Lenses by Nikon
NIKON DX VR AF-S 18-140mm F3.5-5.6 G ED VR
One lens that does it all on your Nikon DX-format DSLR — is this the only zoom you’ll ever need?
NIKON DX VR AF-S 18-140mm F3.5-5.6 G ED VR
Overview
If you are searching for one lens that does it all on your Nikon DX-format DSLR, the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR is one of the most capable all-in-one zoom lenses ever produced for the Nikon F-mount DX system. This lens delivers a 7.8x zoom ratio and a 35mm equivalent focal range of 27–210mm, making it equally at home shooting wide-angle interiors, everyday walk-around photography, and mid-telephoto subjects such as wildlife and sports. Whether you are a travel photographer who refuses to carry multiple lenses, a family photographer covering a school event, or a videographer needing versatile reach in a single barrel, this lens is built for you.
Optical Construction
The optical formula comprises 17 elements in 12 groups, including one aspherical element and one Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass element. These two specialized elements work in concert to deliver above-average image quality for a superzoom lens in this price class.
The aspherical element corrects spherical aberration — the tendency of a lens to focus light rays unevenly across its surface — which is particularly important at wide apertures and at the wide end of the zoom range. The ED glass element is Nikon’s solution to chromatic aberration, the color fringing that commonly plagues high-ratio zoom lenses, especially at longer focal lengths. ED glass was developed by Nikon specifically to be used alongside normal optical glass in telephoto lenses to obtain optimum correction of chromatic aberrations.
Individual lens elements also feature Nikon’s Super Integrated Coating, which reduces flare and ghosting to increase contrast and color fidelity when working in harsh or backlit lighting conditions.
Vibration Reduction (VR)
One of the headline features of this lens is its second-generation Vibration Reduction system. VR minimizes camera shake by offering a shutter speed equivalent to 4.0 stops faster, based on the CIPA standard — a value achieved when attached to a DX-format digital SLR camera with the zoom set at the maximum telephoto position.
In practical terms, this means that where you might need a minimum shutter speed of 1/200s at 140mm to get a sharp handheld image without VR, the system allows you to shoot at speeds as slow as approximately 1/13s and still achieve acceptable sharpness. This is an enormous benefit when shooting in low light, indoors without flash, or at events where a tripod is impractical.
Autofocus System
AF-S NIKKOR lenses feature Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM), a technology that converts traveling waves into rotational energy to focus the optics, enabling high-speed autofocusing that is extremely accurate and super quiet.
As an AF-S lens, autofocus operation is quick and virtually silent. The lens will work on all Nikon camera bodies that support SWM lenses, and autofocus results can be overridden at any time by simply turning the focus ring.
The lens also uses an Internal Focus (IF) design, meaning only the internal lens group shifts during focusing. IF lenses do not change in size during autofocus operation, which allows for a more compact and lightweight package while also enabling closer focusing distances.
Build Quality and Handling
Weighing in at 490 grams, the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR is not a particularly heavy lens, and it balances well on larger DX bodies such as the Nikon D7100. Build quality is very decent, with a metal bayonet mount, smooth focus and zoom rings, and very little wobble even when fully extended.
The zoom ring is the dominant feature on the barrel — over 1¾ inches wide and composed of a thick ribbed rubber texture that is very easy to grip. The zoom action carries a nice resistance, making zoom creep unlikely to be an issue.
The lens is not claimed to be weatherproof, but there is a rubber seal around the lens mount that should provide basic protection against dust and moisture. For a lens in this category and price range, this is a welcome feature.
Two physical switches appear on the left side of the barrel: one for autofocus/manual focus (A/M) and one for Vibration Reduction (ON/OFF).
It is worth noting that no lens hood is included as standard. The lens is compatible with the separately sold Nikon HB-32 petal-shaped hood.
Full Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lens Mount | Nikon F (DX) |
| Focal Length | 18–140mm |
| 35mm Equivalent | 27–210mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/3.5 (wide) – f/5.6 (tele) |
| Minimum Aperture | f/22 (wide) – f/38 (tele) |
| Optical Formula | 17 elements in 12 groups |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 |
| ED Elements | 1 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 (rounded) |
| Autofocus | Silent Wave Motor (SWM) |
| Vibration Reduction | Yes — 4 stops (CIPA) |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.45m (approx. 1.48 ft) |
| Maximum Magnification | 0.23x (1:4.3) |
| Filter Thread | 67mm |
| Dimensions | 78mm diameter × 97mm length |
| Weight | 490g |
| Lens Hood | HB-32 (sold separately) |
| Introduced | August 2013 |
Compatible Camera Bodies
This lens is designed for Nikon DX-format (APS-C sensor) DSLRs using the Nikon F-mount. Some of the cameras compatible with Nikon F (DX) mount lenses include the Nikon D3500, D7500, and D5600, as well as the full range of Nikon DX DSLRs including the D90, D7000, D7100, D7200, D5300, D5500, D5600, D3300, and D3400. Note that while this lens will physically mount on Nikon FX full-frame bodies, it is designed for DX sensors and will produce vignetting on full-frame if used outside the DX crop mode.
Image Quality
The AF-S NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR puts in a pretty impressive performance all round. Sharpness is high, especially towards the wide end, although it drops somewhat at telephoto.
Distortion is quite pronounced at both ends of the zoom range. At 18mm, 5.02% barrel distortion is present, which is quite noticeable, while at the telephoto end, 1.5% pincushion distortion is present, which is less apparent. The distortion pattern is uniform across the frame, making it relatively straightforward to apply corrections in image editing software.
Vignetting is present but manageable — at 18mm the corners are 1.83 stops darker than the image centre, while at the telephoto end the corners are 0.59 stops darker. Visually uniform illumination is achieved when the lens is stopped down to f/8 or beyond throughout the zoom range.
For everyday photography, travel, and video work, the image quality this lens delivers is more than sufficient, particularly when shooting in RAW format where lens correction profiles in Lightroom, Capture NX-D, or Adobe Camera Raw will automatically neutralize most distortion and vignetting.
Who Is This Lens For?
The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR is the ideal choice for:
- Travel photographers who want a single lens solution covering wide-angle to mid-telephoto without carrying a bag full of glass
- Family and event photographers who need flexibility to shoot group shots and close-up portraits without changing lenses
- Beginner to intermediate photographers upgrading from a standard 18-55mm kit lens who want significantly more reach
- Video shooters who benefit from the quiet Silent Wave Motor autofocus and 4-stop VR stabilization
- Nikon DX DSLR owners looking for the most versatile walk-around lens available for their system
Why Buy Used?
Buying a used Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR from a trusted Canadian source like Good Used Cameras means you get a precision-engineered Nikon lens at a fraction of its original retail price. This lens was introduced in 2013 and built to Nikon’s high manufacturing standards — it is a lens that holds up well over time when properly cared for. Purchasing used also means your gear has already proven its durability.
➤ Check Availability and Current Pricing at Good Used Cameras
Sources
All technical information in this article has been verified against the following sources:
- Nikon Official Product Page — imaging.nikon.com
- Nikon USA Official Page — nikonusa.com
- Photography Blog Review — photographyblog.com
- Digital Camera World Review — digitalcameraworld.com
- ePHOTOzine Review — ephotozine.com
- DPReview / DxOMark Data — dpreview.com
- Imaging Resource — imaging-resource.com
- B&H Photo — bhphotovideo.com
- Wikipedia Specifications Table — en.wikipedia.org
✅ Fact-checked against Nikon official documentation and multiple independent review sources. All specifications confirmed accurate.