I guess I would be remiss if I did not review my Go-To-Lens my Nikon 18-200mm (f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED VRII, DX) Zoom. I must admit I use it all the time, more than any other lens, including my Nifty 50. It has had a hard life and has needed to be repaired once, it has not been quite the same since and gives me grief with a continuous dirty sensor.
Key Features
- Offers broad 18 – 200mm focal range for use in a variety of situations, equivalent to a 27-300 lens in 35mm format
- Nikon VR II (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization
- Vibration Reduction, engineered specifically for each VR NIKKOR lens, enables handheld shooting at up to 4 shutter speeds slower than would otherwise be possible, assuring dramatically sharper still images and video capture.
- Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) offers superb color reproduction while minimizing ghosting and flare.
- Delivers a high-level optical performance designed exclusively for use with Nikon DX digital format.
- Enables focusing from as close as 50cm (20 in.) from the subject through its entire focal range.
- Flower-shaped lens hood (HB-35) provides greatly reduced stray light.
- 11x zoom coverage offers a perfect compact and lightweight “one lens” solution.
- Two Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass and three aspherical lens elements minimize chromatic aberration, astigmatism and other forms of distortion, while ensuring high resolution and contrast.
- Incorporates a Silent Wave Motor (SWM) allows for fast, quiet focusing.
- Employs a 7-blade rounded diaphragm opening that achieves a natural blur for out-of-focus elements.
- M/A mode for rapid switching between auto focus (A) and manual focus (M) operation.
Pros –
Broad range from 18 -200mm I can use in almost any situation, great for Portraits and landscapes, as well as everything in between.
Beautiful Bokeh, handles sun flare beautifully, nice sharp pictures, although I don’t think it is quite as sharp as it was before being dropped and repaired, 😦
Handles low light really well and is quick and easy to use. Is also super fast to focus.
Good F/stop for a telephoto zoom f/3.5 – f/5.6
Cons –
It’s heavy, heavier than the new compact 18-300mm Nikon have brought out.
It needs to be locked in place as I find it moves in and out when be carried (Although it’s possibly a issue since being dropped).
Whenever I use this lens a lot I seem to have trouble with a dirty sensor. I have read online that seems to be a recurring theme on these lenses (or possibly again, from being dropped). In saying that before it was dropped and I used it on my D5300, I never had an issue with a dirty lens……..and even now Moth (using the 18-300mm) has no issue with a dirty lens? So is it my lens, the D7100 or a combination? Not sure, but it is incredibly frustrating.
It’s not a 300mm! Mind you even as nice as the extra 100mm is on the 300mm, sometimes it’s not enough either. But you have to ask yourself, where is my limit? I could spend a huge lump of cash and go 600-750mm but then I would have to carry it, have you felt the weight of those? Arrgghh, no thanks! The wide angle is nice (18mm), but my Sigma 10-24mm does a really nice job with a wide angle. Again, it’s more kit to carry.
Conclusion –
Love it or hate it, it is my work horse, it has been dropped a few times now (so bad, I know), it still works fine, it’s just not quite as sharp as it was. But the whole dirty sensor thing is doing my head in. If I do end up replacing it, I will most probably go for the new 18-300mm compact, as quite frankly it is smaller and lighter and does not cost that much more………..and it takes a gorgeous photo. In sating that I am completely comfortable with this lens, like an old pair of shoes. I may update eventually, but for now it remains my Go-to-Lens.
Til next time, happy snapping………
-Julz
I have both the 200 and 300. I use the 300 more now and has become my go-to lens. I’m waiting for my local camera rental store to get the 80-400 which I want to try out. 🙂
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oh dear lordy 400mm………better you carrying it than me. I once picked up a 600mm………..my shoulder will never be the same lol
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LOL, I agree. When I’m shooting an event for 10 hours a day “the lighter the better”. but it would be fun to try out.
Nikon’s behemoth is the 800mm! I think you have to have a bodybuilding membership to be allowed to even hold it. 🙂
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I can’t even comprehend holding something like that, nor the cost if I dropped it hehehehe
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I saw it at a show last year and the “Show Price” was $18,000.00. A lot of money just to capture a tiger’s nostril hairs. 🙂
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lol……….here it is AUD$25,000…………$18,000 doesn’t sound as bad hahahaha
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LMAO! I wouldn’t buy anything living with that currency! 🙂
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Welcome to Australia………the NEW third world country……….honestly we pay through the nose for EVERYTHING, and now new laws, if we buy from overseas (Ie Canada, UK or USA) we get hit with tax now! bloody politicians
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That’s terrible! So that kills online shopping.
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not quite, but it does make us think twice
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Don’t doubt it!
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my workhorse is tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-5.6… i used to have the canon 18-200mm but i find tamron lighter with a longer reach (why do canon and nikon always make their lenses heavy… hehehe!). guess i’m quite lazy to approach my subjects specially when I’m taking photograph while stuck in traffic. hahaha!
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lol. I bought a Tamron once………I hated it so much I took it back and got the Nikon…..none of the images were sharp enough. Turns out it may have been a faulty lens! Mind you my tamron macro is VERY Soft. Maybe it’s just me?
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My tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 is soft… And I don’t use it that often. Is there a way to reduce the softness? 😦
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No, it supposedly has something to do with aperture blades and the side of the lens dynamics………….or something like that. It was explained to me once and I think I tuned them out hahahaha
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I’ll try to Google it… 🙂
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good luck with that
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Useless effort… Aaaargh! It is inherent in tamron lenses. 😦
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lol
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The lens barrel of the 18 – 200 moves in and out and ‘pumps’ air in and out of the lens bringing in dust (it is not weather sealed). Agree it is a pain.
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Yes, but it’s such a great lens for travel
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Agree with that, too. 🙂
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