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Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
from Tampa Florida on 6/25/2008
Use this product for family travel when I do not want the weight of professional lens. Use this with D300 which is a heavy camera and do not want the weight of 2.8 lens. This lens balances well with this camera and would be great with lower end nikon DSLR's when traveling. Good for indoor shooting with flash only. Focus is slow in low light. Pictures are soft, good saturation, good used in mid-range of Zoom. Tele and wide angle below 35mm and above 100mm is pretty soft and not good for enlargements above 5x7. Definitely a lens for average shooter looking to take on trips and for shooting family pictures. A Little overpriced for end results.
I bought this lens based (mostly) on the information on kenrockwell.com, and I've found that his review is precisely correct. He doesn't sugar coat anything about the lens. I use it with a Nikon D40, and it does occasionally not focus, but you can grab the manual focus ring if that happens. The Vibration Reduction works GREAT, and my lens has ZERO lens creep. A great lens; I would recommend it to anyone wanting a great walk-around lens.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Ohio on 6/16/2008
Tight - seems Nikon fixed the lense creep problem. Obviously not pro glass, but for us mere mortals who just want decent pictures and to not lug around a whole bag of lenses - it's perfect. And as an added bonus - not needing to change lenses while traveling increases my chances of keeping dust out of my camera. Sharp pictures, decent speed, Vibration Reduction... It's all here.
from San Diego on 6/12/2008
With this lens I don't have to keep changing lenses and introducing dust to the inside of the camera. Less dust means less time processing pictures to remove dirt from the sensor! A great replacement for my 28-300 non VR lens.
Images shared by: Bob"Silvas Adobe" Old Town San Diego State Historic
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from Asheville, NC on 6/6/2008
I use this lens for general landscape and portrait shooting and like the fact that I don't have to change lenses all the time. However, my lens suffers EXTREME lens creep problems and I cannot use it on a tripod at anything other than a 90 degree angle. [...] I've never had the problem with any zoom I've owned before!!!
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Benicia, CA on 5/27/2008
I use this lense on a D300 for still landscapes and chasing my kids around (Yes, I know the camera is overkill for this use). The best advantage of this lense beyond the VR is HOW FAST if finds focus on autofocus mode.
Kids don't sit still so you need speed if you are going to catch the right moment with your picture. I also own the 70-300 mm VR and in comparison to the 18-200 mm VR it just takes way too long to find focus. I have "lost" photo opportunities while the 70-300 was still looking for focus.
I have never lost a photo opportunity with the 18-200mm. Truly a great lense.
He held this expression for just a second
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Another one second great expression
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[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Martinez, CA on 5/24/2008
Great lens for general purpose, good focal length range, rarely needed to use another lens on recent vacation to National Parks
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Brazil on 5/11/2008
The lens is very well built. The VR is a spectacular feature and the zoom range is everything you would need during vacation. But, as it is a do-it-all lens, do not expect superb image quality. There are some vigretting and distortion. Anyway, if you do not like (or can't) exchange lenses during your photo time, it is the perfect lens!
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from San Antonio, Texas on 5/10/2008
I use this product for parades, close ups and love the ability to get the close ups as well as wide angle shots. Very pleased and can't think of anything isn't great about this lense.
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Va. Beach, VA on 5/8/2008
So far, the lens is the only one I need.
[4 of 4 customers found this review helpful]
from costa mesa, ca. on 5/8/2008
I was afraid to buy this after reading so much about it not being sharp. So far, I find it to be plenty sharp. I bumped up the the sharpening in my camera and find the results to be excellent. Not as good as a quality macro, but good enough for just about anything else. I love it's versatility. I hardly ever change lenses anymore. This lens has become my new favorite!
Images shared by: kris
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
I really love this Lens, It is wonderful for out doors, water sports, & people pics. Only thing that could make it better would be a bit more telephoto & indoor action sports or stage shots. That is just okay.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
Nice lens. 18-200mm is great for outdoor shooting and . Perfect for travel. Love the VR. Wish it have bigger f/'s. :)
[5 of 5 customers found this review helpful]
from Norfolk, VA on 4/7/2008
I bought the 18-200mm VR AF-S from Adorama only 3 weeks ago, and it has been the lens-to-end-all-lenses for this photographer ever since!
