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

Although this isn't the latest lens design, it still holds up well against its contemporaries, producing images with excellent sharpness in the centre at maximum aperture, and across the frame at optimum apertures. Owners of Nikon's current 18-55mm lens may still look to this lens as an upgrade, and rightly so. The lack of vibration reduction is more than made up for in increased performance, build quality and a more handy zoom range for day-to-day snaps. Those who picked this lens up with an older camera, such as the Nikon D70, may wish to hang onto this optic, unless they have particular specialised needs beyond what this standard zoom offers.

The mid-priced 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5, is much more than just the ideal compromise. Not many years ago it would have been pure fancy to propose a £200 lens that featured ED glass, an aspherical element, internal focusing and instant manual intervention in AF mode yet that is precisely what Nikon offers in its 18-70mm zoom. What is probably the most important feature of any lens is the way that it feels and behaves when in use. Factors such as size and mass help when predicting these things but only physical handling can tell you the truth. The arrangement of the focusing and zoom collars on the 18-70mm lens is excellent, and this fact alone makes the lens more usable than others. Add to that its overall image quality together with a 4x zoom range, and the 18-70mm has to be a winner.

Bottom line, the Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G DX is a very high-quality optic, well worth the price, and is a real bargain when acquired as part of a D70/D70S bundle.