Nikon Nikkor
AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G
 vs
Nikon Nikkor
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Nikon AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G
Slightly more zoom 3.9x vs 3.1x
Help
 Around 30% more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos
Slightly better telephoto 70 mm vs 55 mm
Help
 Around 30% more reach, less perspective distortion
Placeholder Learn more about
the Nikon AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G

Reasons to consider the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX

Image stabilization Nikon VR vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Nikon Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX Learn more about
the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Focus motor Silent focus motor Help
Silent and fast
Prime lens Both are zoom lenses Help
Typically not as sharp as prime lenses
Fixed aperture Both are variable aperture lenses Help
Narrower aperture at longer focal lengths

Compared to wide angle lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

LensHero is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX

Nikon Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX

Travel lens

$330
Zoom range Has slightly large zoom range
Compare the Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX vs the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G
Compare the Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX vs the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX
Nikon Nikkor AF-S 35mm f/1.8G DX

Nikon Nikkor AF-S 35mm f/1.8G DX

Low light lens

$197
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Prime lens Is a fixed focal length prime lens
Magnification Has worse macro
Zoom range Has slightly smaller zoom range
Compare the Nikkor AF-S 35mm f/1.8G DX vs the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G
Compare the Nikkor AF-S 35mm f/1.8G DX vs the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX
Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

Low light lens

$115
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Prime lens Is a fixed focal length prime lens
Magnification Has worse macro
Focus motor Lacks a silent focus motor
Compare the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D vs the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G
Compare the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D vs the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX
Nikon Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G

Nikon Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G

Low light lens

$217
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Prime lens Is a fixed focal length prime lens
Magnification Has worse macro
Zoom range Has slightly smaller zoom range
Compare the Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G vs the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G
Compare the Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G vs the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX
Nikon Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX

Nikon Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX

Wide angle lens

$119
Compare the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX vs the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G
Compare the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX vs the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX
Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

Travel lens
Zoom range Has slightly large zoom range
Compare the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR vs the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G
Compare the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR vs the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM Nikon-f

Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM Nikon-f

Wide angle lens

$199
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Compare the 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM Nikon-f vs the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G
Compare the 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM Nikon-f vs the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX

Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Nikkor 24-85mm f/2.8-4D IF

Nikon Nikkor 24-85mm f/2.8-4D IF

Macro lens

$670
Aperture Wider aperture
Max focal length Slightly better telephoto
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the Nikkor 24-85mm f/2.8-4D IF vs the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro

Portrait lens

$369
Aperture Wider aperture
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Compare the 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro vs the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G
Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 DI VC USD Nikon-f

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 DI VC USD Nikon-f

Wide angle lens

$1,299
Fixed aperture Has a consant aperture
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Weight Heavier
Compare the SP 24-70mm f/2.8 DI VC USD Nikon-f vs the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G
Nikon Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX

Nikon Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX

Travel lens

$600
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Zoom range More zoom
Compare the Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX vs the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G

Nikon Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Wide angle lens

$196 - $199
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Compare the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS vs the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX
Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED

Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED

Wildlife lens

$247
Max focal length Better telephoto
Zoom range Slightly more zoom
Aperture Narrower aperture
Min focal length Worse wide angle
Compare the Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED vs the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at LensHero is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these lenses here, and discuss feedback for LensHero at our support community.

Showing 2 comments

Avatar for lenshero lenshero (2:20 AM, October 04, 2011)
Hi David!  Thanks for pointing out those issues, we''ll look at getting the 18-135 added and fix the dupe 18-105 lenses.

The lens comparisons.. yes, they are not so hot.  We're not actively working on them, we built these very basic comparisons to see if they would get used, and we haven't revisited them yet.  Good call, you identified some great features we should be comparing on.
 
David (5:05 PM, October 02, 2011)
Is this site in progress?   First of all lenses are missing, like Nikon 18-135 F/3.5-5.6 which was what Thom Hogan called the sharpest of all kit lenses Nikon has made.   On the other hand 18-105 is listed twice.  Please check the lens comparison tool on dpreview and implement important comparison things:  length and weight for example is very important, whether front element rotates, whether focusing is internal, how many ED and Aspherical elements, and links to reviews, would be good.    Otherwise this is worthless at this point, but good idea if you can get it to the level of snapsort
 
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