This compact, lightweight 7.5x zoom lens, designed exclusively for use with Nikon’s DX-format, is an ideal zoom for everyday shooting situations.
List Price: $485.00
Price: $342.31 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.
You Save: $142.96 (29%)
In stock
Go to –> Nikkor 18-135mm detail
Lens nikkor Reviews
…
A solid value and nothing to scoff at, July 2, 2007
By Shane O. Laake “computer nerd” (Columbus, OH)
Wide open this lens has some noticeable flaws, but if you force it to using a more closed aperture (say F8), many of those become less apparent. Even if you’re forced to shoot wide open or you don’t know better, you can correct the aberrations and vignetting in software.
While some prefer the slightly better build of the 18-70mm, I’d take the extra 65mm (close to 100mm on the DSLRs that use these lenses) any day over a distance scale and a metal lens mount. For crying out loud it’s an autofocus walk around lens, so distance scales are relics for few people to use and the mount is a moot point, since it will stay on 99% of the time. As for focus speed, it’s great. There are faster focusing lenses, but not with a comparable zoom range for the price. Nikon is not a charity, they design sophisticated lenses, build them to high tolerances, and sell them to a loyal following at a fair price. Yes a $1000 lens will be better than a $330 one, and yes a $2500 lens collection will do better than a $330 lens. I should hope so!
Enough of the weaknesses, which plenty of other folks will write about, it is a very good lens. 135mm is about as long of a lens that I would want without VR stabilization, but it works well when there is ample light. Since it’s only intended for DSLRs, bumping the ISO is always an option to assure shake free shutter speeds.
Why isn’t this a 5* review, well, I can honestly tell you that there are many people with defective lenses in need of repair/replacement. I believe those issues have been fixed, but it’s not a good circumstance. I recommend that you be sure to buy a genuine US copy with a full warranty–don’t fall for any extended warranty though, as it’s got a generous 5 years from Nikon. Being to ‘po boy I am, I opted for one of those refurbished ones, hoping it was a unit that was returned by someone expecting a perfect lens at a bargain price, and a double check by Nikon assured that it is and likely will always be fully functional. No regrets thus far.
Proof: you can’t please all the people all the time., December 19, 2007
By Christopher (Jackson, CA)
Quit your beefin’…this is a fine lens!
I use this lens exclusively and just cannot understand the naysayers to its quality, speed and pincushion problems.
Wierd that I have one of the few good ones?
It balances and handles great on my DSLR and takes sharp, richly colored, pics day in and day out.
The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is that there is some ‘purple fringing’ at full tele. Not major but enough to ding a star.
This lens is a great value. For those who did get a bummer lens, it may worth another try or have it fixed.
I owned the reknowned Nikon 18-200 VR for a week and frankly found it heavy, clunky and the quality was no better. I returned it and kept this one.
OK, my two cents. I LIKE this lens a lot.
Best buy for versatile lens, March 4, 2008
By Andrew Szava-kovats “Tekno Geek” (MA, USA)
I compared this to the Nikon 18-200 VR:
1) The 18-135 is lighter and nicely balanced in handling, when mounted on the light bodies (like D-40). The 18-200 VR is much too heavy for the slight added zoom range.
2) The build quality is better than the 18-200. I got an 18-200 from the Japan factory, and it had dirt inside, inbetween lens elements! The 18-135 came perfectly clean.
3) The 18-135 has a smooth zoom barrel. While the 18-200VR has a horribly grinding zoom barrel, which sounds like it’s got sand in it.
4) The zoom barrel stays put in any position, while the 18-200 does not stay in place (if you hold it vertical, it starts drifting - a LOT).
5) The focus speed is Much Faster than the 18-200. If you think this is slow, wait till you spend $ 700 for the 18-200 and have to wait while it hunts-n-pecks, focusing endlessly…
5) The VR did not give me any faster exposures. I composed the exact same shot with both lenses and got the exact same readings.
