Nikon Z DX 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 VR lens review with samples

[@twoblink]

I purchased this for one of my daughters and the other got the 16-50mm. Both lenses are super impressive; the images are ridiculously sharp compared to their old setup (D3300 + the old 18-200mm NIkon). Amazing 1 lens wonder for vacation.

[@jonstout7635]

I bought it for my Z50 to avoid using my old 18-140 and the Z adapter. I love it. My old DX model was my favorite street photography lens, and the Z version gives me the sharpness I’m enjoying from my other Z lenses. I can also tell you the Z 18-140 is durable. I had forgotten to zip up my backpack at the top of a mountain, and the lens began a fast drop and roll down a rocky path. I was certain that a repair was in its future. However, the caps didn’t pop off and there were no scratches or dings. I just blew off the dust with my Rocket before taking the caps of to check for broken glass. Everything was just fine. That was over three weeks ago and the lens continues to perform flawlessly. Nikon is building them to last.

[@adrianvanleeuwen]

Thanks for the review! I bought this lens as combo with Z30 and really like it!

[@chrisbryant8317]

I bought this lens on the strength of this review. It is a superb lens and very sharp. I wish it had a metal lens mount and that is my only criticism. Superb! High recommended. Just buy it. Thanks Chris.

[@p8ryot]

I just came from our local camera shop and tried it out on my Z50, I loved the size, weight, and sample image quality. I'm going back to get it on Tuesday, Your review was very helpful in my committing to buy it.

[@eevyasmrofficial]

I can’t tell you how many times I have avoided a lens or decided to purchase a lens based on your videos 😅

[@IraLeePNG]

Right??? Glad to know I'm not the only one.

[@1717jbs]

Me too! Thanks Chris.

[@georgecharpentier6043]

Thank you for the review. Balanced and informative. It is the DX version of the 24-200 z lens for Nikon Z FX, and I think it will be an excellent lens for travel. I have the 50 - 250 Z DX and it is surprisingly good. I expect this one will be the same. Thanks again.

[@kaushaltiwari9773]

An excellent lens for travel needs to have spme weathersealing. Sony apsc has the same issue with its 18-135.

[@andrzejjaniak6849]

It is as sharp as 50-250 if not sharper. Definitely sharper than an f mount equivalent. It's an excellent lens. Even though it has a plastic mount, I feel the build quality is very good, again better than of the f mount 18-140.

[@tzvetanzlatanov6349]

I compared this lens to Z 16-50 and the latter is just a bit sharper across the zoom range and the frame with the exception of far corners but of course versatility is incomparable.

[@recmydream]

8:12 thats a nice view! i love it

[@blazerbarrel2]

Slow but sharp ,good contrast , nice kit lens , a little expensive , great range ! Thanks

[@stephanweiskorn6760]

Excellent video 😮!

[@HR-wd6cw]

I think with these "travel zoom" lenses (the 18-140 for APS-C and the 24-200 for Full frame) people need to keep their expectations appropriate. Most lenses like this are compromises -- you're giving up a bit of sharpness for convenience. And in reality, some of the sharpness concerns (particularly in the corners) may or may not be a huge deal in real-world practice.

[@andrzejjaniak6849]

But this lens is super sharp, sharper than f mount equivalent. Primes will obviously be sharper.

[@starwalker8736]

THANK YOU for doing this review! Great as usual! If I could ask you one thing, I'd like a review of the Nikon Z 24-200. The lens is not that much more expensive in a set with the Z5 than a Z50 with the Z 18-140 and then I could compare both systems better. 😀

[@stevebeeston]

Same here. I'm considering a 24-200 Z mount and would be keen to see Chris review it.

[@georgecharpentier6043]

Get the lens. I have it, and it is surprisingly good. It is attached to my Z6 most of the time. Check Nigel Danson. kzbin.info/www/bejne/al6qfqikqK-ibc0

[@xyz-w2t6b]

Amazing test ,BUT I want to know a comparation ,nokin z dx 18-140mm VS z dx 50-250mm VS z 24-200mm ,which is best len to buy for nikon z50? thank you sir.

[@Mebtaku]

Somehow I missed a point where we started to call “lower budget lenses “ £600 f6.3 zooms

[@andrzejjaniak6849]

These are the prices of mirrorless. Sony equivalent costs basically the same.

