13 reviews for Nikon 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX NIKKOR Zoom Lens
4.4out of 5
★★★★★
★★★★★
8
★★★★★
3
★★★★★
1
★★★★★
1
★★★★★
0
Write a review
Show allMost HelpfulHighest RatingLowest Rating
★★★★★
AMG –
This is a replacement for my other one that broke the VR when I dropped it. An exceptional value at $650, this lens offers very precise focus and perspective on all of the picture, from close to telephoto adjustments, in never disappoints. The additional weight may be a factor for some, but combined with my wide angle lens, two lenses cover 100% of my travel needs.
If you found my review helpful, please select yes.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
Zini F. –
Very good quality optics. Good value. Decent build quality. Authentic product with warranty card included. Made in China. Received package had fair protection for the item. Excellent images, pretty sharp. Expect some distortion, especially around the 10mm end, but nothing that can’t be fixed in PP.
Edited – December 15, 2016: Noticed that between 10mm-12mm the image has noticeably soft edges, but centre is pretty sharp. See attached image (with post processing in Adobe LR from RAW file – Nikon D60). Focus is pretty fast and quiet.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
Sarshar –
This Thai product came in the gold box with NO warranty card, just a user manual. (I ordered a Nikon DSLR camera along with this lens and it came in a gold box with a Canadian warranty card) Vignetting is not as expected and the zoom ring is not running smoothly, while the focusing ring is a bit loose and slamming a couple of millimetres. I feel better when working with Canon lenses. Automatic autofocusing is pretty fast but not accurate enough, regardless of the lighting condition/using flash (should I blame Expeed 4?) but the VR technology is beyond expectation. It’s also available for a better price even on Amazon.ca! likely return it next week if I cannot convince myself dealing with the autofocus performance
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
P. J. Menter –
The well formed 18 – 200mm zoom provides up to 300mm equivalent zoom on a DX Nikon body. I’ve used it from flower blooms to racing cars screeching around motor circuits and pulled some very sharp and well rendered photos. On auto tracking it will hold focus on formula cars approaching head on at 180mph plus by setting 1/500th shutter speed. It won’t pull in clear shots if the racing car is too far out for that you’ll need a pro lens but for 90% of the frames you want it will give superb results – with the right technique. It’s a bit naff for landscapes but for interiors and tightly framed shots of buildings and townscapes the results are stunning. Don’t believe reviews that infer “jack of all trades master of none” this lens will produce excellent well rendered photos pin sharp for a life time of use. It is an investment that will step an order of magnitude above no brand lenses and give you a robust piece of kit you’ll use day after day.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
Gord –
This is not a prime lens and it won’t give you prime lens quality. That being said, if you want a good lens for travel this is the one. Like all zoom lenses it has it’s faults. Don’t expect it to perform in low light situations without a tripod or flash. It’s an f3.5 – 6.3 not an f1.8 or f2.8. On a recent trip I had a tripod with me but decided to spend a day without it. The VR worked well at all focal lengths. In bright conditions it is easily hand held at 300 mm. I used f8 – f16 most of the time and I didn’t have blurry shots from camera shake thanks to the VR and being able to maintain higher shutter speeds. My normal kit is an 11-16 mm f2.8, 17-50 mm f2.8, and a 70-200 mm f2.8. This lens replaces them when weight and convenience are more important than a “perfect” shot. If you don’t need the 300 mm reach, the 18-200 mm is another good choice.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
Amazon Customer –
i am hesitate in the beginning to order a international version Nikon lens with a big discount. Agter i received it , i check every singe detail of the lens, i don’t see any defect and in original nikon package exceprt no canadian warranty card. ,other wise it is the exact product i found in the bestbuy show room . i took few shot from wide to zoom and all the pics are professionally sharp and right color. i reccommand it especially save u extra$$ and able to buy a prime lens
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
Black Bolt –
Very pleased with this Nikon lens. Very light and versatile. I would need to carry around 10 lens to be able to get the shots I want and this one does it all. I was really surprised with the sharpness. Most zooms don’t capture sharp images but this one fooled me. It’s Nikon (what can I say). I am so pleased that they used a steel mount rather than plastic. Awesome lens.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
RalfyM –
This is hot off the press and basic feedback after a very quick initial play with this lens. Plus points so far seem to be
1. It is very compact and therefore lightweight lens 2. Focusing is almost instant 3. There is a manual focus wheel which can even be used when autofocus is on 4. With it being an 18 mm to 300 mm lens it means less need to keep changing lenses
I bought this lens basically because I got fed up of constantly changing between the bog standard Nikon 18mm to 55mm lens and a pretty good Tamron 70 mm to 300 mm lens. Ok so I may be comparing apples and oranges here but at 300mm the Tamron actually zooms in more than this lens. This also means you get a much closer shot in macro mode with the Tamron. The difference is quite significant so it’s a little surprising and a little disappointing.
