Nikon 18-200 f3.5-5.6 ED-IF VR Lens

[robusto400]

Can someone tell me why Nikon has pulled this lens from their active line-up? I could no longer find it on their web site. I always thought this was suppose to be the great walk-around lens, providing the ultimate flexibility for the enthusiast. Is this is good lens for this purpose? I know you can still buy it but curious why Nikon has evidently pulled it.

[mattbikeboy]

I still see it on the Nikon USA site: AF-S DX VR Zoom-NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED

http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Ni...dard-Zoom.page

mbb

[Franglais]

Still on the Nikon France web site. I had to wait for more than a year for supply to catch up with demand. I use mine most of the time. It's not quite as good as the 18-70 or the f2.8 constant zooms that I have but you have to blow up to 200% to see the difference. Plus it's much smaller and lighter. The last model shoot I did I used my 80-200 f2.8. After 2 hours with that thing round my neck I was wishing I'd used the 18-200 instead.

[robusto400]

Thanks. Now I see it. Must have just missed it. Wonder why none of the retailers or online dealers ever kit this lens with one of the DSLR's? Seems like it would be a good package. What down sides does the lens have?

[Dylan8i]

i had the option to kit it with my d200 when i bought it... wish i would have, but i didn't have the extra cash at the time, or know how good it was since it had just come out (and prob wasn't availabe either)

[robusto400]

Does anyone have an opinion of this lens vs the same focal length offered by Tamron and Sigma which I don't think have the image stabilization? Also Tamron has just released 28-300 /3.8-5/6 with vibration control. Any comments? I know there is this range already out there by these two companies but without stabilization but are they any good?

[Grandpaw]

I took this shot handheld at 2 1/2 seconds at about 7:35PM and was very happy with the results. I use the Nikon 18-200VR for almost everything I shoot. I have made 20x30 prints that I thought were excellent, Jeff

[Franglais]

Thanks. Now I see it. Must have just missed it. Wonder why none of the retailers or online dealers ever kit this lens with one of the DSLR's? Seems like it would be a good package. What down sides does the lens have?

The 18-200 was announced in a package with the D200. It then took them 18 months to satisfy the demand for the lens, by which time the D200 was about to be replaced by the D300.

Downsides :

1. If you tilt it forward and it's zoomed out half way the zoom will creep out all the way.
2. At maximum focal length it's at f5.6 maximum aperture and in dim light (model shoot) it doesn't focus as quickly as my f2.8 constant 80-200

It's supposed to have some distortion and loss of sharpness at the edges at wider apertures but I've never noticed it.

[robusto400]

Thanks for the input but how do the other mfg lens of the same focal length stack up against Nikon? They are much cheaper and is there any real difference in quality?

[fx101]

Thanks for the input but how do the other mfg lens of the same focal length stack up against Nikon? They are much cheaper and is there any real difference in quality?

OH YES THERE IS A DIFFERENCE! The Sigma and Tamron lenses, when comparing MTF charts don't have the same sharpness as the Nikon unless you shoot at f/12 or so which is only reasonable for tripod shooting, the OS is nowhere near as effective as the Nikons (especially when panning because the Sigma OS tends to compensate). Nikon's OS (called VR for Vibration Reduction) really allows for a few stops less light for handheld shooting. The Nikon lens has distortion, but since it's digital it's quite easy to import it into DXO or ptlens and correct it to rectilinear form with imperceptible crop. Go for the Nikon. It costs more but you get what you pay for.

[takumi]

The 18-200mm its still on sale in Portugal

best regards
Takumi