[@stargazer2852]

Hey Christopher, may I ask a little question? Are you planning a review of the Canon RF-S 18-150 STM? When would it be online? It would be for me, and surely for other people too, an important part of the decision between the two camera manufactures. Thank you for your always great reviews! 🙂

[@hainanbob6144]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3nNqnRnar-AfK8&ab_channel=ChristopherFrost

[@NC-NC-NC]

Nice and detail video. Will you also make a video for af-s 18-140?

[@heartyfisher]

Its a nice lens i have it. very sharp too. But i upgraded to the 18-300. not as crazy sharp but the range is great.

[@WalterWhiteFromTheBlock]

Excellent image quality! Will you review the Nikkor Z 24-200mm lens?

[@nikolasmokalis3425]

Think we will ever see a “sharpest super zoom lenses I’ve used” video in the future?

[@nikolasmokalis3425]

@@TigaWould I don’t mean his individual reviews exactly, just something like his “sharpest 50mm/35mm” vids. A quick, ranked video for prospective buyers on different systems.

[@TheWillRogers]

The 18-140mm DX lens looks to follow in the footsteps of the very well received 24-200mm FX lens for Z mount. Personally I'm fine swapping between the 16-50mm and 50-250mm on the Z50. I'm hoping the 12-28mm isn't as pricey as this zoom as it's likely the next DX lens I buy.

[@ro30]

12-28? You will grow old to wait

[@TheWillRogers]

@@ro30 Should be either this year or the next since it's already been announced. Until then my 10-20mm AF-P works well enough.

[@cmeyvin]

Is it worth getting this lens over the 16-50 and 50-250 kits in terms of picture quality?

[@andrzejjaniak6849]

@@cmeyvin I have just bought it, it's super sharp, as sharp as 50-250 and sharper than 16-50. This will make my life so much easier. Swapping the lenses is a pain if you are on the go.

[@AlessandroAbatePhotography]

Is there anyone who could give me an advice? Nikon z 50 with 1) z 12-28 + z 50-250 or 2) z 18-140? Thank you!

[@robinrai4973]

As someone with the Fuji equivalent I am jealous of the compact size!

[@stevechan5569]

Anther great review as usual. Looks promising for cropped sensor Nikon mirrorless but pricy for all plastic lens?

[@rajeshbhattacharjee2989]

Canon M 18-150 - $500 Sony 18-135 - $650 Fujifilm 18-135 - $900 So, no, not really.

[@dathinkers7451]

Is this compatible to D7000?

[@markcreamerjr3856]

I recently purchased a Nikon Z6. Would you all suggest a lens like this for multi-purpose?

[@pauka13]

Get the 24-200. I have it on my z6 and it performs surprisingly well for a super zoom.

[@blockethoutdoors]

Will this work on the Z30?

[@franzweber7494]

Yes

[@PiTdeLyX]

Man, it's so disappointing to get no weathersealing on these lenses, they are so great options for the Dx system... Thanks for your review!

[@mbravos]

It does have internal seals, but is not as thoroughly sealed as the S-line lenses.

[@mbravos]

@@djstuc Nikon doesn't have an acronym for weather sealing like Fujifilm, but they indeed point out in the lens' brochure that it has several seals covering the front and rings of the lens (diagram included). It doesn't have one at the mount though, as the video shows.

[@HR-wd6cw]

I've shot both with non-weather sealed lenses and weather sealed lenses and never had any issues with either one. The only difference you might see if you were shooting in pouring rain. But I've shot many kit lenses in rain without any serious problems. Even with a "weather sealed" lens moisture can still make it's way in. Weather sealing these days has become more of a sales gimmick than anything else. Sony cameras for the longest time had poor weather sealing, but that never stopped people from shooting with them in the rain. What people should be worried with in terms of zooms (and this applies to ALL ZOOMs, weather sealed or not) is ingestion of dust or moisture from the zooming barrel. That would be a bigger concern for me than sealing around the lens mount.

[@PLANETWATERMELON]

Great video. Lens seems useful. I am guessing you didn't not have a DX camera to test it with. Were you using the vibration control in the camera as well?

[@tonysimon12]

Will this lens work with my Nikon D3000 body? Thinking of getting this lens.

[@iiipoizone]

Will not work. It just can't be placed. d3000 is a very old camera. Buy better z50 , you will have more fun with photos.

[@kevc.2958]

damn it's much sharper than those efm zoom lens

[@OnlyCitrus]

My shoe box pin hole camera is sharper than Canon kit lenses

[@hakan7346]

Quite impressive for a super zoom lens. Even with in camera corrections at 18mm.

