Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 G ED-IF Lens

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF is a versatile everyday zoom lens designed for Nikon’s APS-C DX-format DSLR cameras, offering a more robust build and a slightly faster telephoto aperture than typical 18-55mm kit lenses. It’s aimed at photographers wanting a step up from a basic kit zoom for general photography, landscapes, and portraits.

Optically, the lens covers an 18-70mm focal range with a variable maximum aperture of f/3.5 at the wide end narrowing to f/4.5 at full telephoto, delivering the same field of view as a 27-105mm lens on a full-frame camera. The optical construction includes 15 elements in 13 groups, with three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements to help reduce chromatic aberration and one aspherical element to minimize distortion, along with Nikon’s Super Integrated Coating to improve contrast and color accuracy. A 7-blade rounded diaphragm contributes to smoother out-of-focus rendering than typical for a kit-level zoom.

Autofocus is handled by Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM, denoted by “AF-S”), delivering fast, quiet focusing along with an M/A focusing mode that allows instant manual override during autofocus operation without needing to flip a separate switch. Internal Focusing (IF) means the lens’s overall length and front element do not rotate during focusing, keeping the lens more convenient to use with filters like polarizers. Because this AF-S lens includes its own focus motor, autofocus functions on any Nikon DSLR body, including those lacking an in-camera focus motor.

Build quality is a standout feature of this lens relative to standard kit zooms, with a metal lens mount and a rubber weather-sealing gasket at the mount, offering more robust protection against dust and light moisture than typical 18-55mm kit lenses. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of approximately 0.38m, yielding a maximum magnification of about 0.16x, and accepts 67mm filters. Notably, the lens does not include image stabilization (VR).

As a DX-format-specific lens, the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF is designed exclusively for Nikon’s APS-C DX-format DSLR cameras and does not produce a full-frame image circle.

Key Features
– 18-70mm standard zoom for Nikon DX-format (APS-C) DSLR cameras
– Equivalent to 27-105mm field of view (full-frame comparison)
– Maximum aperture f/3.5-4.5 (variable)
– 15 elements in 13 groups, including 3 ED elements and 1 aspherical element
– Silent Wave Motor (AF-S) autofocus with M/A focus override
– Internal Focusing (IF)
– 7-blade rounded aperture diaphragm
– Metal mount with rubber weather-sealing gasket
– Minimum focusing distance of approximately 0.38m
– 67mm filter thread
– No image stabilization (VR)
– Designed exclusively for Nikon DX-format DSLR cameras