2.6x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 97 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 20 specs.