[@recmydream]

i want nikon after seeing this))

[@srouth4201]

Very nice process of analysis . many thanks . Can you please comment on Nikon 18 - 140mm DX format (dslr) lens . I am thinking to replace my 18 - 55mm with it .

[@kronusaerospace8872]

whilst I'd always take a metal lens mount over a plastic, the mount is probably not gonna be the first point of failure on this lens!

[@ИгорьЗайцев-э1м]

Thanks for review! Test 24-200 z, please!

[@Oculus729]

Focus breathing during video?

[@ericthestone]

Thanks for another video. Please review the Nikon 28mm F/2.8 Z.

[@mamari_ph]

am i the only one ho noticed 2 burned pixels, in the upper middle part of the image? they are a little bit on the left from the middle, clearly visible in the flare section

[@kdikun]

Wish this had started at 16mm instead...

[@kelseyy7159]

Does this work on z6

[@pauka13]

yes it does in dx mode but the resolution on the z6 will be 10.3 mpx.

[@stjepanjina]

I had an old version on the dslr fantastic lens especially on the d5300 / d7200

[@georgedavall9449]

Right on, the AF-S 18-140 DX was/ is a decent lens. It came with my D7100 kit, and recently I picked up a D7500, and am rocking that lens on it now, and it seems a really good fit. Great focusing and good images. Theses lenses can be beneficial, if used within their limitations. Peace!

[@tomapaunovic]

This lens looks great! Very small and light, affordable and image quality is superb. IMHO it has all qualities that APS-C lens should have. Pretty much all weaknesses are non issue when using camera corrections. Only bad point is the fact this lens is for Nikon DX, those guys don't seem to be serious at all about APS-C. It would fit much better some other systems, like Fuji, that's serious about investing in APS-C.

[@simpletraveler86]

You realize they released a professional DSLR APS-C body that was arguably one of the best crop sensor cameras, right? Their Z mount crop sensor is still in their infancy

[@tomapaunovic]

@@simpletraveler86 that was long time ago. You cannot mount this lens on DSLR cameras

[@MB-dq2gz]

This isn't too much different from how they have treated their DX like up in the past. You can either use a wide range of FX lenses with it or you can look to 3rd party lenses I think viltrox has like 3 or 4 normal range Prime F/ 1.4 lenses that are affordable for the system I am sure more will land later. For me the system has been great since I own both the full frame and the APS-C I pretty much keep the z50 in my glove compartment with both kit lenses so I always have a camera with me and I use travel and marry it to the compact 28mm f2.8 and the 40mm f2 I will grab my 85mm 1.8 if I plan on shooting portraits or something.

[@tomapaunovic]

@@MB-dq2gz I think you are right, DX was always kind of a stepping stone towards FX, rather that end game system. Although they have full set of zoom (including ultra wide), couple of DX primes as well as some pro grade stuff such as 17-55 2.8. But in the past image quality of APS-C DSLR lenses was somewhat compromised as well, so someone looking for better quality lenses would have to move to FF. This lens is pretty much as good as it get for super zoom, there is nothing significantly better on FF (maybe Tamron 28-200 on Sony). While I was shooting Fuji, I would really happy to own something like this lens.

[@estoylisto]

As usual many would criticize Nikon and mentioning Fuji ... Fuji crop is their main system and it doesn't share lenses with their medium format (which have very narrow market) ... that's why they have the widest collection of APS-C (Sony for sometime where also focusing on their APS-C more than FF) ... Nikon DX glass is limited yet versatile and can share FX lenses (which Canon cannot).. Fuji has many lenses that are unique for APS-C yet are expensive heavy ... why not using a FF if it is not for the budget and weight saving ? Why buy a 50 1.0 lense that will act as 75 1.5 while on FF a 85 1.8 would give the same compression and it is lighter and cheaper... If you like Fuji good for you, enjoy your system .. for many they feel more comfortable with their Nikon, Canon, or Sony cameras 📷

[@totinospizzarolls4737]

600 dollars for a slow apsc zoom...when will nikon open up their Z-Mount?

[@andrzejjaniak6849]

Look at how much Sony equivalent costs -basically the same.

[@michael-4k4000]

Omg! Is this a panacea lens?

[@lorenzostilo479]

*Out of context comment* I was looking at some lenses online (amazon ita) and I found this Meike 85 1.8, I was scrolling trough the sample images and there I saw a portrait of you Christopher. Don't know if you are aware. :) i made a screenshot but I don't know how to send it here.