Granted, it will not produce the same shallow depth of field of more expensive prime lenses, nor will it catch fast motion in low light, but in any situation that you have a still or slow moving subject, you can go ahead and leave the tripod and monopod at home for any shots down to as slow as 1 second (in my experience)!
Need to hand-hold your camera for that flash-free shot in a dimly lit museum? No problem. Need to get that pre-dawn light at the beach and you left your tripod back in the hotel? No problem. Need a lens that will get you close to your subject without getting in their face or wobbling about? Get this lens.
If you need something longer than the kit lens for your D-SLR that lets you get wide when you need it, get this lens. When I bought my D-80, I wanted a lens that covered all of my needs in one walk-around package so I didn't keep missing moments while changing lenses to my venerable 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-S.
This lens stays on my D-80 at ALL times. With the 18-55mm kit lens, I used to have 1 throw-away shot for every 3 that I took in low light... but with the VR on the 18-200mm lens, I MAYBE have 1 throwaway shot in every 30 low-light shots.
The 18-200mm lens is tack sharp across all focal lengths, and is WICKEDLY fast at focusing, even compared to my pro AF-S lenses. On my D-80, it sweeps completely from infinity to minimum focus and back in about 1.5 seconds, but it rarely needs to do that... it will find your subject and lock in like a missile!
Hands down, this is the best lens that I have ever owned, and I plan on buying another one shortly for my fiancee's D-40. The lens performs admirably in soooo many situations, and is the perfect solution for a beginner who wants to get more serious about photography, or a pro who wants a fun all-in-one package or cover-it-all backup lens.
Absolutely adorable
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My favorite subject!
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[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Eastern, NC (Shutter bug in Iraq) on 4/6/2008
This lens is great for daily use. It's durable has a great range and a nice sharp focus. It tends to take some time to focus in comparison to fixed focal length or shorter range zoom lenses, but it's not that bad. The focus ring is close to the mount and easy to adjust. Personally I prefer to use manual focus with this lens as I feel like I can focus faster by eyeballing it. Aside from focusing issues it does show some vignetting around the corners when using filters, especially the polarizing filter. All in all I'm very happy with this lens. It gives me great range and detail for a cost that's not out of most photographers budget.
[3 of 3 customers found this review helpful]
from Philadelphia, PA on 4/2/2008
I bought this lens because I was missing shots of my nieces, having to swap between my 18-55 and my 55-200 VR. Kids tend to not stay still for long. I bought the 18-200 VR and am getting every shot now. If I'm traveling and want to lighten the load a bit, I'm taking this lens and leaving the other two at home. It's very convenient and all that you'll need. I realize that I may lose some clarity in a larger lens (a very little bit), but I'd rather lose some clarity than miss a shot altogether. That's why god invented photoshop.
Images shared by: cooseNikkor 18-200VR
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[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Simi Valley, CA on 3/21/2008
This is my second 18mm-200mm. I bought the first one for myself. I bought my wife a D40 and as soon as she used the this lens on it, it was lost to my use. So, I bought a second one for me with a second D40.
My wife and I do a lot of overseas traveling. This lens coupled with the D40 makes a great combination. While the lens if heavy, the D40 is light and the two make carrying them tolerable.
The lens focuses fast and is great for catching those shots from the tour bus when they can't stop.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Miami, FL on 3/6/2008
This is a great little lens to have attached at all times for parties, vacation and when you'll be shooting a variety of things. I haven't shot too much in low lighting so I cannot comment on that. However, it's probably the most practical. There are better lenses in terms of sharpness, but for those of you who do not want to carry around 2 or maybe 3 lenses this is a great option. I personally haven't been experiencing as much lens creep as I've read on a couple of reviews in the past. Overall I'm happy with this lens, as the VR works very well. If you want a GREAT Tele lens for the 70-200mm f/2.8 VR It's BIG, Powerful, heavy and Pricy, but takes oh, such beauTIful pictures.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Detroit on 3/6/2008
This is the best lens for new photographers -- super for 'one-lens traveling'. High picture quality in both wide angle and tele uses. Also, I would like to thank Adorama for their sincere, professional service to me.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Boise, ID on 3/6/2008
I love this lens! Yes, it's expensive, but I plan on using it more or less forever. I can't imagine how one would improve on it. I rarely have to change lenses. Image quality is amazing.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Walnut, CA on 3/6/2008
Replaces all the lenses I used to carry with me when I shoot for an event or go on vacation. Well built but need to protect the lens by using a filter and a leashed lens cap. I have no more need for the pouch and hood that came with the package. VR feature is very helpful in producing zoomed and sports shots.
