Nikon 18-200 VR...Any one using it?

[Tusker]

Not sure what it takes to be rated a 'great' lens here, but this is one of 4 that I use, all VR lenses. I find this covers a lot of bases for me, but I am easy to please I guess. If I were going to carry just one lens for any reason, this would be the one. As a general rule. Of course, there are exceptions as always. I don't seem to have the problems I read about in other post. Could be just me, maybe I don't know enough.

[Tusker]

Originally Posted by k9ofkaos

Here's my 2 cents worth.

Take a look at the image I posted in this thread.

For Sis, by request

I took it with my D300 and the 18-200 VR. It's plenty sharp as you can see. This lens almost never comes off my camera. I have an 80-200 which is so sharp it will cut you, but for everyday purposes the 18-200 delivers beyond my expectations.

Best wishes and have fun at Disney. My family spent a week there back in March and had a great time.

K9(- Lovely capture of a beautiful child. Just the point I was trying to make. If there is any fault I just do not see it. But then, I am old.

[pixelchix]

This is not a great picture by any means but this was taken bumping along in the car. 1/30" 5.6 iso 200.

[Songman45]

I don't think this is the most consistantly manufactured lens on the planet. We have two of them (why I do not know) one is fine, the other is diffused at 300mm I suppose for the cost you have to expect some compromise.

[shadowlands]

Well I traded a few lenses for my Nikon 18-200 VR and I'm happy that I did.
I really needed a "one lens" setup for I'm always going to events, hiking, traveling, etc..
Love the fact that I don't need to carry a camera bag/case anymore. Ready for any shot!

[Crapshoot]

Hi all!

My first post and I'm trying to answer a tough question!
I have an 18-200VR and have shot a few thousand images with it.....

The good:
1) It can be tack sharp.
2) It is very flexible.
3) Awesome VR for handheld low light travel shots.
4) Hard to beat as a single travel lens.

The not so good:
1) Tends to produce flat blah exposures unless serious care is given to background/composure. If you just pop a quick shot that is most often what it will look like...hard to explain, but my 70-200/2.8 gives warm contrasty images under the same light and conditions.
2) Tack sharp images can be a bit elusive...Focus can be ever so slightly off. I find this excruciating....This is hard to spot on my D-200's small screen.
3)Tendency to slight over expose....
4) I don't like the out of focus bokeh......Watch you backgrounds

Despit the anoying traits I still shoot many of my images with the 18-200VR. The first rule of a gun fight is to well.....Have something to shoot with!
Keeping your camera at the ready is as easy as it gets with the 18-200VR.

Given the ability to take more equipment along and given the time to compose nice images the 18-200 always comes off and better (usually faster or wider) glass always goes on.

I hope that makes sense.
Thanks for reading!

Jamie

[Crapshoot]

This is a great Disneyland lens.
Here are a few 18-200VR shots from our trip to Disneyworld.
All handheld.

Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket

Take care

Jamie

[OdzBodkinz]

When I went to Orlando and all of the parks last year, I had my 12-24mm and supplemented that with the 55-200mm VR.

I think now, I would choose to take just the 16-85mm VR that I have, as I find it nicer than the 18-200mm. BTW, hopefully yours wont have lens creep during your trip. That lens has a tendency to develope it.

[shadowlands]

Mine creeps, and it's my least favorite thing about the lens.
I wish it had a lock like the Canon, Tamron and Sigma versions...

[djKianoosh]

I have the 18-200VR on the D300 and it's a decent travel lens. I went to Costa Rica and took some very nice photos with it earlier this year.

It can be very annoying in low light, when it loses a lot of contrast and saturation. and then if you throw a flash on there, highlights get blown out rather easily. so you just have to learn some of its limitations/compromises. but out in the sun at disney would probably be just the proper use for this kind of lens.

[djKianoosh]

for example, here's a shot on a bright day:
at 18mm, 1/160, f/8, ISO 200:


some of my other pics from costa rica with this lens (and also the tokina 12-24)
Costa Rica - Vacation in Paradise - April 2008 - a set on Flickr

[AggieCJ]

Originally Posted by shadowlands

Mine creeps, and it's my least favorite thing about the lens.
I wish it had a lock like the Canon, Tamron and Sigma versions...

The creep can be a pain but other than that I love mine, sits attached to my D80 as a second body/lightweight travel combo. Does have issues in low light where flash not allowed but definitely holds it's own and for a walkaround is ideal.

my .02

[shadowlands]

I sold my D40x in favor of a D80. They have great D80 prices now thanks to the D90 being around. Cool!
And yes, my 18-200 VR is still my lens!!!

[gaopa2]

Count me in as one who likes the 18-200 VR Nikkor when used as my "Swiss Army knife" lens... that is, one lens for all situations when traveling. I am at the beach this week with my camera and just yesterday had fun shooting a fisherman on the beach. Yes, I have several Nikkors that are sharper, faster etc, but when I am getting ready for a trip and only want one lens, it is the 18-200 that is mounted on my D300. Cheers, Bill P.

[djKianoosh]

just to follow up, cause this discussion (and some other ones about this lens) got me going back to check my 18-200 and take a million test shots at home... I went back and adjusted the focus with the focus adjustment utility on the d300 for this 18-200 lens.. and i got pretty good sharpness with the sb-600 providing some shine off to the right side. so, bottom line, with some playing around and learning what you got, it can be a pretty good lens...

@ 200 ISO, 200mm, f5.6, 1/60

[MyPerspective]

We also have the 18-200mm VRII lens. Every time I look at its image quality for normal-sized images, I must say that I am IMPRESSED! (my expectations for this lens are low, therefore, it IMPRESSES ME!) From what I have found, when this lens is cropped-down mid-way, the camera seems to over-expose a good 1/2 to maybe 3/4 stop. We don't have this problem when the lens is wide-open. Therefore, as I ONLY USE Aperture Priority mode, I just set the camera to f/2.8 and the camera always keeps the lens wide-open. So the lens works great! No matter where I go or what I do, I shoot only in RAW, so in case the exposure isn't what I like, post-adjustment is easy!

For its one-lens convenience, it is the lens we use for family get-togethers and activities.

This was taken with the 18-200mm @ 200mm @ ISO 6400! So before you discredit the lens, realize that the camera was way beyond its capabilities!
http://photocamel.com/gallery/showga...0&ppuser=28901

[Dirk]

even sigma lenses creep too , my 28-200 does unfortunately it can be fixed but he problem is that the AF has to work much harder than and my supplier said the the best way to overcome it is send both the body and lens to sigma (insure it first..) otherwhise they can't fix it in a way that you r lens creep is accaptable and the AF doesn't have to work too hard. but the cost of it all are too high .

large zooms creep one day .. but don't you creep when you are 70 or 80

[shadowlands]

I always hear the complaints about this lens, but I'll say this again. Mine has a safe spot in my home!
Even on Christmas Day, I set out with only this lens and grabbed wide shots and tele shots without bringing a camera case. I love that!
Took some pics of a cat early evening, VR on, no flash... they're great, handheld at 200mm, in low light... enough said...