[@dicekolev5360]

Plastic is not the "No-no" but the f3.5-6.3 ...

[@CodeTravelwithRizwan]

Excellent review. Please review new Tamron 18-300mm for sony E mount or fuji mount. Thank you.

[@nvztsnl]

why anybody spend 600$ when the old, and the same, lens ,even with the adapter, is sold about 150$> ?

[@opalyankaBG]

Because it's not an old lens and it's an entirely new design?

[@rajeshbhattacharjee2989]

Old lens is $500, weighs 500 grams, becomes 600 grams and huge with FTZ.

[@nvztsnl]

@@opalyankaBG new designed PLASTIC, new designed DARK ARPERTURE, new designed EXPENSIVE LOW BUDGET lens. sorry but it is funny.

[@nvztsnl]

@@rajeshbhattacharjee2989 heaviness in this situations is maybe the last criterion in my opinion. same money, better results with a sony crop body and full automatic 18-105 f/4 lens,

[@rajeshbhattacharjee2989]

@@nvztsnl In your original comment, you were comparing it with old nikon 18-140, not a completely different system (Sony). I replied to that comment. If you like Sony, then use Sony.

[@recmydream]

Great picture quality off course but i don't understand why wheres no weather sealing on this kind of lenses. Superzoom lenses in my opinion must be super versatile for they purpose in street and nature photography... And of course due to conditions and dust it must be weather sealed... Its confuses me Of course it will add cost to the lens but it will suit you much longer with consistent quality even after few years

[@Andrej79]

I own this lens on Z50 and to be honest I should pay extra money and get Z 24-200 instead, which is much sharper. This lens is not worth a 600€. It is very soft from my point of view. Anything close is sharp, but when shooting object in longer distance it's just not sharp enough for me. I would recomend this lens to be sold for 399€ max.To the sharper 24-200, only disadvantage is it's start 24mm, which is 36mm on Z50, but I could probably live with that if I have this level up sharper lens :)

[@RudiZimmerer]

I love the Tamron 18-400mm and the previous NIkon DX 18-400mm had never any chances against the Tamron lenses even on 400mm was the Tamron sharper than that Nikon DX 18-400mm lens on 140mm...I gave away that B.S Nikon Dx 18-140mm, with such lousy built quality, the front ring dropped down after a 1/2 year... (it is just a junk lens) . I use the Nikon z50 with Z-mount adapter and would never buy this lens. The Image stabilization is from NIkon the best... Today I use mostly the old NIkon 16-85mm F3.5-5.6 because I need the 16mm much more than the longer reach... Without the 16mm I have to change again and again the lens to a wide-angle-Zoom (this case Tamron 10-24mm with Vibration control)... And no lens can compete with the Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 on sharpness ... And the NIkon Z 16-50mm is not working for me...

[@anayv11]

Try the 16-50mm kit lens. Sharper than my Nikon 16-85mm lens. ...I now have no use for the bulky 16-85mm...it's less sharp...but no surprise, as most all Z lenses are sharper than their AF-S. Sigma 100-400mm is quite sharp on the Z 50, too. Impressed by the AF on that, being i also have to use the FTZ adapter.

[@p8ryot]

I loved the Tamron 18-400 but it's heavy, and longer yet when adapted and focus hunts slowly when approaching 400mm. Missed my shot a few times because of it. Great reach but I'm not impressed with image quality at it's longer focal lengths.

[@amitkrupal1234]

IQ is way better than Sony & Fuji version esp in corners

[@istiakalam7429]

Nikkor DX afp 70-300mm ed vr please!!!

[@FencerPTS]

"A more sensible zoom range makes it less expensive." - Lens costs $600 Or you can buy the SLR Nikkor 18-140mm f3.5-5.6 for $500 and adapt it. I wonder how they compare.

[@p8ryot]

I'd be more comfortable without the adapters added length & weight. The Z mount additional $100.00 is a relatively small amount

[@andrzejjaniak6849]

Z version is much sharper, especially in the corners, has better stabilisation and is better built, even though it has a plastic mount.

[@twoblink]

Not even close; the Z's are WAY sharper.

[@ro30]

F.6,3.

[@opalyankaBG]

Just 1/3 of a stop slower than f/5.6 found on many slow lenses. The same difference between ISO 200 and 250.

