Best lens for nature from Nikon?

"Nature" covers a very wide range.

That lens covers little or none of that range - it is best suited to portraits.

If you want closeup shots of bugs and flowers you need a macro lens

For animal shots that you can approach within, say, 50 metres then a 70-250 (or thereabouts) zoom

For shots of birds and more distant unapproachable animals then a 400mm or 500mm prime would be best.

What about nature do you want to capture? Rolling landscapes? Trees? Hedges? Zoos? Your 18-55mm lens is perfect for those already. If you want to capture small insects as they hover over flowers then you may want to invest on a macro lens. If you want to go to a safari and shoot lions under the trees a mile away then you will need a long telephoto lens, at least 300mm. It's all about what you want to shoot, how far and how big in the picture you want them to appear.

http://keerok-photography.blogspot.com/2011/05/len...

If you shoot insects, get macro lens such as tamron 90mm or nikon 85mm macro.

If you shoot wildlife (large animals), get telephoto lens such as 70-300

If you shoot bird, get super telephoto lens 400mm and above such as sigma 200-500, nikon 80-400 etc.

For your budget, you can only get nikon 70-300 (non-vr), 55-200 vr, tamron 70-300, sigma 70-300.

It will fit, but it's too short for nature photography and too long for landscapes.

Under $300 ? Maybe the 55-200mm VR.