Finally! VR Technology in a Nikon Kit Lens

Nikon is following Canon's "stabilized" footsteps by adding their Vibration Reduction technology to the less professional lenses. Canon was the first to give beginners and advanced amateurs lenses fitted with the Image Stabilization, while Nikon users had VR with a handful of lenses. In fact, Canon updated their 18-55mm lens and fitted it with IS in August 2007.

The AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR is the first consumer-oriented (and consumer also implies extremely cheap) lens from Nikon to receive the technology that compensates for unwanted camera movement and allows shutter speeds at up to three f-stops longer than recommended to be used.

Apart from the VR element that replaced the ED (extra-low dispersion) one, the new lens is an exact replica of the original AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G ED II. You get a silent wave motor, which reduces autofocusing noise and improves speed, but note that the front element rotates during operation, making it difficult to use 52mm polarizing filters. Having its own motor allows the new lens to be used with cameras that lack one, such as the D40 and D40x, which can only autofocus with AF-S glass.

In terms of aperture, this kit lens is a little bit disappointing, at the tele end the maximum value being f/5.6. This performance is insufficient for decent low-light photography. By comparison, the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm has a more generous focal range and f/4.5 at the tele end.

Being a DX lens, the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR has a picture angle equivalent to that of a 27-82.5mm unit mounted on a 35mm full-frame SLR.

The AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens will be available beginning December 2007 at an estimated selling price of $199.

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