I need to check things out a little more but that initial excitement has dissipated by a small amount. I’ll keep the lens as I need the convenience more than anything.
UPDATE: I took some shots recently in low light with this lens at 300mm (equivalent to somewhere around 140mm on the Tamron 70-300mm lens) and I noticed how quickly things darkened. So I did a test with both lens and the light difference is amazing, the Tamron winning out easily. This Nikon lens is just shockingly bad. I really wish I’d bought something else but I think too much time has passed now. Basically I would not recommend this lens unless you want only two things, the quietness and speed of the focus. This lens does very little else well. I’m going to save up again for an alternative then sell this as quickly as possible.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
jonmax –
Purchased this 55-200mm VR II lens kit to go with my Nikon D3300, The 18-55 Lens kit already came with the camera, The 18-55 kit is brilliant for portraits and family photos. I needed a lens that did the extra zoom, After reading reviews and lookin at my budget the 55-200mm kit is brilliant for what I need, I would love to have the Nikon 55-300 kit but that is well over my budget, The lens itself when attached to the camera does not stick out much further than the standard kit that came with the camera, Maybe an extra 20mm so its great for putting in a camera case.
So the important part, Autofocus is powered by a silent wave motor, and auto focus speeds are pretty quick for a lens of this budget level. The centre sharpness of the pictures is fantastic at most focal lengths, At maximum aperture and 55mm, sharpness is excellent across the frame, Changing the aperture to f/8 gives you great performance, Zooming to 105mm results in a reduction of performance at maximum aperture. Here sharpness is very good in the centre, Changed the aperture again to f/8, performance at this focal length is much improved. Here sharpness is outstanding in the centre, For best results at 200mm I went to f/11, The sharpness and quality of the image at this length is fantastic, Of course it helps having the Vibration Reduction switched on, Close-up performance is also pretty decent for a non-macro lens, All In all this is a very good lens for the price, If your a novice like me, Then you will love it.
The picture taken of the moon is zoomed right up to 200mm, No tripod involved just my hand, The shot was taken in Auto mode and with the VR switched on, I have then cropped the picture on my PC, The pic shows how much detail you can get from this fantastic lens.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
Mr. P. Floding –
Extremely compact, and very sharp! Very nice handling for a cheapish plastic lens. I only had one problem, and that was that VR (VR II on this one) actually introduced vibration at certain shutter speeds, where turning off VR gave a better image. At something like 1/200s at 200mm, the VR often made the image worse than without VR (handheld, not on tripod, obviously). I don’t know if my sample was bad, or it’s anything to do with the body (D3200). Returned it for this reason.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
Relics –
I wish Nikon would make better lenses for its APSC line. The quality of this lens is at best mediocre. Not that I didn’t expect this for a super wide angle lens but the distortion at the edges are just too much for landscape photography even after correction in lightroom. If you have a straight vertical line near the edges, say a building, it would tilt ~30° and not sharp at all. I used this lens for star trail photography as well. If I dont align the north star to be close to the center line, the trail would like elliptical rather than spherical. You need to consider your use case carefully before purchasing this lens. I switched to full frame this year not because of better cameras or bettrr sensors but because of the lack of high quality lenses in Nikon’s APSC line.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
Kyle bates –
Great Value Lens The Autofocus is a little slow and fairly loud. Has not worked well for me when looking to grab moving wildlife due to the length of time it takes for the autofocus. However For the Price, More than worth it. It’s not too heavy and I love the manual selections on the lens for Autofocus and VR. Images come out clean and crisp and zoom ring has just the right amount of tension ( I have used others that its almost too loose and free turning). Great lens for the Beginner or Frugal Photographer
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
John W –
Purchased this lens as an upgrade to my 8 year old 16-85 that I subsequently sold at a good price to offset the cost. Many have said it’s not worth upgrading due to the cost . .. I’ve found it a worthy upgrade and the f4 does come in handy in low light and at night when handheld with the added benefit of improved VR. The contrast is an improvement on it’s predecessor and though I found the 16-85 was sharp across the image, this is razor sharp. Not too heavy though the lens cap is bit big in comparison but nevertheless still fits comfortably in my camera bag.
