Nikon Nikon Nikkor AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens - Review

The Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR is the kit lens that comes with a lot of Nikon's entry-level DSLRs, and it's priced around $247 if you're buying it separately. Its main selling point is versatility, scoring in the 86th percentile for that. That means it covers a useful range from wide-angle to short telephoto, which is great for beginners who aren't sure what focal length they like yet. But the numbers also tell you where it's not great. Its aperture performance lands in the 39th percentile, and its optical quality is in the 34th. So you're getting a lens that can do a bit of everything, but it won't excel in any one area.

Performance is exactly what you'd expect from a basic kit zoom. Its autofocus is middle-of-the-road at the 49th percentile, which is fine for general photography but might hunt a bit in low light. The VR stabilization is a bit below average at the 42nd percentile, so it helps, but don't expect miracles. The real story is in the optical scores. At 34th percentile, sharpness and contrast are just okay. And with a bokeh score in the 38th percentile, don't expect beautifully blurred backgrounds, especially at the long end where the aperture is only f/5.6. It's a functional lens, not a spectacular one.

At $247, this lens is tough to recommend as a standalone purchase. You're almost always better off buying it as part of a camera kit, where its effective cost is much lower. For that price, you could get a prime lens with a much wider aperture (like an f/1.8) that would offer significantly better image quality and low-light performance. The value here is only if you absolutely need the zoom range and are getting it bundled with a camera.

Compared to a prime like the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7, you lose the zoom but gain over 3 stops of light and much sharper optics. The Viltrox will blow this Nikon lens out of the water for portraits and low light. Against another zoom like the Panasonic 14-140mm, you get a much shorter range. The Panasonic covers wide-angle to super-telephoto, but it's for a different camera system (Micro Four Thirds). For a Nikon shooter on a budget who wants a single, general-purpose lens, this 18-55mm does the job, but competitors in other mounts often offer more range or better optics for similar money.

This is a classic beginner's lens. If it comes in the box with your new Nikon DSLR, use it, learn with it, and see what focal lengths you use most. Its versatility score of 86 proves it's great for that. But if you're looking to buy a lens separately to improve your photography, skip it. Spend your $247 on a fast prime lens instead. The data is clear: its optical and aperture scores are below average, and you can get much better performance for your money elsewhere.