Conclusion

The AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II is smaller and lighter than its predecessor, whilst offering the same Silent Wave Motor for quick auto-focusing and the same 4-stop vibration reduction system. The new retractable design makes it easier to store the lens when not in use, and on a small camera like the D3300, it helps form a very portable 3x zoom kit.

Auto-focusing with the AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II was fast and pretty quiet on the D3300 body that we tested it with, although the lack of manual focus override and the thin manual focusing ring means that most users will prefer to auto-focus. The effective Vibration Reduction system help elevate the AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II above the usual kit zooms, whilst build quality is good enough for such an inexpensive lens.

In terms of image quality, the AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II is sharp in the centre if you stop down a little, although performance at the edges is not quite as good - pretty much what you'd expect from this kind of lens. Bokeh is surprisingly nice thanks to the 7 aperture blades, while the 25cm minimum focusing distance makes the lens more versatile than you might expect.

The new AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II is something of a no-brainer for prospective D3300 owners, offering good image quality with fast auto-focusing in a lightweight package. This is one kit lens that is well worth keeping hold of...

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	4
Features	4
Ease-of-use	4
Image quality	3.5
Value for money	4.5