Yes, it is expensive but what is’nt these days particularly with lenses and bodies across the board.
I can only highly recommend this lens and assure you, you will not be disappointed.
AMG –
This is a replacement for my other one that broke the VR when I dropped it. An exceptional value at $650, this lens offers very precise focus and perspective on all of the picture, from close to telephoto adjustments, in never disappoints. The additional weight may be a factor for some, but combined with my wide angle lens, two lenses cover 100% of my travel needs.
If you found my review helpful, please select yes.
Zini F. –
Very good quality optics. Good value. Decent build quality. Authentic product with warranty card included. Made in China.
Received package had fair protection for the item.
Excellent images, pretty sharp. Expect some distortion, especially around the 10mm end, but nothing that can’t be fixed in PP.
Edited – December 15, 2016:
Noticed that between 10mm-12mm the image has noticeably soft edges, but centre is pretty sharp. See attached image (with post processing in Adobe LR from RAW file – Nikon D60).
Focus is pretty fast and quiet.
Sarshar –
This Thai product came in the gold box with NO warranty card, just a user manual. (I ordered a Nikon DSLR camera along with this lens and it came in a gold box with a Canadian warranty card)
Vignetting is not as expected and the zoom ring is not running smoothly, while the focusing ring is a bit loose and slamming a couple of millimetres. I feel better when working with Canon lenses.
Automatic autofocusing is pretty fast but not accurate enough, regardless of the lighting condition/using flash (should I blame Expeed 4?) but the VR technology is beyond expectation.
It’s also available for a better price even on Amazon.ca! likely return it next week if I cannot convince myself dealing with the autofocus performance
P. J. Menter –
The well formed 18 – 200mm zoom provides up to 300mm equivalent zoom on a DX Nikon body. I’ve used it from flower blooms to racing cars screeching around motor circuits and pulled some very sharp and well rendered photos. On auto tracking it will hold focus on formula cars approaching head on at 180mph plus by setting 1/500th shutter speed. It won’t pull in clear shots if the racing car is too far out for that you’ll need a pro lens but for 90% of the frames you want it will give superb results – with the right technique. It’s a bit naff for landscapes but for interiors and tightly framed shots of buildings and townscapes the results are stunning. Don’t believe reviews that infer “jack of all trades master of none” this lens will produce excellent well rendered photos pin sharp for a life time of use. It is an investment that will step an order of magnitude above no brand lenses and give you a robust piece of kit you’ll use day after day.
Gord –
This is not a prime lens and it won’t give you prime lens quality. That being said, if you want a good lens for travel this is the one. Like all zoom lenses it has it’s faults. Don’t expect it to perform in low light situations without a tripod or flash. It’s an f3.5 – 6.3 not an f1.8 or f2.8. On a recent trip I had a tripod with me but decided to spend a day without it. The VR worked well at all focal lengths. In bright conditions it is easily hand held at 300 mm. I used f8 – f16 most of the time and I didn’t have blurry shots from camera shake thanks to the VR and being able to maintain higher shutter speeds. My normal kit is an 11-16 mm f2.8, 17-50 mm f2.8, and a 70-200 mm f2.8. This lens replaces them when weight and convenience are more important than a “perfect” shot. If you don’t need the 300 mm reach, the 18-200 mm is another good choice.
Amazon Customer –
i am hesitate in the beginning to order a international version Nikon lens with a big discount. Agter i received it , i check every singe detail of the lens, i don’t see any defect and in original nikon package exceprt no canadian warranty card. ,other wise it is the exact product i found in the bestbuy show room . i took few shot from wide to zoom and all the pics are professionally sharp and right color. i reccommand it especially save u extra$$ and able to buy a prime lens
Black Bolt –
Very pleased with this Nikon lens. Very light and versatile. I would need to carry around 10 lens to be able to get the shots I want and this one does it all. I was really surprised with the sharpness. Most zooms don’t capture sharp images but this one fooled me. It’s Nikon (what can I say). I am so pleased that they used a steel mount rather than plastic. Awesome lens.
RalfyM –
This is hot off the press and basic feedback after a very quick initial play with this lens. Plus points so far seem to be
1. It is very compact and therefore lightweight lens
2. Focusing is almost instant
3. There is a manual focus wheel which can even be used when autofocus is on
4. With it being an 18 mm to 300 mm lens it means less need to keep changing lenses
I bought this lens basically because I got fed up of constantly changing between the bog standard Nikon 18mm to 55mm lens and a pretty good Tamron 70 mm to 300 mm lens. Ok so I may be comparing apples and oranges here but at 300mm the Tamron actually zooms in more than this lens. This also means you get a much closer shot in macro mode with the Tamron. The difference is quite significant so it’s a little surprising and a little disappointing.