6) The only down side is the pincussioning. I agree with the other reviewers about this. But it’s really only noticeable on architecture. Everything else about this lens overrides this blemish.
All-in-all, the 18-200 VR is nothing but Hype, for which they charge the consumer an extra $ 400. This is sales baloney.
I can’t wait to get rid of my 18-200! I’m keeping this one.
An awesome Nikkor lens with versatile range, April 8, 2008
By Ray Pringle
I really hate how everyone whines and complains about distortion with this lens. From the comparison shots I’ve taken it’s not that noticeable unless you get super nit picky about it.
This lens is a versatile zoom lens meant for everyday use. It’s not meant for studio work as far as I can tell. For one thing it’s slow in low light, F3.5 to me is way to slow for studio work. Not to mention all low cost wide angle lenses distort in one way or another. For studio, portrait, and portfolio shots you should be getting a straight 50mm lens with F1.4 or 1.8. It’s only a $100 lens and cuts out any distortion and is closest to the human eye’s focal range.
I would not use this for serious architecture work either. Any 35mm or DSLR camera will give you a huge angular distortion, this is where a 4×5 film camera comes in. *at least half of the people giving this lens a bad review just said “duh what?”* With a large format camera you can line up angles perfectly with the camera, not to mention you get the sharpest image you’ll ever need. Photoshop does the same thing by enabling you to fudge the angles.
IMO the sub $500 Digital SLR equipment is meant for immediacy, it’s meant for you to be able to bang out thousands of images without breaking the bank. It’s not meant for making perfect architecture shots or professional grade studio shots, and thats not what I expect from it. The bane of being a photographer is to have multiple sets of equipment. A DSLR for the ability to bang out multiple shots with a wide focal range lens, a 35mm or DSLR with a nice 50mm lens for studio portraits and proof work, and a large format camera for those perfect crystal clear architecture shots.
Pros:
-This is a relatively cheap lens in the grand scheme of things
-It has a versatile focal range
-Quick focus in medium to high light level
-Quiet operation
-Build quality is nice.
Cons:
-Ok it distorts, but it’s so subtle that I doubt a normal human will care.
-It does aggravate me that this does not have a focus range indicator, the 18-70DX and the 18-200VR has one why not this model?
-Also when in manual the focus ring slides past the min and max focusing points, I like a focus ring that clicks in and stops when I get to min and max focus.
-The lens wasn’t free
These are minor cons compared to the gains you get, it allows an amateur or student to have a full range lens for a reasonable price. I’m a BFA Photo student fresh out of college BTW so this lens is perfect for me. If you are a “Professional Photographer” you shouldn’t even be considering this lens. It’s definitely not professional grade, it’s for us who are at an intermediate level where we can’t spend a fortune on 1 lens.
I have heard that this model has a tendency to fail in one way or another, I have had it for 2 weeks and it’s still working for me. I’ll check back if it does fail. However I bought mine brand spanking new with the 5 year extended nikon warranty. I know nikon service is a pain but it’s worth it if you’re still under warranty.
great working range for a walk around lens, January 30, 2008
By high plains camera guy “hutrich” (Limon,Co)
I switched to this lens after a very poor experience with Sigma 24-60mm lens. This Lens is sharper at max open f/stop that the sigma was stopped down. With my test pictures this lens beats the Nikon 18-55mm kit lens.
Not as fast as I want, but it will work till I save enough money for a f/2.8 Nikon lens. Pictures appear to be sharp from edge to edge. I have not seen the distortion that others talk about in my normal test shots. size and weight appear to fit the D80 nicely. operation of the zoom is smooth. I agree with others that a depth of field guage on the lens barrel would have been a nice touch. Auto focus seems fast in good light. My experience with nikon lens is limited to 18-55 and 55-200mm kits lenses. For very close pictures (macro type) my Tokina 100mm and Sigma 50mm are sharper. I would recommend this lens for anyone on a budget.
