Is Nikon's 18-200mm VR THE lens to get?

[polvadis]

Hi everyone. With a Tax return on the way I wanted to put it towards a lens with a little more zoom than the 18-55 kit lens my D40 came with. And yes, I suppose getting the all-in-one lens is the goal.

So far it seems that Nikon 18-200 VR is the one to get, but I have also read good things about Nikon's 16-85 VR, and a little less positive things about Nikon's 18-105 VR but the zoom range/lens weight and length seems just right.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

[TheWengler]

Any thoughts?

Don't go for an all in one. 70-300 VR

[esp]

I don't have the 18-200 lens but from what I hear it isn't the sharpest lens in the world but the versatility is nice. The concept of never changing your lens sounds great if your willing to give a little on picture quality.

[Turo]

Before you buy, I'd do a search on here so you can hear feedback from people who have owned and used this lens. The general consensus is that it does many things good, but none of them extremely well. In other words, you are sacrificing image quality for versatility.

[accord2003]

I agree with Wengler. the 70 300 VR is great lens for the price.

as for the 18-200, I borrowed it for awhile when I had the D70s. I actually like it then. Now that I have the D300, I am seeing the faults on this lens. I guess the lens might be ok when you are using only 6 megapixel.

just a thought. it is not greatest but it is very handy..

[K1W1]

55-200VR or 70-300VR

[alessy]

Take 18-200mm lense ! only ! if you dont want to change lenses and if you travel alot...


avoid 55-200 Vr... It is crap... It has very slow focusing. You can go to coffe and come back and it will still focus...
It is low budget kit lense, like 18-55 , but you dont notice so much with smaller range like 18-55 that it is slow. If you think of geting 55-200 then Id rather go for 18-200 mm VR ...

If you want best for the money then get your self 70-300mm VR lense...
Or you can sell 18-55 mm and go for 16-85mm VR lense...

Top choice would be to get 16-85mm VR + if you want more range 70-300mm VR.

But if I were you Id change 18-55 for 18-105 mm VR , and insted of 18-200 VR id rather get 70-300mm VR for the money and youll have pretty decent lens choice and coverege ...

[K1W1]

avoid 55-200 Vr... It is crap... It has very slow focusing. You can go to coffe and come back and it will still focus..


Interesting comment. Please tell me more.

[alessy]

Interesting comment. Please tell me more.

So what do you want to know more ? I had both lenses and image quallity is comparable to 18-200mm , but even so when you get use to 18-200 focusing speed youll never hold 55-200 vr lense in your hands again...

[alessy]

It is only my opinion. If he is happy with 18-55mm lense then he can go for 55-200 mm VR lense, but I wouldnt recomed that at all... Id rather skip low budget lenses and save money for 70-300mm VR or any other ... If he wants to get expenssive 18-200mm , than it is better choice to get a little cheaper 70-300mm . And rest of it for canging 18-55mm lense...
Think about it...

[r3g]

Take 18-200mm lense ! only ! if you dont want to change lenses and if you travel alot...


avoid 55-200 Vr... It is crap... It has very slow focusing. You can go to coffe and come back and it will still focus...
It is low budget kit lense, like 18-55 , but you dont notice so much with smaller range like 18-55 that it is slow. If you think of geting 55-200 then Id rather go for 18-200 mm VR ...


I beg to differ, The 55-200 VR is an excellent lens (especially for the price) that focuses quickly. If you had a bad experience with it maybe it was your unit but the lens has gotten good reviews from the masses. Sure its not the fastest focusing lens (which is to be expected for the price) but it for sure isnt as slow as your making it out to be. Your description better matches the non VR version .


Id get the 55-200 VR or the 70-300 VR.

[Visual Reality]

55-200 is sharper than 18-200 and doesn't have the focus field curvature problems.

I've said it before...almost everyone on here that has had the 18-200 VR doesn't have it anymore...what does that tell you...

[Cyberwlf]

I still like my 18-200 VR. Despite what others say. It's true its not the kind of glass which will win any awards, but it is a pretty consistent lens imo. Till you have good reason to upgrade to a better lens i reckon save your money and get it. It's only at the point greater IQ or focusing speeds/low light abilities become more important to you is it worth considering.

Now personally i'd love a 27-70 and 70-200 VR lens, they are f2.8, great AF abilities, amazing IQ with edge to edge sharpness etc, but i reckon i'd still keep my 18-200 VR even then because there's times when the ability to just slap a single lens on and get into the thick of it is more vital than lugging around bigger heavier lenses and needing to change them to match relevant focal distances.

So it depends on how you intend to use it but despite its critics i still think the 18-200 suits a purpose quite nicely. If your purpose however is to go everywhere with a tripod and have the time to spend a decent amount of time on every shot you take then it would probably be worth investing in more expensive/heavier/less versatile lenses then for the IQ you'll get in return.

So yeah, consider how you wish to use it and pick appropriately, but don't let the negative comments be so quick to put you off either.

[polvadis]

I decided to go with the 18-105 VR lens. It's half the cost of a 16-85VR or the 18-200VR, but it will still extend my zooming quite a bit from the current 18-55 kit lens. Quite honestly the more I read about lenses the more confused I got on the choice. The truth is that I'm not at the level where I would notice most of the differences I read about, so for now I just need to play and learn.

[alessy]

No problem, you can get what ever you want, I only want to save his time and money to avoid some lenses because for a little more or less you can get beter lenses and you will never be sorry for your choice.
Ive made that mistake and I have lost some money, because I was thinking that low budget kits and some cheap lenses are good enough for beginning. But when you try better lenses witch are a little more expensive and when you feal the difference, then youll be sorry that you ever think of getting those lenses...

Im not saying that 18-200 VR is useless. It is still the best all-around lense on market, that you can get for your nikon. But take all-around lense only if you are a traveller and if you dont want to change lenses. Only for that reason... Because for the money you can get a little different and a lot better lenses...

You really think about what is more importaint to you ... It depends on you what will you choose, but dont think that youll get same results with cheap lenses.

[alessy]

I decided to go with the 18-105 VR lens. It's half the cost of a 16-85VR or the 18-200VR, but it will still extend my zooming quite a bit from the current 18-55 kit lens. Quite honestly the more I read about lenses the more confused I got on the choice. The truth is that I'm not at the level where I would notice most of the differences I read about, so for now I just need to play and learn.


I think it is very good lense to start with . Later on you can still extend it with 70-300mm VR if you need that at all. But get 18-200 only if you need all in one lense otherwise avoid it...

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

The 18-200 helped me learn heaps. It took a long time and lots of learning to feel seriously limited by it. It was good value for what it taught me.

[josef]

IMO, i think the 18-200 is pretty swell. BUT, i have not been fortunate enough to use "Pro-lenses" ... yet. I mean the 50 1.8 I have takes optically better pictures but I can only use it about 15% of the time b/c it is so Not practical in a lot of environments/situations. The ability to go from 18 to 200 and back to 18 so easily and still easily outperform a point and shoot is why I have one.. and why I still love it.

anyways, Really good choice you made on the 18-105VR. That lens is really nice for the price and it'll give you plenty range to play around with.. try not to read TOO much on these forums and internet sites.. you could be using that time shooting/learning! ;) Have fun with your new toy!