Sigma & Tamron 18-200 review

[TheObiJuan]

The review was posted on here already. Just getting the word out to those that have not seen it.

The sigma 18-200 is just as good as the sigma 18-125 and better in many aspects. I especially love the minimal vignetting. The sigma has better build quality and even a metal lens mount. It has zoom lock, I dont know if the tamron 18-200 does.

I wish the sigma had the same true focal range that the tamron 18-200. It appears that the 200mm end of the sigma is more like 170mm or so. Or it could be that the tamron 200mm is more like 230mm.
When I get it I will do some testing.
Here are some pics that I borrowed from a Japanese review. Credit goes to them for their hard work.

I labeled and assembled them to illustrate the difference.

Note the sharpness.

Note the chromatic abboration.

This one is at 200mm at f/6.3 and 1/1250

[Bluedog]

Maybe I should have waited ... ... nah I'm pretty satisfied with my 18-125 for now.

[TheObiJuan]

here you go George.
I noticed that the 18-125 does give more contrast. The extra sharpness increases acutance, which makes images sharper. It is sharper at 125, it's maximum focal length, just like the 18-200 is very sharp at 200, it's maximum focal length. At 80mm, though, the sharpness is astounding. To tell you the truth, the only difference is the gain in "75mm" and less vignetting.

[TheObiJuan]

[TheObiJuan]

It should be worth noting that the sigma 18-125 in the 125-135 test shot was shot at f/6.3, which is stopped down 1/3 stop, where the 18-200 was wide open. This could have an effect in adition to the 18-125 being at the end of its focal range (125).

[Savannah]

I went to BH Photo to check out the Sigma 18-200 for my XT and saw this note. I was wondering if it will be compatable with future camera purchases or should I only expect to be able to use this with my current camera??

(*)Note: Not compatible with 35mm cameras or digital cameras using full-size image sensors (e.g. Canon EOS 1Ds or Kodak DCS PRO SLR/c).


BTW......Nice work and great review!!


Stacy

[gabester]

Originally Posted by Savannah

I went to BH Photo to check out the Sigma 18-200 for my XT and saw this note. I was wondering if it will be compatable with future camera purchases or should I only expect to be able to use this with my current camera??

(*)Note: Not compatible with 35mm cameras or digital cameras using full-size image sensors (e.g. Canon EOS 1Ds or Kodak DCS PRO SLR/c).


BTW......Nice work and great review!!


Stacy

Well it depends on whether your future camera will have a full-size (36 x 24 mm) sensor, just like a 35mm film frame. The two cameras mentioned above (16 MP and 14 MP) are already there. The lens will project an image on the relatively small APS-C sensor that's not much bigger than it; if you switched to a full sized sensor the image will be smaller than the sensor and the edges will look darkened (vignetting). I'm not sure what future trends will bring, but it'll be while before you're forced to trade that lens for one with a bigger image. One thing is sure though - if cameras are to remain small (small lenses), the sensor will need to remain small; the only reason the Tamron and Sigma 18-200s are as tiny as they are is because the APS-C imaging circle is small. Okay, I'm done with typing the word "small" now.

[Ray Schnoor]

Originally Posted by Savannah

I went to BH Photo to check out the Sigma 18-200 for my XT and saw this note. I was wondering if it will be compatable with future camera purchases or should I only expect to be able to use this with my current camera??

(*)Note: Not compatible with 35mm cameras or digital cameras using full-size image sensors (e.g. Canon EOS 1Ds or Kodak DCS PRO SLR/c).


BTW......Nice work and great review!!


Stacy

As long as your future camera purchases are not cameras with full-size image sensors. Currently, cameras with that size of sensor are considerably more expensive than your XT, but who knows about the future.

Ray.

[Bluedog]

Click here for more sample pics from Sigma 18-200mm ... this lens is looking pretty nice.

[jcw122]

Hmm...I'm thinking these 18-200 Sigmas will be worth it compared to the 18-125, I mean it will save me money of buying RAW vignetting correction capable software (like Nikon Capture...$100!)