Nikon NIKKOR 2216 18-300mm
Covering an 18–300mm focal range with a 16.7x zoom, this APS-C lens pairs a Silent Wave Motor for fast, quiet AF with Vibration Reduction that compensates up to 4 stops. Its all-in-one design eliminates lens swapping, while 3 ED elements and Super Integrated Coating maintain sharp clarity across the frame. At 748g, this lens suits travel photographers who need one lightweight optic for everything from wide-angle landscapes to tightly framed wildlife shots.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The Nikon 18-300mm is the most versatile DX lens you can buy, period. It's light, the VR is excellent, and image quality is good until you push past 200mm. If you want one lens that does everything and you're not a pro, grab it at the low end of the price range and don't look back.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The 18-300mm zoom range is the absolute best right now for sheer versatility. 99th
- Vibration Reduction is a standout, giving you about four stops of handheld stability. 94th
- At 550g, it's shockingly light for a lens that can reach 450mm equivalent. 93rd
- Optical quality at the wide and mid-range is well above average for a superzoom. 86th
Cons
- Sharpness falls off a cliff past 200mm, and it's soft at the long end.
- The f/6.3 max aperture at 300mm is a weak spot, forcing high ISOs in low light.
- Bokeh quality is disappointing, with a 7-blade diaphragm that renders busy backgrounds.
- Autofocus speed is just average, so it's not ideal for sports or fast-moving wildlife.
What owners think
The Word on the Street
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
- Q3 201952/100
Buyers praised the lens for its versatile zoom range and compact size, but others reported severe autofocus issues with moving subjects and poor image quality on adapted cameras.
- Autofocus fails on moving subjects; poor consistency even across multiple copies and camera bodies.
- Image quality poor when used with FTZ adapter on Nikon Z7; washed out and blurry.
- Versatile zoom range and good balance for travel and safari; compact and lightweight.
- Lens hood not included; some buyers disappointed by omission and unclear product info.
- Q2 201971/100
Buyers praised the lens as versatile, sharp, and lightweight for travel. One reported a dark vignette at no zoom, and another noted the lens extends on its own.
- Versatile all-in-one zoom, sharp and lightweight for travel.
- Dark vignette at no zoom ruins full-frame use.
- Lens extends by itself at extreme angles.
- Refurbished lens arrived like new and works well.
- Q1 201975/100
Buyers praised the lens for sharpness, wide range, and VR, but one reported a defect with stiff zoom past 25mm.
- Sharp lens with wide focal range and nice bokeh.
- Lightweight with effective VR for handheld shots.
- Good value and convenience for travel photography.
- Defective zoom mechanism stiff past 25mm out of box.
- Q4 201871/100
Buyers praised the lens as lightweight and versatile for travel, but one reported severe focus defects even after replacement, calling it substandard.
- Lightweight and versatile all-in-one lens for travel and everyday use.
- Sharp images and responsive controls for a superzoom.
- Focus defects reported; first copy was defective, replacement still substandard.
- Good value for price but not the sharpest lens available.
- Q3 201893/100
Buyers praise this lens as sharp, lightweight, and versatile for travel and general use. One noted a slightly tight zoom spot, but overall satisfaction is high.
- Sharp image quality and good VR performance, exceeding expectations.
- Lightweight design makes it ideal for all-day carry and travel.
- Versatile all-in-one lens covering wide to telephoto range.
- One user reported a slightly tight spot in the zoom ring.
- Q2 201896/100
Buyers praised the lens as an excellent travel companion, compact, and versatile, replacing multiple lenses. One noted a minor deduction but overall satisfaction was high.
- Excellent travel lens, compact and lightweight.
- Replaces multiple lenses, simplifies gear.
- Fast focus and smooth operation.
- Durable construction and good optics.
- Q1 201887/100
Buyers praised the lens as a good value all-in-one option with great image quality and ergonomic design, though some noted lens flare and a missing hood.
- Great value and image quality for an all-in-one lens.
- Lightweight and ergonomic, ideal for travel or light setups.
- Lens flare noted; hood sold separately, but overall fair for price.
- Good service and convenient all-around performance.
- Q3 201777/100
Buyers praised the lens for its versatility, crisp images, and convenience of replacing multiple lenses. A few noted softness at high zoom, shakiness, and a rattling issue.
- Versatile all-in-one lens eliminates need for multiple lenses.
- Crisp, sharp images across zoom range; great for travel and everyday use.
- Soft and shaky at high zoom; faces blurry, detail poor.
- Lens rattles for no apparent reason; pictures still fine.
- Q2 2017100/100
All 8 reviews are 5-star. Buyers praise the lens as a versatile, all-in-one travel solution with good image quality and VR.
- Excellent all-in-one travel lens for DX bodies, covering wide to telephoto.
- Good image quality, sharp and crisp photos, especially after lens corrections.
- VR helps in low light; compact and reasonable weight for travel.
- Great value and price point; good upgrade from 18-140mm.
- Q1 201786/100
Buyers praised the lens as a versatile travel companion with sharp focus and good low-light performance, though some noted it is slightly heavy and lacks macro capability.
- Sharp focus and good image quality across the zoom range.
- Convenient all-in-one lens for travel, eliminating lens changes.
- Slightly heavy for extended carry, but lighter than some alternatives.
- Lacks macro feature and has some barrel distortion at 18mm.
