[Zipper] I wanted a lighter lens and slightly more compact for travel. This lens not only gave me a wider range of telephoto options with 18mm wide angel and 300mm telephoto but it is lighter weight, shorter and balances well on the camera! I wanted it for travel and can't wait to do that now.

[Empty] I have replaced my last lens and love this one. It is significantly lighter weight and has an expanded wide angle at 18mm. It is also shorter which makes a better balance for camera and lens for me. I have been very pleased with the sharpness of the photos.

[Zipper] Yep I have the usual very specific lenses for those very specific take your time shots. You can never have enough lenses, right? Well this lens takes the place of my 28-300 that has been attached forever on those just take a walk for some shots. Not only is the 18-300 a lot lighter, it's better. It will never replace my specific take your time lenses, but it has replaced the 28-300 and for my 76 year old hands and arms, it is superb. Buy it and don't look back.

[Zipper] This is a replacement for the very same lens I purchased about 10 years ago. Now I'm not a professional level photographer, but this lens fits my every need as I shoot on my morning ventures or when traveling. That's why I purchased the very same edition. Not much more to say. The service is great at B&H. That is all.

[Belt Loop] I bought this to replace the 18-135 mm that I was using for years. This lens is much brighter and more light sensitive. The VR helps with any shake and the pictures are tack sharp. I was shooting wildlife from an airboat in the Everglades and when I wanted to freeze the action it did it perfectly. Great piece of glass.

[Belt Loop] I had been looking for a good zoom lens for my Nikon D5200 to replace my Nikon 55-300mm zoom and my 18-200mm zoom lenses. I'd really become frustrated with changing out lenses for close-up and distant shots. Didn't like carrying an extra lens on hikes and didn't like changing lenses in windy, dusty conditions. This lens fits the bill and does exactly what I hoped it would. Great lens and similar weight of my 55-300mm lens. I also like the lens lock feature. Couldn't be happier with this product and look forward to using it on future photography outings.

[Zipper] I first bought this lens for a trip to Italy. The wife said I wasn't carrying a bag full of equipment through Italy and I said, Okay, but it will cost you a new lens. This was the lens. And that was 8 years ago.

Since then, I've used it every day. I'd fuss about it sometimes -- it is slow. Nobody gets excited about a does-it-all lens but...it does do it all. And seeing as my knees won't let me carry 3 lens and 2 camera bodies anymore, I really can't live without it.

You can imagine how beat up it is after 8 years of every-day use. It has to go to the shop. And I really can't imagine living without it. So I just bought another one. The exact same lens, so I can send the old one off for a refurb and (don't tell the wife) I'll have a spare to ship over to my friend's house for our next trip.

[Black] The lens performs well at near and far zooms. I did some basic sharpness tests and got good results. I love the 18mm (28mm DX) and need the 300mm (460mm DX).

I have noticed reviews of lack of sharpness and pincushion distortion. And, in my first attempt to use the lens out of the box I noticed that these were in fact characteristics of the lens. However, as Nikon recommends, I then upgraded my D500 to the latest firmware for Camera (C) and Lens Distortion (LD), and in the camera I turned on Auto Distortion Control, All issues went away.

The lens is now performing excellently. Sharpness has returned, distortion has gone away. A definite 5 star piece of equipment.

[Zipper] I have had one of these lenses for several years. My son asked for one for Christmas and gave it to him early so he could use it at his daughter's recital which is in low light. This lens works over a wide range and my goto lens

[Zipper] I am doing a hike thorugh Yellowstone in September. I was going to carry a heavier lens with less reach when I saw this one. It is working fine and I am very happy with it.