The Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens (or the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR, to get technical) is a small, light, versatile, and inexpensive zoom lens that works particularly well with cameras like the Nikon D3500 and D3400.
It’s designed for Nikon DSLRs with a DX cropped sensor and zooms from a wide-angle 18mm out to a 3.1x zoom of 55mm.
One of its key features is that it has built-in vibration reduction. That helps reduce motion blur from that slight shake you get when taking hand-held photos, especially in low light. Which translates, in turn, to sharp photos more often.
I’ve posted some practical examples of the zoom range of this lens, and I’ll be posting a detailed hands-on review of this lens shortly. In the meantime, here are some samples of photos I’ve taken with the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G to give a sense of how it performs in real-world shooting.
You can click on each image to open a full-size version for a closer look. These were shot on a mix of the Nikon D3500, D3400, and D3300. You can see the shooting information under each photo.
- AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
- 7 diaphragm blades; Angle of view: 76° to 28° 50'. Maximum aperture-f/3.5, to 5.6. Minimum...
Photos taken with the Nikon AF-P 18-55mm Zoom Lens
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 18mm and ƒ/3.5 on a NIKON D3500.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 22mm and ƒ/3.8 on a NIKON D3500.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 18mm and ƒ/3.5 on a NIKON D3500. The unusual lighting here isn’t Photoshopped or edited–this is completely untouched out of the camera. It’s something that happens on very clear sunrises right around the spring and fall equinoxes, when the sun briefly shines directly into the Lincoln Memorial’s main chamber. You can find more information about it on my Washington DC site.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 18mm and ƒ/3.5 on a NIKON D3500. This image has had some Photoshopping done to remove reflections off the glass and cleanup some sections.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 34mm and ƒ/4.5 on a NIKON D3500.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 18mm and ƒ/3.5 on a NIKON D3500.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 18mm and ƒ/3.5 on a NIKON D3300.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 55mm and ƒ/5.6 on a NIKON D3500.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 29mm and ƒ/4.2 on a NIKON D3500.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 20mm and ƒ/4 on a NIKON D3500.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 48mm and ƒ/5.3 on a NIKON D3500.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 40mm and ƒ/5.0 on a NIKON D3500.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 23mm and ƒ/3.8 on a NIKON D3300.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 30mm and ƒ/4.2 on a NIKON D3500.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 34mm and ƒ/4.5 on a NIKON D3500.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 18mm and ƒ/4.5 on a NIKON D3300.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 55mm and f/25 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 55mm and f/5.6 on a Nikon D3400. This is the ornate skylight ceiling of the Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico in Mexico City.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 18mm and f/7.1 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 52mm and f/8.0 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 34mm and f/11 on a Nikon D3400. I often take a variation of this shot in lens and camera tests because it can show up both barrel distortion that bends the columns and chromatic berration. There’s minimal evidence of either of those here.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 40mm and f/5.6 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 26mm and f/8.0 on a Nikon D3400. The branches of the cherry trees lining Washington DC’s Tidal Basin offer a good test of sharpness across the frame.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 48mm and f/5.3 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 55mm and f/7.1 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 40mm and f/5.6 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 36mm and f/4.8 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 55mm and f/5.6 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 22mm and f/6.3 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 55mm and f/5.6 on a Nikon D3400. This was taken across the face of this famous ceiling, so the section at right is much closer than the section at left.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 18mm and f/6.3 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 55mm and f/11 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 50mm and f/5.6 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 18mm and f/4.5 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 23mm and f/5.6 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 55mm and f/5.6 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 55mm and f/11 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 18mm and f/7.1 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 55mm and f/7.1 on a Nikon D3400. This viewpoint, which is one I often use, is a good test of any lens distortion. As you can see, though, the lines that are supposed to be straight are indeed straight. If there’s any distortion, it bends these vertical lines.