Although I knew the good test results to the lens, I was very skeptical whether I would be sufficient with the D90 kit lens supplied as standard zoom. I knew other kit lenses, for example, from C ****, and felt this bad as high creepy.
Basic
18-105mm, a very useful focal length (5,8x Zoom), actually ideal. Some may certainly something wide angle - at this price is simply not possible.
The lens only works on APS-C cameras and the Nikon full-format cameras only in the crop mode.
Processing, delivery, light intensity, polarizing filter
I am pleasantly surprised.
The build quality is significantly better than in many cheapest Kitoptiken. Of course it is not brilliant, the focus ring scratched a little, when zooming the tube moves out of course. The bayonet connection is made of plastic (which I dislike), the lens feels a bit too light for its size, the plastic, the switch, everything but feels useful to not more but not less - in contrast to many Kit system lenses, where one is afraid they might fall apart.
All these compromises reject many amateurs from with high standards; more than the offered processing but you can not expect for this price.
The focus ring is running relatively far, manual focusing, I still avoid most of this lens.
Important and good: The front element rotates when zooming or focusing NOT so that you can use polarizing filters easily.
The lens hood is supplied.
The moderate intensity restricts the field of application an easy, but due to the large focal length range. A 18-105 1: 2.8 simply does not exist.
Flexibility or light intensity - the eternal choice.
After 1 year, no dust penetrated into the lens interior.
The Image Stabilizer
The optical image stabilizer works as described, partly by 1 / 8s sharp photos out of hand possible.
Autofocus
The AF is not very fast (Compact transfer passengers will probably still hold him for a rocket) - also in comparison to other Kitoptiken. For the auto focus is precise.
Image Quality
Again you can tell a lot of positives.
Of course: There are trade-offs. But in the all-important categories Sharpness + Contrast the lens is beyond any doubt. Whether 18mm or 105mm, the results are almost always already at full aperture in the very good range.
I know of no comparable appearance (price + focal range), which is so sharp.
Also, there seems to be little variation within a series with this kit lens. The risk to catch a "cucumber", seems low, which is otherwise often different.
The biggest shortcoming is certainly and unsurprisingly the distortion:
Due to the high zoom ratio and image angles from wide angle to telephoto easy this is unavoidable, but it is annoying now and then but.
Especially with 18mm seen in interior or architectural photos clearly the "crooked lines." The Verzeichnungsmuster is also irregular, so you can remove it only with special image processing tools offer a special profile for the 18-105 VR.
Vignette: Every now and then visible at maximum aperture. Perfectly acceptable.
Chromatic aberrations: My D90 corrected automatically and with sharpness gain in JPEG. When working with RAW without lens on customized profiles or with an older camera, one should consider in terms of CAs might again.
Purple fringing I could also, especially at maximum aperture (eg water droplets) to observe is absolutely negligible in my copy.
Conclusion
For all beginners an absolute and unlimited purchase recommendation.
Those who believe in the near future to upgrade to 35mm full frame, which is the lens wg. set the low price to the heart - the full format suitable for 24-120 makes to APS-C no fun - also the 18-105 lt test reports even sharper.!
Actually, it's unbelievable what you get for this little money: 5.8x zoom, decent build quality, really good figure line and an image stabilizer.
Nikon is in the range of reasonable standard zoom for APS-C currently (Nov 2009) MMN miles ahead of the competition (4/3 system I do not count -. Wg format and sensor size).
Why "only" four but not five stars?
Even with perfect P / L ratio should be evaluated MMN processing and optical performance not only under this economic aspect.
Therefore, 4 stars for a very good lens.
UPDATE:
Meanwhile I use the lens for nearly 1 2/3 years and have still not set wear. Again, this is not self-evident for lenses with image stabilization in this price range.
In addition, a small supplement to the Bokeh: You can create a restless Bokeh near the wide-angle end of the focal length range by highlights just behind the focal plane, usually the bokeh for a standard zoom is absolutely acceptable. At 105mm you can certainly get a good bokeh. Due to the relatively low light intensity should be the restless Bokeh at wide angle but get relatively rarely seen in photos.
