Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

Beware of these new Nikon plastic lenses from Thailand – Having had many Nikon cameras and accessories over 30 years I have always thought the higher quality was worth the premium but not any more. Nikon have now started producing cheap plastic lenses that easily break. The poorly designed plastic bayonet mounting is likely break if you knock the lens (I just knocked mine on the side of a table). I had mine 7 months and I always have looked after my equipment and never had any problems with Nikon equipment before.

This is a common problem according to Nikon salesman, not covered by warranty and too costly to repair $200 for parts and labour. Cheap for Nikon Poor construction and poorly designed plastic bayonet mounting likely break if you knock the lens.

Great Kit Lens – The Nikon 18 - 55 is a fantastic little lens. It is light weight, very compact and balances well with a range of Nikon digital single lens reflex cameras. It is often included as a kit lens with a camera body, but you can buy them separately if you wish, and it really is a bargain of a lens. It is razor sharp, has excellent contrast, not too much chromatic aberration, and easily corrected distortion at the wide end.

The focus ring is a bit small and awkward and there is no aperture ring, so you will not be able to use it with older SLRs. Small, light, cheap Some distortion at the wide end

Excellent – As a photographer, I have quite a few more expensive lenses to suit my different photography needs, but this lens is my absolute favourite general lens and is a must have for any Nikon owner, regardless of skill level. This lens produces stunning photo quality and sharpness remains the same around the edges throughout the focal range unlike Nikon's more expensive 18-105 lens.

This lens comes in a bundle with most Nikons sold today, but if you're wondering whether to swap this out for a longer zoom, remember that what you're getting is most probably going to be a lens thats a lot heavier and suffers a bit with soft edges at mid range focal lengths.

Remember, if you're just starting out with photography, its not about how long your lens is.

A lot of people have questioned me on the bokeh effects of this lens (bokeh is intentonal blurring around a subject that is in focus), and all I tell them is that if they were serious about bokeh, then they're better off going for a large aperture prime lens rather than having zoom induced bokeh with a lens that wasn't built for it. Stunning quality for the price

Very VERY good optics for a bundle lens

Lightweight Build quality could have been better, but given its price and quality - absolutely no complaints.