Nikon Nikon 2179 AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED Review

If you're shooting with a Nikon DX camera and you can only pack one lens, this 18-105mm is a strong contender. It's the classic 'kit lens on steroids,' covering everything from a decently wide 18mm to a useful telephoto 105mm. That versatility score in the 97th percentile isn't a fluke. It means this lens can handle landscapes, street shots, and even some basic event coverage without you needing to swap glass.

Nikon built this lens for the photographer who wants to keep things simple. It's a great fit for travel, family events, or as a reliable all-rounder for a beginner who's outgrowing their basic 18-55mm kit lens. The built-in Vibration Reduction (VR) is a huge part of the appeal, letting you shoot handheld in lower light than you normally could.

What makes it interesting is how it splits the difference. It's not a cheap, plasticky kit lens, but it's also not a pro-grade, weather-sealed workhorse. It sits in that sweet spot of being capable enough for serious hobbyists while staying relatively affordable and light at 420 grams. The optical performance, sitting in the 87th percentile, promises sharp images with good color, which is exactly what you want from your everyday lens.

The numbers tell a clear story. That 89th percentile stabilization score is the star of the show. In practice, this means you can confidently shoot at shutter speeds 3 or 4 stops slower than the old '1/focal length' rule. Shooting at 105mm? You might get a sharp shot at 1/15th of a second. That's a game-changer for indoor shots without a flash or golden hour landscapes without a tripod.

Where the performance gets more nuanced is in the areas this lens wasn't designed for. The autofocus lands in the 47th percentile, so it's competent but not lightning-fast for sports or wildlife. The aperture, at f/3.5-5.6, is in the 38th percentile. That's the trade-off for the zoom range and compact size. You won't get much background blur (bokeh is 37th percentile) or stellar low-light performance without the VR helping out. For portraits, it scored a 51.9, which makes sense. It's a jack-of-all-trades, not a specialist.

At around $285, this lens sits in a tricky spot. It's more expensive than a basic 18-55mm kit lens, but you're paying for that extra telephoto reach and the excellent stabilization. If you find yourself constantly zooming with your feet or swapping lenses, that extra range is worth every penny.

The value really depends on what you already own. If you're buying your first camera and it's bundled with this lens, it's a fantastic deal. If you already have an 18-55mm, the question is whether the extra 50mm of zoom and better stabilization are worth the upgrade cost. For a standalone purchase, it's a very sensible, do-it-all option that saves you from buying two or three separate lenses.

Let's look at some competitors. The Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 is a third the price but a prime lens. You lose all the zoom versatility, but you gain a much faster aperture for low light and blurry backgrounds. It's a choice between one flexible tool (the Nikon) or a specialized, low-light beast (the Viltrox).

The Meike 55mm f/1.8 is another prime, sharper and faster for portraits, but again, you're stuck at one focal length. Comparing zooms, you might look at something like a Nikon 18-140mm. It gives you even more reach, but it's often more expensive and heavier. The 18-105mm hits a sweet spot of range, size, and price that these others don't quite match, as long as you can live with the slower aperture.

For the Nikon DX shooter who wants one lens to do almost everything, this 18-105mm is an easy recommendation. Its combination of useful zoom range, great stabilization, and good optics makes it a reliable travel and walk-around companion. You'll miss some shots in very low light or when you want professional-looking portrait blur, but for everyday shooting, it's incredibly capable.

But, if your photography is leaning toward a specific style, think twice. Aspiring portrait photographers should look at a fast prime like a 35mm or 50mm f/1.8. Wildlife shooters will need more reach. For everyone else—travelers, parents, hobbyists exploring different genres—this lens is a fantastic, no-fuss tool that lets you focus on shooting, not on your gear bag.