I need to check things out a little more but that initial excitement has dissipated by a small amount. I’ll keep the lens as I need the convenience more than anything.
UPDATE: I took some shots recently in low light with this lens at 300mm (equivalent to somewhere around 140mm on the Tamron 70-300mm lens) and I noticed how quickly things darkened. So I did a test with both lens and the light difference is amazing, the Tamron winning out easily. This Nikon lens is just shockingly bad. I really wish I’d bought something else but I think too much time has passed now. Basically I would not recommend this lens unless you want only two things, the quietness and speed of the focus. This lens does very little else well. I’m going to save up again for an alternative then sell this as quickly as possible.
jonmax –
Purchased this 55-200mm VR II lens kit to go with my Nikon D3300, The 18-55 Lens kit already came with the camera, The 18-55 kit is brilliant for portraits and family photos.
I needed a lens that did the extra zoom, After reading reviews and lookin at my budget the 55-200mm kit is brilliant for what I need, I would love to have the Nikon 55-300 kit but that is well over my budget, The lens itself when attached to the camera does not stick out much further than the standard kit that came with the camera, Maybe an extra 20mm so its great for putting in a camera case.
So the important part, Autofocus is powered by a silent wave motor, and auto focus speeds are pretty quick for a lens of this budget level.
The centre sharpness of the pictures is fantastic at most focal lengths, At maximum aperture and 55mm, sharpness is excellent across the frame, Changing the aperture to f/8 gives you great performance,
Zooming to 105mm results in a reduction of performance at maximum aperture. Here sharpness is very good in the centre, Changed the aperture again to f/8, performance at this focal length is much improved. Here sharpness is outstanding in the centre,
For best results at 200mm I went to f/11, The sharpness and quality of the image at this length is fantastic, Of course it helps having the Vibration Reduction switched on, Close-up performance is also pretty decent for a non-macro lens,
All In all this is a very good lens for the price, If your a novice like me, Then you will love it.
The picture taken of the moon is zoomed right up to 200mm, No tripod involved just my hand, The shot was taken in Auto mode and with the VR switched on, I have then cropped the picture on my PC, The pic shows how much detail you can get from this fantastic lens.
Mr. P. Floding –
Extremely compact, and very sharp! Very nice handling for a cheapish plastic lens.
I only had one problem, and that was that VR (VR II on this one) actually introduced vibration at certain shutter speeds, where turning off VR gave a better image. At something like 1/200s at 200mm, the VR often made the image worse than without VR (handheld, not on tripod, obviously). I don’t know if my sample was bad, or it’s anything to do with the body (D3200).
Returned it for this reason.
Relics –
I wish Nikon would make better lenses for its APSC line. The quality of this lens is at best mediocre. Not that I didn’t expect this for a super wide angle lens but the distortion at the edges are just too much for landscape photography even after correction in lightroom. If you have a straight vertical line near the edges, say a building, it would tilt ~30° and not sharp at all. I used this lens for star trail photography as well. If I dont align the north star to be close to the center line, the trail would like elliptical rather than spherical. You need to consider your use case carefully before purchasing this lens. I switched to full frame this year not because of better cameras or bettrr sensors but because of the lack of high quality lenses in Nikon’s APSC line.
Kyle bates –
Great Value Lens
The Autofocus is a little slow and fairly loud. Has not worked well for me when looking to grab moving wildlife due to the length of time it takes for the autofocus. However For the Price, More than worth it.
It’s not too heavy and I love the manual selections on the lens for Autofocus and VR.
Images come out clean and crisp and zoom ring has just the right amount of tension ( I have used others that its almost too loose and free turning).
Great lens for the Beginner or Frugal Photographer
John W –
Purchased this lens as an upgrade to my 8 year old 16-85 that I subsequently sold at a good price to offset the cost. Many have said it’s not worth upgrading due to the cost . .. I’ve found it a worthy upgrade and the f4 does come in handy in low light and at night when handheld with the added benefit of improved VR. The contrast is an improvement on it’s predecessor and though I found the 16-85 was sharp across the image, this is razor sharp. Not too heavy though the lens cap is bit big in comparison but nevertheless still fits comfortably in my camera bag.
Yes, it is expensive but what is’nt these days particularly with lenses and bodies across the board.
I can only highly recommend this lens and assure you, you will not be disappointed.