When you simply must have 200mm

[DonSchap]

First off, I want to be clear that when you take a 18-200(250)mm f/3.5-6.3 lens and dial up 200mm, chance are ... it's not 200mm. The strange thing about this particular all-in-one style of lens is that the focus ring kind of makes up the length, past 135mm.

That being said, a more accurate 200mm standard is available from other lenses.

Here are four different ways to get to an accurate 200mm shot.



Above are a TAMRON AF 70-300mm /4-5.6 LD (MFD = 60-inches), TAMRON SP AF 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD (MFD = 96-inches), TAMRON SP AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD (MFD = 37.1-inches), and a Minolta AF 200mm f/2.8 APO G HS (MFD = 60-inches)

1. The first lens produces a reasonable image, but has some serious purple fringing. It does so at F/5
2. The second lens is rather long, but delivers a sharp image, no fringe ... but, also at f/5.
3. The third lens had a medium focus speed and delivers a terrific image at f/2.8
4. The last lens delivers a sensational image, the fastest focus response of any 200mm lens, and is roughly the lightest and most pricey of the bunch. Yep, f/2.8, too!

You want 200mm ... take your pick! :smilewinkgrin: