WHAT’S AWESOME:

• Small size; big zoom range.
• Extremely Packable.  Let’s you bring a single lens for good travelography on most trips.
• Very reasonable price for sharp output at wide and telephoto range.
• VR works well for lowlight and zoom photos, and video.

WHAT COULD BE BETTER:

• Not particularly resistant to the elements (sand and rain).
• Some chromatic aberration and pin cushion distortion, but easily correctable in post production.

BOTTOMLINE:

Great all around travel lens for a Nikon DX mount camera body.  I’ve often been amazed when editing to see some of my favorite images from location and vacation trips (both portraits and landscapes) are from this lens on a Nikon D5100.  So much so, that just about every other DX lens I own hardly ever gets time on my camera anymore.  Great color rendition, shadows, and even pleasing grain in the images.

WHY GET IT:

It is one of the most affordable ways I know of traveling light to ensure you carry your camera with you, while letting you discover and hone your skills as a photographer/videographer.  VERY capable tool, worth every penny of the price paid.  I believe this lens occasionally comes up during the semi-annual Nikon Lens Rebate sale, so you can pick this up along with a Nikon body refurbished, or brand new, with the rebate discounts to bag the best deal on this incredibly capable gear.  Starting out, a zoom lens like this really helps you understand what type of photographer you will become.  It allows you to quickly and seamlessly experiment with aperture, zoom/focal lengths, framing, bokeh, portraiture, landscape, sports and casual or travel photography.  Starting here will save you an enormous amount of confusion and overspending on various prime lenses before you really know what type of tools best suit the way you want and need to capture your subjects.