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 55mm and f/5.6 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 29mm and f/4.2 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 55mm and f/5.6 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 48mm and f/9.0 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 25mm and f/20 on a Nikon D3400. This gives a sense of sharpness. As you can see, it’s sharper in the middle of the frame than at the sides, and even the middle of the frame isn’t as sharp as it could be at f/20. I’ve found the sharper apertures to be around the f/8-f/11 range, which is pretty standard.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 55mm and f/5.6 on a Nikon D3400. This gives a sense of how the background blurs with the wide aperture.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 34mm and f/4.5 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 34mm and f/4.5 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 42mm and f/8.0 on a Nikon D3400. The high-contrast lines in this should bring out some chromatic aberration, and they do to some extent, but it’s not especially strong and easily corrected in Lightroom.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 40mm and f/6.3 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 18mm and f/5.6 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 38mm and f/4.8 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 18mm and f/4.5 on a Nikon D3400. This is another viewpoint I often use to look at sharpness across the frame.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 18mm and f/9.0 on a Nikon D3400. You can see both chromatic aberration (left side column) and some slight barrel distortion, but neither issue is especially strong.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 55mm and f/5.6 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 18mm and f/4.5 on a Nikon D3400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at 42mm and f/11 on a Nikon D3400. This is a stitched panorama comprised of multiple images, so it’s not really a good indicator of the lens itself, but it does give an example of how the lens can be used with non-standard shooting. Another thing is shows through the absence of ugly, uneven joins in the clear blue sky is that there’s not much of a problem with vignetting.
Nikon’s Other Models of 18-55mm Lenses
Nikon has a few different 18-55mm lenses. They’re similar, but there are still key differences between them. Nevertheless, telling the model numbers apart isn’t as simple as it could be.
The model used to take the sample photos above is the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR. This one is often bundled as a kit lens with the entry-level Nikon DSLRs like the Nikon D3400 and Nikon D3500.
There’s also a version with updated vibration reduction known as VR II. Its name is the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II. But it has apparently been discontinued.
There’s also a version of this lens that doesn’t have vibration reduction. It’s the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G (note that it doesn’t have “VR” in the name or printed on the lens barrel).
Confusingly, there’s also a Nikon AF-P DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II.
Where to Buy
The Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR is sometimes included as a kit lens in some of the Nikon DSLR bundles, but you can also buy it separately.
You can find them at B&H Photo and Amazon.
You can often find used versions at KEH that are good value.
- AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
- 7 diaphragm blades; Angle of view: 76° to 28° 50'. Maximum aperture-f/3.5, to 5.6. Minimum...
Accessories for the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
Filters. It takes standard 55mm screw-in filters: Polarizer | UV/Haze | ND.
Lens Hood. It comes with a petal-style lens hood. If you need a replacement, it’s model number HB-N106. You can get aftermarket versions that are cheaper and work just as well, like this one.
Lens Caps. It uses standard Nikon front (LC-55A) and rear (LF-4) lens caps.
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Where to Buy a Nikon D3400 DSLR
The D3400 is an excellent camera for getting started with DSLR photography. But now that it has been replaced with a newer model, it will become increasingly hard to find in stores.
Some good places to look for new D3400s are Amazon and B&H Photo.
You can also find them used at major used camera gear sellers such as KEH (which is where I often buy when I'm looking for used gear).
Popular Lenses for the Nikon D3400
Nikon D3400 Batteries & Chargers
Popular Accessories for the Nikon D3400
Where to Buy a Nikon D3500 DSLR
The D3500 is an excellent entry-point camera for getting started with DSLR photography. You can find them at Amazon and B&H Photo. You can also find them used at major used camera gear sellers such as KEH (which is where I often buy when I'm looking for used gear).Nikon D3500 Tips
I've put together a number of resources related to the Nikon D3500.
Good places to start are with the Nikon D3500 Q&As and recommended SD cards for the Nikon D3500.
dfdf says
Nikon 18-55mm VR – non of these pictures are sharp , gigantic chromatic aberration too
David says
There’s definitely some, although gigantic is probably overstating it. It’s about in line with what I’d expect from an entry-level kit lens.