From the Manufacturer
The Nikon 18-200mm VR II lens is remarkable one-lens solution–adept in a wide variety of situations. It delivers 11x zoom versatility, for a picture angle equivalent of a 27-300mm 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 images.
Two Extra-low Dispersion (ED) elements
Offers superior sharpness and color correction by effectively minimizing chromatic aberration, even at wide aperture settings.
Three aspherical lens elements
Virtually eliminates coma and other aberrations, even at wide apertures.
Zoom lock switch
Secures lens barrel at its minimum length.
Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC)
Enhances light transmission and offers superior color consistency and reduced flare.
Exclusive Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
For fast, accurate and quiet autofocus.
Rounded 7-blade diaphragm
Renders more natural appearance of out-of-focus image elements.
Focus to 20 inches
Extends versatility.
M/A focus mode switch
Enables quick response to changing situations between manual and autofocus operation.
Flower-shaped lens hood
Included HB-35 lens hood shades the objective from unwanted, image-degrading light.
Ethaniel says:
I believe it was Thom Hogan who described this lens as not perfect but really good at everything. That’s the review in a nutshell.
This is what I would term a prosumer lens. It certainly is not cheap yet it does not have the build quality of Nikon’s top-of-the-line. The barrel, for example, is plastic rather than metal. I fear that a drop would be catastrophic and even a hard bang on the edge of a table might do serious damage if the lens was fully extended. On the other hand, this lens is a lot less expensive than those in the Nikon pro line. In addition, the lens is much lighter and easier to carry than it would be were it made entirely of metal.
It is my understanding that the only meaningful difference between this lens (the VR II) and its immediate predecessor is the addition of a cam lock to prevent lens creep. My own sample doesn’t creep at all, even with the cam unlocked but apparently that has been a significant irritant for a number of buyers.
The use of “VR II” in the name is potentially misleading because it may lead shoppers to believe that the VR system has been improved over the original model. This is not the case. Both the original 18-200 and the new version contain Nikon’s second generation VR system. Some have suggested that Nikon’s marketing is a bit shady on this point while others counter that the “II” simply designates a new model.
Sharpness is less than absolute across the entire range but more than adequate for anything that an amateur, or even most professionals, is likely to need. There is mild to moderate distortion, more marked at the focal length extremes but scarcely visible in the vast majority of images and readily correctable in Photoshop, DxO, or other post-processing software. Contrast is crisp and I find the lens surprisingly free of flaring and ghosting.
No one should buy this lens thinking that it will make him/her a better photographer. Good photography is in the mind and the eye, not in camera. What the 18-200 will do, though, is provide a one-lens solution to the great majority of focal length needs, minimizing the need to tote a hefty bag full of lenses. It happens that, as a long time Nikon user, I have such a bag. Despite all the choices at my disposal, my 18-200 probably stays on my camera 85-90% of the time.
Folks who are obsessed with numbers, charts, and MTF curves will probably fret over the 18-200, taking delight in pointing out every little defect. For the rest of us, the only significant downside that I see is that the lens is not ideally suited for extended service in rough environments or adverse weather situations. Since most of us seldom shoot in such circumstances, this should not be much of a problem.
I heartily recommend the Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G AF-S ED VR II (whew! what a mouthful) to any advanced amateur or professional seeking a highly usable wide range zoom.
December 28, 2009, 5:42 amEdgar says:
I’ve used this lens and its predecessor extensively and I’ve been happy with both. They are clear, accurate, and focused. You can find a zillion reviews talking about how awesome this lens. I’m going to highlight the lens’ shortcomings. This is not a be all, end all lens. Don’t get me wrong, this is my walkaround lens and it stays on my camera 75% of the time. But it’s important to know what this lens won’t do.
1. Low light. This is a problem that plagues any reasonably priced long-range zoom. If you’re going to be doing much shooting indoors, at night, or twilight with this lens, invest in a good quality flash.
2. Bokeh. The majority of the out-of-focus fields look great. However, if you’re shooting wide open (low f stop) and there’s a lot going on in the background (long grass, trees, etc) some of the finer details can be blurred or occasionally have a weird halo look to them. It’s not that big of an issue, but it does happen from time to time.
3. Distortion. Very manageable and hardly noticeable for the most part, but when you shoot things that are obviously supposed to be very straight (buildings, roads, etc)at less than about 50mm there is some pincushioning. This is easily correctable in photoshop.
4. Light falloff. In low-light and long-exposure pictures, you can clearly see some falloff in the corners. Again, hardly a big deal for most photography.
5. Weight. If you’re not used to big lenses, this will take some getting used to, especially if you’re upgrading from a kit lens.
6. Filters. The 72mm size is getting more popular, but there still aren’t nearly as many filters available as some other sizes. There are resizing rings to compensate if you already have some larger rings, or are eyeballing something in particular.
Ok, this was not meant to turn you off of this lens, only to give you a grounded sense of what this lens has to offer. It is a great walkaround lens for everyday use. It is also a great lens for people looking to get their foot in the door with high quality lenses without having spend too much. This won’t replace prime lenses, fast lenses, and superzooms. This is a perfect lens to buy if can only afford, or only want one lens. I would still hate to be without this lens. Highly recommended.
December 28, 2009, 9:27 amRaed says:
I owned the original 18-200 VR lens and adored it. It was the only lens I ever really needed to take with me on my photo shoots and personal travel. My only real issue with the lens related to lens-creep. As an active person who is accustom to slinging the camera around my neck and taking off – the original model lens would extend itself (a minor annoyance). The 18-200 VR II has a cam lock to prevent such.
This is a phenomenal lens that takes great photographs throughout the zoom range and it has VR so there’s no need for a tripod – just buy it and never worry about carrying around 2 or 3 lenses.
Check out Ken Rockwell’s review – he knows his stuff and has been reviewing equipment for years! Help support his site too! You’ll have to google his namd as Amazon seems to remove the link when I attach it.
December 28, 2009, 10:08 am