Nikon 18-200mm review and sample photos

Biggs88 · Feb 2, 2011

Hello all. I just got a nikkor 18-200mm yesterday and I have been playing with it at the Philadelphia Auto Show. I wanted to show you guys a few photos of it performing.

Although I have only had the lens for a few days, I can say I am VERY happy with it.

It is a GREAT performer, great size, and it looks cool as hell on the D300s!

This shot is at 18mm,ISO 200, Fstop 3.5, and shutter speed 1/30. I had the VR on and I held the camera by hand.

This shot is at 150mm, ISO 200, F stop 5.6, shutter speed 1/40. Again, I had the VR on and I held the camera by hand. (Mcnally style)

And a few others:

jl1975 · Feb 2, 2011

Is that the new one (VRII I think)? I am looking at one at the moment and just haven't made the decision yet. Positive reviews like this are helping to make my mind up. What camera do you have?

Biggs88 · Feb 2, 2011

jl1975 said:
Is that the new one (VRII I think)? I am looking at one at the moment and just haven't made the decision yet. Positive reviews like this are helping to make my mind up. What camera do you have?

Yes it's a VRII. I have a Nikon D300s.

I have only played with it for a few days and im not what you could consider a "pro" but I love it so far. I would say BUY ONE!

I got it at adorama for 689 brand new. And it's not grey market.

KmH · Feb 3, 2011

Have a go at fixing the barrel distortion the lens has at 18 mm. The barrel distortion does improve as you zoom out. It changes to pin cushion distortion at about 35 mm.

When zoomed to 200 mm and focused at it's near focus limit, the actual magnification is about equal to 135 mm, not 200 mm.

Plan on the focus being somewhat soft at both ends of the zoom range.

As long as you keep the lens away from the extremes of its capabilities, it's only half bad.

So many design compromises have to be made to make a lens that has an 11x zoom range, resulting in a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none lens.

Though from a technical performance perspective the 18-200 is one of Nikon's worst lens values, it is a good seller for them because many value the convenience the lens offers over the image quality issues.

Conner41 · Feb 3, 2011

Those are some nice shots of some very nice cars!

Nikon_Dude · Feb 3, 2011

When zoomed to 200 mm and focused at it's near focus limit, the actual magnification is about equal to 135 mm, not 200 mm.

Could you please elaborate?

DxAxN · Feb 3, 2011

I was looking into this lens also.... but I have heard good things of the 28-300 mounted on A DX body.

Derrel · Feb 3, 2011

Nikon 18-200mm

The new Version II model has a zoom lock...otherwise, it's the same as the 2005-2009 version. Its performance woes are continually overstated.

Biggs88 · Feb 5, 2011

I think it's a very good lens. I think people who spend 1000's of dollars on a lens feel the need to point out the smallest little issues with a cheaper lens, eventho it really does not impact the overall photo, to justify there purchase of there glass.

Give me a 17-35 Nikkor and Mcnally a 18-200 and see what photo comes out better.

If you are shooting for living and you want the best results you can get, yea the $$$$$ pro lenses are what you would want.

But for those of us not shooting for a living, I do not see a single issue with the 18-200mm.

If anyone can "fix" a issue with the photos I posted, please do. I am curious to see a before and after of this "lens distortion".

digital flower · Feb 5, 2011

Looks good. Some of the better auto show photography I have seen. Taking that MB Roadster for a rip would be a dream ( did you see how much it was?). I don't think that lens would work for me but you are putting it to good use.

KmH · Feb 5, 2011

Nikon_Dude said:
When zoomed to 200 mm and focused at it's near focus limit, the actual magnification is about equal to 135 mm, not 200 mm.

Click to expand...

Could you please elaborate?

It's known as 'focus breathing', and is present in any zoom lens to one degree or another.

Even Nikon's $2400 70-200mm f/2.8 professional lens displays the effect, just not to the degree the 18-200mm superzoom does.

DerekSalem · Feb 5, 2011

Derrel said:
Nikon 18-200mm

The new Version II model has a zoom lock...otherwise, it's the same as the 2005-2009 version. Its performance woes are continually overstated.

Heh that guy also says it's the "World's Best Portrait Lens"...hrm

DonBruner · Feb 5, 2011

"When zoomed to 200 mm and focused at it's near focus limit, the actual magnification is about equal to 135 mm, not 200 mm."

I'm sorry but i don't understand this statement either. Where did your info come from? How can a 200mm lens reduce magnifaction? I'm a Canon shooter myself not a Nikon expert but have been on many boards lurking and posting and have never seen this statement.

Don

Derrel · Feb 5, 2011

DonBruner said:
"When zoomed to 200 mm and focused at it's near focus limit, the actual magnification is about equal to 135 mm, not 200 mm."

I'm sorry but i don't understand this statement either. Where did your info come from? How can a 200mm lens reduce magnifaction? I'm a Canon shooter myself not a Nikon expert but have been on many boards lurking and posting and have never seen this statement.

Don

Go here, and you can read about, and see illustrations showing, the effects of focus breathing.

70-200mm AF-S VR II Lens Review by Thom Hogan

DonBruner · Feb 5, 2011

OK: I just did my own experiment on the above statement. What I found was, he may be right. I used my 28-135 and my 70-200, I auto focused on a object with both and found that with the 70-200 I did have to back up considerably to get auto focus to lock. This did indeed give me a FOV equal to my 28-135. But the key word here is "auto" focus for I was able to move in closer with the 70-200 and manual focus to a lot closer to the object.

Don