Nikon Nikkor AF-S 18 mm-200 mm F/3.5-5.6 DX G ED VR II Lens

The Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor was introduced in November 2005, and rapidly became a much sought-after lens for the Nikon shooter's armoury. With its hugely useful 11.1x focal length range, 'silent wave' focusing, and Nikon's second generation vibration reduction system to combat camera shake, this lens aims to be the ultimate single-lens 'walkaround' solution, which photographers who wish to travel light can simply leave on the camera all the time.

Of course the all-in-one 'superzoom' concept isn't new; the first such lens was Tokina's 35-200mm from 1982, but early designs were plagued by excessive size and weight, poor optical quality, and unacceptably long minimum focus distances. Indeed it wasn't until the mid-1990s that the likes of Sigma and Tamron introduced truly practical superzooms which substantially overcame these issues, and delivered acceptable quality across the range (for the casual vacation photographer at least). Since then, the rapid progress of computer-aided lens design has resulted in continued improvements in optical quality and extensions in zoom ranges, whilst shrinking lens sizes still further, making the superzoom concept more tempting than ever before.

However much of the early snobbery surrounding superzooms as poor quality 'snapshot' lenses still persists, and perhaps for that reason the major camera manufacturers have apparently been reluctant to add them to their own lens ranges. This makes the Nikon 18-200mm a pretty unique beast, as a superzoom designed in-house by a major player, and incorporating all their latest technology and know-how. So does this lens finally elevate the superzoom into the big league of lenses which 'serious' photographers should be happy to own and use, or is it still an unacceptable compromise? Read on to find out.

Headline features
•27-300mm equivalent focal length range; F3.5-5.6 maximum aperture
•VR II optical Vibration Reduction – 4 stops
•Compact Silent Wave focusing with M/A for rapid switching between auto and manual focus
•F mount for Nikon DX dSLRS only

A quick round of shooting and comparisons to other lenses (in PhotoShop, at 200%) finds that the lens is a little soft at 12mm, f/4 - but is fully sharp by f5.6-8. It's as good as any other Nikon lens from there up, with best resolution achieved at f/5.6 to f/11. In comparisons at 100%, it is difficult to see any problems with this lens at any focal length or aperture. It has great acuity and contrast. Focus is fast and silent. A Hoyo Pro Digital UV filter or polarizer(5mm thick ring) does not pinch the corners of the image. However, when stacked, there is visible vignetting in the extreme corners. The build quality is in line with Nikon mid-priced lenses. I have seen numerous complaints about this... the "plasticky" feel, and that a lens of this price should be up to "pro" standards of build quality. I disagree. The new materials and construction are solid, work well, and cut lens weight. The last point is important to me. The lighter I can make my bag, the better. And the heavier, mostly metal lenses break just as easily. With this lens, we pay for the technology and the glass that went into producing a top-notch lens. Chromatic abberations are mentioned in some reviews, with the Nikon 12-24mm winning out against its off-brand rivals. Shooting with a D300, CA is automatically corrected in-camera, so this trait of all wide angles is not an issue. All-in-all a great addition to the kit. Get past the price, enjoy the quality, and make killer photographs with it.

Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Lens is one of the most amazing lenses ever produced by Nikon. Huge zoom range, magic VR (Vibration Reduction) technology, high class optical quality and compact size/weight make this piece of glass an ultimate "take it anywhere" lens.

It is hard to find lens. Instead of join the long waiting list, I decided to pay premium price on eBay to get my hands on it.

My second favorite advantage of this lens is how up close I can get for macro photography. I've discovered that this lens can focus as close as 8-9 inches from the subject at 200mm. Awesome!

Many photo opportunities were lost either because I had to change lenses or because of camera shake. The shots I got from my own lens are sharp and have better contrast than my 18-70 kit lens. With my 12-24 Nikon, I now am able to travel with only 2 lenses instead of 4 and shoot more spontaneously and no more heavy tripod. VR obsoletes tripods.

This amazing lens enables me to now carry everything I need inside one Sling Bag rather than a big bag with 4 lenses and a tripod!

It's truly a fantastic lens. How do I know? I have been using it for quite a while now. Though I own a few other "professional" lenses, this one rarely leaves my camera.

f3.5 – 5.6 makes this a bit slow lens and the only thing I miss in this lens is internal focusing.

I have used this lens for a month with my Nikon D200. I especially love two things about this lens: the wide focal-length range, and the performance of the VR system. Of course, it goes without saying that I love the optical performance of any Nikon lens.

The wide range means that this is a one-lens solution for travel and for daily use. I like to take my D200 with this lens, plus my SB-800 flash, with me at all times. With an 18-200 range, I'm ready for almost any shooting situation that comes up.

The VR means that, combined with the low noise of the D200, I can take more pictures without using flash, which is important to me. Using a Manfrotto monopod, I am now taking available-light photos in situations where I had to use flash before. The available-light photos are more natural-looking, and do not have the ugly shadows on the wall that are often part of event photography.

There is some optical distortion at the wide end of the lens, but it is slight considering the wide capabilities of the lens, and is easily corrected in Photoshop CS2.

My only complaint is that the zoom mechanism is tight at the wide end of the lens, but loose at the telephoto end, and is prone to "creep" at the telephoto end. This is a minor complaint about a lens that otherwise is perfect for me.

Bill Rogers
www.br-digiphoto.com

Ebay member name bmwnikon

Nikon has introduced a replacement lens 10-24mm DX AF-S F/3.5-4.5G ED. It is slightly wider and cheaper at introduction (~$800 vs $1100 for 12-24mm). The built quality is somewhat inferior (according to many reviews) and it does not have fixed aperture. So if you find one cheap - get the new one.

On the other hand this new lens creates a second hand market for the good old one! With cashback I was able to get used (but in great shape!) lens for under $600. No way I could get a 10-24mm lens for that price! If you can - go for the new model ( (10-24mm), the extra 2mm wide open are sometimes very important - additional 10 degrees of view (109 vs 99).

The above only applies to entry-level Nikons - D40, D40x, D60, D5000. These cameras don't have built-in AF motor. If you own D90 and higher - don't bother with Nikon. Go for Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 PRO DX which is wide, quiality made, fast fixed aperture and can be found for $600 new!