Based on 113 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Optically, this lens is a bit of a mixed bag, but it's impressive for what it is. In our database, it lands in the 94th percentile for optical quality among similar lenses, which is a standout result for a superzoom. At the wide end and mid-range, images are genuinely sharp and contrasty, helped by three aspherical and three ED glass elements. The story changes past 200mm though. Sharpness falls off noticeably at the long end, and with a max aperture that narrows to f/6.3, you'll be cranking the ISO in anything but bright sunlight. The Silent Wave Motor autofocus is quiet, but it's only middle-of-the-pack for speed, so don't expect to nail fast action consistently. The 7-blade diaphragm produces bokeh that's, well, one of the worst we've seen in this category, so don't buy this for creamy backgrounds.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 |
| Focal Length Max | 300 |
| Elements | 16 |
| Groups | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3 |
| ED Elements | 3 |
| Coating | Super Integrated Coating |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-6.3 |
| Constant | No |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
Build
| Mount | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | No |
| Weight | 0.6 kg / 1.2 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 67 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Silent Wave Motor |
| Stabilization | Yes |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 480 |
| Max Magnification | 1:3.13 |
vs Competition
Stacked against the competition, the Nikon's main selling point is that nothing else touches its zoom range. The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 and Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 are sharper and faster, but they top out at 50mm and 70mm respectively, so you're giving up a ton of reach. The Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is a closer rival in spirit, but it still falls 165mm short on the long end. If you shoot a Nikon DX body and want a single lens for vacations, family events, and casual wildlife, this is the only game in town. If you're willing to swap lenses, a two-lens kit with a fast standard zoom and a dedicated telephoto will smoke this in image quality every time.
| Spec | Nikon NIKKOR 2216 18-300mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD | Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 | Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Viltrox Pro AF 27mm f/1.2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 18-300mm | 28-300mm | 18-50mm | 12-35mm | 18-135mm | 27mm |
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/4 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 | f/1.2 |
| Mount | Nikon F | Sony E | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E | Sony E |
| Stabilization | true | true | false | true | true | false |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | true | true | false | true |
| Weight (g) | 550 | 590 | 290 | 306 | 326 | 560 |
| AF Type | Silent Wave Motor | VXD linear motor | stepping motor | Autofocus | Linear motor | STM |
| Lens Type | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | prime |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon NIKKOR 2216 18-300mm | 53.9 | 13.2 | 49.7 | 59.5 | 93.8 | 20.2 | 30 | 99.2 | 85.5 | 93.3 |
| Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD Compare | 98 | 77.9 | 65.1 | 85.8 | 96.7 | 66 | 91.2 | 97.7 | 55.8 | 82.4 |
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Compare | 86.8 | 81.8 | 86 | 91.7 | 82.2 | 83.9 | 80.9 | 78.6 | 89.8 | 36.8 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 Compare | 53.9 | 81.8 | 85.4 | 51 | 86.5 | 83.9 | 63.7 | 80.6 | 85.5 | 96.9 |
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Compare | 98 | 75.4 | 72.5 | 40.3 | 78.5 | 77.3 | 44.7 | 95.8 | 89.8 | 82.4 |
| Viltrox Pro AF 27mm f/1.2 Compare | 86.8 | 98.5 | 67.4 | 38.5 | 82.2 | 98.6 | 91.2 | 33.6 | 89.8 | 36.8 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Pricing on this lens is all over the map, with a wild spread from $566 to $14,625 across vendors. The sweet spot is clearly at the low end, where you can snag it for under $600, making it a solid deal for a do-it-all travel lens. At that price, the convenience factor alone justifies the cost. Just don't overpay. If you see it creeping toward four figures, you're in used pro-glass territory, and that's a much better investment for image quality.
Read more
Overview
The Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR is the ultimate "one lens to rule them all" for DX shooters. With a massive 16.7x zoom range that stretches from a useful 27mm equivalent wide angle all the way to a 450mm super telephoto, it's designed to live on your camera and never come off. It's surprisingly light at 550g, and the Vibration Reduction system is good for about four stops of shake correction, which helps a lot when you're racked out to 300mm handheld.
Common Questions
Q: Is this lens sharp at 300mm?
It's usable, but don't expect prime-level sharpness. Most users and our testing confirm that sharpness drops off noticeably past 200mm, so you'll get the best results by stopping down to f/8 when you're fully zoomed in.
Q: Will this lens work on a full-frame Nikon camera?
Technically yes, but it's designed for DX (APS-C) sensors. On a full-frame body, you'll get heavy vignetting and will need to shoot in DX crop mode, which throws away a lot of your resolution.
Q: How good is the vibration reduction for handheld shooting?
The VR is one of the lens's strongest features, rated for about four stops of compensation. In practice, it lets you shoot handheld at surprisingly slow shutter speeds, even at 300mm, which is a lifesaver in fading light.
Who Should Skip This
If you need a fast aperture for portraits or low-light work, look elsewhere because the f/6.3 max aperture at the long end is a real letdown. Also, if you're a pixel peeper who obsesses over corner sharpness, this superzoom will drive you nuts. Get a fast prime or a constant f/2.8 zoom instead.
Verdict
This lens is for the DX shooter who values convenience above all else. If you hate changing lenses in the field, want to travel light, and can live with softer images at the long end, the 18-300mm is a fantastic all-in-one solution. It's not for pixel peepers, portrait artists, or anyone who regularly shoots in dim light. But for a family trip to the zoo or a hike where you might spot wildlife, it's hard to beat the flexibility.
