So I am making the switch...

[MrGrimm]

I have just about decided on what I am going to go with but am having a hard time figuring out something. I am going to go with the Nikon d300 and the 18-200mm ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens f/3.5-f/22.

Circuit City is having a sale on the d300. On their website it says "Nikon D300 12.3-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera with 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G." My question is are these lens the same? It doesn't say VR on the lens that comes with the camera nor can I find anything about it on their website.

I just wanna know if there is a lower quality version of the 18-200 that comes with the camera. Separately, the lens and camera come out to $2700. Together, they come out to $2239.99.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Mav]

Nikon has a $300 rebate going now on D300 / 18-200VR combos. Nikon only makes an 18-200VR, not a non-VR version, so it's probably OK. On the circuit city website, the lens they have with the D300 "looks like" the 18-200VR and not an off-brand one, so I'd say it's pretty safe.

 

[djrichie28]

Sometimes the big electronic retailers forget that these specifics are important to some people. I see it all the time in the similar Canadian company's websites. Even their staff sometimes have little clue.

 

[kundalini]

Nikon has a $300 rebate going now on D300 / 18-200VR combos.

WHAT???? I could have saved $300 by waiting a couple of months? Oh well, I didn't want the 18-200mm lens anyway. (I have the focal range covered already... nothing to do with the lens itself.)

MrGrimm, you can read the full review of the 18-200mm lense here at Photozone.de, but their verdict was:

Verdict
Regarding some glowing reviews available on the web the expectation were rather high. Unfortunately the (tested sample of the) Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G IF-ED VR II DX wasn't able to convince completely. Weak points are rather hefty distortions and high vignetting (@ f/3.5) at 18mm. Apart from a few weak spots the resolution figures are quite good though and it is possible to get very decent images from this lens under field conditions. The VR can surely help to save the day in situations where similar zooms must fail utterly The build quality is a little soso for a lens in this price class and probably the biggest disappointment. All in all the Nikkor is a highly interesting lens but not without flaws (hardly surprising for a 11x zoom).
Optical Quality:

Mechanical Quality:

Price/Performance:

Good choice of camera. Post your photos.

 

[DWS]

have you checked Adorama or B&H on pricing?.....my experience with them has been good