Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3G ED VR

This Nikon superzoom is an all-in-one lens for APS-C Nikon F cameras. Its 18–300mm range takes you from wide street scenes to distant wildlife without changing lenses. That suits travel, family days out and everyday shooting where carrying several lenses is impractical. One lens also means less to pack and fewer changes on the move.

The trade-off is speed rather than reach. The maximum aperture narrows as you zoom, so dim interiors and evening streets are not where it works best. In good light, though, the reach is generous for a single lens.

Nikon launched this lens in 2014 and it is still in production, so it is an older design that remains current.

It weighs 1 lb 3.4 oz (550 g) and measures 3.09 in (78.5 mm) across and 3.9 in (99 mm) long. A screw-in filter must match the 67mm front thread.

The 18–300mm span covers nearly every framing choice on APS-C. At 18mm you can take in streets, interiors and group pictures. In the middle of the range it suits portraits and everyday subjects. At 300mm, distant subjects such as birds, boats or players on a far pitch become large enough to fill the frame.

The maximum aperture is variable. You start at f/3.5 at 18mm and end at f/6.3 at 300mm. In bright daylight that matters little. In overcast or evening light at the long end, you will need a higher ISO or a slower shutter speed.

Depth of field runs fairly deep at these apertures. Isolating a subject from a busy background is hardest at the short end. At 300mm the longer focal length blurs what lies behind your subject, so separation comes more easily.

The lens focuses as close as 1.6 ft (48 cm), so shop windows, food and market displays are all in range. Maximum magnification is 0.29x, so a small subject such as a flower fills a modest part of the frame.

Vibration Reduction is built in. It moves optical elements to counter hand shake, so you can use slower shutter speeds than hand-holding alone would allow. It helps most at 300mm, where any movement of your hands shows in the frame. On a travel day it lets you keep shooting inside churches or markets where tripods are impractical.

A zoom lock stops the barrel creeping out under its own weight when the camera hangs from a strap. There is no weather sealing, so shield the camera in rain or dust and carry a cover if your plans include wet destinations. Nikon also omits a fluorine coating, so the front element needs more careful cleaning.

The optical unit uses 16 elements in 12 groups, including aspherical elements and low-dispersion (ED) glass. The aspherical surfaces help correct distortion, which straight-edged subjects such as buildings can show. The ED glass helps reduce chromatic aberration, the coloured fringing that can appear along high-contrast edges such as a bird against a bright sky.