Should i get the Nikon 18-70 or the Nikon 18-55vr2

yioties · Jun 25, 2015

I need a cheap lens for every day use since my wife destroyed my 18-105. I have a gift card for a local camera shop here in toronto and it covers either lens and with money left over.

yioties · Jun 25, 2015

Both lenses are used

Dave442 · Jun 25, 2015

I have the 18-70mm, its f/3.5 -4.5 so a bit faster than the 18-55mm, but no VR. From 18-24 it is just a tiny bit of movement in the zoom ring. It also has the focus scale window and the manual focus ring actually is pretty good.

Mine is a 10 year old lens and I did have the known problem of the one loose screw in the zoom mechanism, it took about 30 minutes to open the lens and tighten the screw. That was a couple years ago and lens is working fine. If the lens jams at a point in the zoom movement then this is the fix that is needed.

I see you also have the 70-300mm VR, which I have, and both these lenses use the 67mm filter thread. The lens also has a metal mount and the rear gasket just like on the 70-300mm VR and both of these have the same build quality and so I would recommend the 18-70mm.

f/3.5 at 18mm
f/3.8 at 24mm
f/4.2 at 35mm
f/4.5 at 50mm to 70mm

yioties · Jun 25, 2015

cool man an thanks

tirediron · Jun 25, 2015

Of the two, the 18-70 is VASTLY superior. it was, IMO, the best kit lens released in the digital era, and I used my until the point where it was so worn, the lens would fall open if held on even a slight angle. It's very sharp, has excellent colour rendition and flare resistance (esp. for a kit lens), a metal mount... no contest in my mind. True it doesn't have VR, but why you would want it on a lens with that short a focal length, I have no idea.

nerwin · Jun 25, 2015

I suggest the 18-70 as well. Its faster and longer. Better build quality, metal mount with seal. My cousin lucked out and found a new one sealed in box for $30 on craigslist. I was a bit skeptical at first but she did it anyways and it was legit..brand new. Still had that new lens smell. She has D3300 and been using the 18-55 VR..but she really really likes the 18-70 more. You don't have VR, so for video it may not be ideal..but long as your shutter speed is fast enough you don't need VR anyways.