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Nikkor AF-S DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 G VR Gordon Laing, January 2009

Nikkor DX 18-55mm VR results : Outdoor / Resolution / Corner sharpness / Fringe and macro / Geometry / Vignetting


Click here for the Nikkor DX 18-55mm VR video tour


Nikkor DX 18-55mm VR wide-angle uniformity comparison

To measure and compare light fall-off at wide angle, we photographed a white target using a highly diffused custom filter with each lens at its shortest focal length and the aperture wide open. The images were then analysed with Imatest and the full areas presented here at a reduced resolution. Bigger percentages are better.

With the Nikkor DX 18-55mm VR zoomed-out to 18mm and its aperture wide open, the light falls-off in the corners to an average of 48.3% of the centre measurement. This is slightly worse than its predecessor, although you wouldn't notice any real different in practice - interestingly the test does show the light falling off more sharply on the older Mark II model, making its darkening arguably more conspicuous.

Nikkor DX 18-55mm VR f/3.5-5.6
Nikkor DX 18-55mm II f/3.5-5.6
Nikkor DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5
Nikkor DX 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6
Nikkor 18-55mm uniformity at 18mm f3.5
Nikkor 18-70mm uniformity at 18mm f3.5
Nikkor 18-135mm uniformity at 18mm f3.5
DX 18-55mm VR at 18mm f3.5
Mean corner fall-off: 48.3%
DX 18-55mm II at 18mm f3.5
Mean corner fall-off: 52.1%
DX 18-70mm at 18mm f3.5
Mean corner fall-off: 41.5%
DX 18-135mm at 18mm f3.5
Mean corner fall-off: 50.2%




Nikkor DX 18-55mm VR telephoto uniformity comparison

To measure and compare light fall-off at telephoto, we photographed a white target using a highly diffused custom filter with each lens at its longest focal length and the aperture wide open. The images were then analysed with Imatest and the full areas presented here at a reduced resolution. Bigger percentages are better.

With the Nikkor DX 18-55mm VR zoomed-into 55mm and its aperture wide open, the light falls-off in the corners to an average of 63.9% of the centre measurement. Again this is a worse than its predecessor, but with a gradual fall-off, it's nothing you'd really worry about in real-life shots.

Nikkor DX 18-55mm VR f/3.5-5.6
Nikkor DX 18-55mm II f/3.5-5.6
Nikkor DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5
Nikkor DX 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6
Nikkor 18-55mm uniformity at 55mm f5.6
Nikkor 18-70mm uniformity at 70mm f4.5
Nikkor 18-135mm uniformity at 135mm f5.6
DX 18-55mm VR at 55mm f5.6
Mean corner fall-off: 63.9%
DX 18-55mm II at 55mm f5.6
Mean corner fall-off: 73.7%
DX 18-70mm at 70mm f4.5
Mean corner fall-off: 55.4%
DX 18-135mm at 135mm f5.6
Mean corner fall-off: 58.5%

Nikkor DX 18-55mm VR results

Outdoor / Resolution / Corner sharpness / Fringe and macro / Geometry / Vignetting

All words, images, videos and layout, copyright 2005-2010 Gordon Laing. May not be used without permission.

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