Whats your setup? Here my new gear CANT WAIT TO USE IT! :)

Overread · Feb 12, 2013

ATVrider43 said:
WHOA is right! LOL and why 80-200???

A few reasons:

1) 18-200mm lenses cover a massive focal length range. This means that design compromises have to factor into their construction and as such they will often be softer at the longer end of their focal length - to a noticeable amount. Even an 80-200mm or 70-200mm will be a bit softer at the 200mm end, however the 18-200mm will be significantly different

2) The 18-200mm has a variable maximum aperture; that means that 18mm you can use a wider aperture than at the 200mm. This means that if you're shooting wide open (ie at the maximum aperture - smallest f number) your aperture will change as your focal length shifts. This will affect exposure and the settings you can use for the shots. Constant aperture zoom lenses are generally preferred as they give you a constant maximum aperture to work with wide open.

3) The 18-200mm likely has a consumer level AF system which will reduce its AF speed performance - in addition to that with the variable maximum aperture you might find focusing in lower light harder at 200mm over 18mm.

In general an 18-200mm is a great option for a do it all lens - you put one lens on and generally you won't need to change it. However the optical quality will be lower as a result of its massive zoom length coverage as well as its market position dictating a lower price and thus a cap on its possible quality.

Of course it also depends upon the photographer, an 18-200mm does have its place in the market and quality is always a slightly subjective term depending upon what your own requirements are.

ATVrider43 · Feb 12, 2013

Haha nice! speaking of iphones....I got the 5 for christmas and found out I can't use the 4g because it'll cost thousands of dollars to use...so should I sell it (since the crazy people out there will pay nearly 650 for it) and get the 4s for like 150 or so?

ATVrider43 · Feb 12, 2013

Overread said:
ATVrider43 said:

WHOA is right! LOL and why 80-200???

Click to expand...

A few reasons:

1) 18-200mm lenses cover a massive focal length range. This means that design compromises have to factor into their construction and as such they will often be softer at the longer end of their focal length - to a noticeable amount. Even an 80-200mm or 70-200mm will be a bit softer at the 200mm end, however the 18-200mm will be significantly different

2) The 18-200mm has a variable maximum aperture; that means that 18mm you can use a wider aperture than at the 200mm. This means that if you're shooting wide open (ie at the maximum aperture - smallest f number) your aperture will change as your focal length shifts. This will affect exposure and the settings you can use for the shots. Constant aperture zoom lenses are generally preferred as they give you a constant maximum aperture to work with wide open.

3) The 18-200mm likely has a consumer level AF system which will reduce its AF speed performance - in addition to that with the variable maximum aperture you might find focusing in lower light harder at 200mm over 18mm.

In general an 18-200mm is a great option for a do it all lens - you put one lens on and generally you won't need to change it. However the optical quality will be lower as a result of its massive zoom length coverage as well as its market position dictating a lower price and thus a cap on its possible quality.

Of course it also depends upon the photographer, an 18-200mm does have its place in the market and quality is always a slightly subjective term depending upon what your own requirements are.