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

The Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II is a standard kit zoom lens designed for Nikon’s APS-C DX-format DSLR cameras, commonly bundled with Nikon’s entry-level and mid-range DX bodies as an accessible everyday lens. It covers a versatile focal range well suited to general photography, travel, and everyday snapshots.

Optically, the lens covers an 18-55mm focal range with a variable maximum aperture of f/3.5 at the wide end narrowing to f/5.6 at full telephoto. On Nikon’s DX-format sensor, this range delivers a 35mm-equivalent field of view of approximately 27-82.5mm, covering moderate wide-angle through short telephoto framing, making it a practical walk-around lens for everyday shooting. The optical design includes an ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass element, helping reduce chromatic aberration and improve sharpness and color accuracy.

Autofocus is handled by Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM, denoted by “AF-S”), delivering fast, quiet focusing performance well suited to both stills and video work, a notable improvement over older screw-drive AF designs used in some of Nikon’s more basic DX lenses. This internal AF-S motor means autofocus functions on any Nikon DSLR body, including those lacking a built-in focus motor.

Build quality reflects its position as a basic kit lens, with a lightweight plastic barrel construction that keeps the overall weight down and makes it easy to pair with compact DX-format bodies. As the “II” version, this lens represents a minor update to the original AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED, generally with small refinements to the design. It does not include Vibration Reduction (VR) image stabilization or weather sealing, consistent with its entry-level, budget-oriented positioning.

As a DX-format-specific lens, the AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II is designed exclusively for Nikon’s APS-C DX-format DSLR cameras and does not produce a full-frame image circle, making it a dedicated option within Nikon’s crop-sensor lens ecosystem.

Key Features
– 18-55mm standard zoom for Nikon DX-format (APS-C) DSLR cameras
– Approximately 27-82.5mm full-frame-equivalent field of view
– Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.6 (variable)
– ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass element
– Silent Wave Motor (AF-S) autofocus
– No image stabilization (VR)
– Compatible with any Nikon DSLR body (no body-motor dependency)
– Lightweight plastic construction
– Designed exclusively for Nikon DX-format DSLR cameras