[@marike1100]

If it had a metal lens mount, it would have been an instant buy for me. No $600 variable aperture lens should have a plastic lens mount. Remember the old D70 kit lens, the wonderful 18-70mm zoom, metal mount, lens hood included? Remember the Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm? Metal mount, lens hood included. Come on Nikon, DX users / fans deserve better.

[@IliasKoureas]

Great lens for hiking. Nikon we need fast zooms to replace the kit lens for our DX bodies. And bring back the 10-20mm. Im so jealous of the sigma 17-50mm that the sony users got.

[@IliasKoureas]

@Man in Dandism literally none of these are zooms, what are you on brother? 😂

[@IliasKoureas]

@Man in Dandism lol i respect the honesty haha. I'm waiting for native z mount lenses for my zfc.

[@l3alamiya]

This lens is on the dark side

[@rens071]

no lock

[@JB-vc6xj]

Why do all these lenses have plastic mounts, this feels so cheap 🙄😬 How reliable/durable is this in practice?

[@beavertown2006]

£500 is a ridiculous rip off for a lens that doesn't provide a lens hood with plastic mount. No wonder Nikon has gone down to number 3 after Canon and Sony.

[@Wreckedandruinedand]

Yeah, thats it. The Nikon Z DX format are dead. All they care about is their FX Format. They dont even bother making small, bright lenses specifically designed to cover APSC sensor to compliment their DX line up, not even bright zooms. Only mediocre zooms. Even Canon has done better with their EOS-M cameras. Sony and Fuji is still the way to go if you want to invest in APSC system.

[@EXkurogane]

But Eos M is also dead. RF is the one that will get apsc options in the future. If you have no interest in full frame then go look at Fuji, though Fuji lenses are just as expensive as full frame lenses so I'd rather buy full frame lenses with that money and use it on APSC bodies.

[@Wreckedandruinedand]

@@EXkurogane You are right, they are dead too. But they have some small, bright primes. Even their mediocre zooms are also very compact. Thats why i said Canon did it better. Size is one of the advantages of APSC as a smaller format than full frame. Fuji and Sony also have their line up of compact lenses, and they are awesome while not costing much. Nikon has none of those. Nikon glass are beautiful, but its way too big, heavy, and more expensive than their APSC bodies. I dont think Nikon (or Canon) should house their APSC sensor inside their large mounts, we know the Z and RF mount have the largest diameter in the full frame world.

[@rajeshbhattacharjee2989]

@@Wreckedandruinedand so according to your logic, when a big company like Canon is unable to continue with 3 mounts, then a small company like Nikon should maintain 3 mounts (F.Z and another mount for APSC)?

[@rajeshbhattacharjee2989]

@@Wreckedandruinedand let's see the mediocre zooms. Nikon 18-140 is same size and weight as Canon 18-150, nikon 16-50 is smaller than Canon 15-45, Canon has a 11-22, but Nikon also announced a 12-28. Now primes, Canon has a 22/2, Nikon has 28/2.8 & 40/2 which are small, cheap, suitable for APSC, and also FF compatible. So only lens which Nikon doesn't have is Canon 32/1.4. OTOH, Canon has abandoned M, nikon is still developing APS lenses and has another prime lens (IIRC a 24mm APSC prime) on APS lens road map.

[@recmydream]

I think good apsc lenses available only for fuji and sony If we talking about choice. Canon and Nikon not bothering about this segment of the market a lot But i saw a few interesting lenses for dx on the Christopher channel. What canon does with their eos m blow my head... Very strainge choice I understand off course their desire to use one mount.. But in the end its not looking good for their authority. In my opinion off course)

[@diegorivera2711]

First!

[@product26]

Nothing 'sexy' about an 18-anything on a crop sensor. Give me 15-16 on the wide end for a useful piece of kit.

[@kaushaltiwari9773]

This is the reason that Smartphones will eat further into the crop sensor market sooner rather than later. Sony and Nikon make weathersealed crop sensor bodies and then give us these BS lenses without any gaskets and then price it at £600. An A6400 user here. Worth trading a bit of IQ and going for MFT, as they make some good weather sealed primes and zooms.

[@slimphotog]

I'm an A6400 user too and I can't disagree.

[@twoblink]

I just sold all my MFT system for a Z30 with this lens; and it's sooooo much better IQ.

[@eagleeatsmonkey3621]

plastic lens mount is crap and stealing

[@eagleeatsmonkey3621]

It is a criminal act in 2023 to cheating customer on a cheap plastic mount at this price … very bad