from Oconomowoc, WI on 3/6/2008
I was hoping that the combination of VR, higher ISOs, and the various shooting modes would allow me to shoot basketball games effectively. It doesn't. I also purchased a used Nikon 50mm 1.8 AF. Even though it doesn't have the reach, it shoots the action much better than the VR zoom. It goes to show why the 2.8 VR zooms are so expensive.
That said, this lens rocks for general purpose shooting or any of the outdoor sports our kids are in.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from San Diego, CA on 3/6/2008
This lens is awesome! It replaced 3 others in my bag and works 10x better!
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Rochester, NY on 3/4/2008
Good quality images for the price. Not the fastest focusing lens, but it's fine for most applications, other than fast action.
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from SC on 3/4/2008
After 49,574 images in a little over a year I am still amazed at how much you can do with this lens. From close up to portrait, to sports to landscapes, it truly is an all around lens you can keep on the camera. No you can't shoot indoor basketball with it but pretty much can do the rest. Really an amazing piece of work from Nikon.
Images shared by: FreddieSunset
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Yellow and Blue
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[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Texas on 2/26/2008
I wanted a lens that would allow me to travel light and never miss a shot while changing lenses! I didn't want to worry about the risk of water or dust entering the camera in adverse conditions. It is expensive if you have just entered the DSLR market - but lots less than the professionals are using! What you do get for your money is a flexible zoom range which has handled most of my photographic opportunities. The vibration reduction system has really allowed me to walk around without a tripod although I usually do have a monopod that I use because the D200 is a bit heavy. It really is a lens that I can leave on my camera all day long and scarcely miss a shot, which makes it a lot of fun to have. I was using two separate lenses to cover this same distance and I hated changing the lens and most of all I hated carrying around extra lenses for a day outing. I would highly recommend it to the hobbyist and to the serious amateur.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Asheville, NC on 2/25/2008
I love having the 18-200 range, just wish was 2.8 as not that good in low light.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Houston, TX on 2/25/2008
Before buying the 18-200 I always seemed to have the wrong lens on the camera. When I wanted to take a telephoto shot, the wide-angle zoom was on. When I wanted to take a wide-angle shot, the telephoto zoom was on. Now, I've got the right lens for most circumstances.
Before buying it I had read about lens creep in this lens. I haven't had that problem. I think Nikon has addressed the issue. In fact, the zoom is a little stiff. It's not bad and not hard to zoom, but it certainly doesn't creep out when the lens is pointing down.
The autofocus is fast and the Vibration Reduction system is really amazing. I made some test exposures through the car windshield at 70 mph on a two-lane country road (I wasn't driving) and they came out tack sharp. Very impressive.
The one negative I've found with it is that there is some light fall-off in the corners, especially in telephoto settings. It's only really noticeable when there is a large area of similar color with no detail, like the sky.
All in all, I'm very happy with the lens. I look forward to going on vacation with a much-lightened camera case.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Gulf Beach on 2/24/2008
A Must Have.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Old Lyme, CT on 2/24/2008
Great lens for travel when space is limited and weight is an issue. For short trips, replaces three or four prime lenses. When VR on and paired with the D300 at high ISO, gives remarkable nightime shooting options and results even without a tripod.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from NW Florida on 2/21/2008
Love this lens so far. This is my first digital SLR after using film SLR years ago. The range and VR make this a great lens. I used the 18-55 kit lens once and then put it away. If I had it to do over again I would have bought the body only and then added this lens and forgot about the kit lens.
from Indiana on 2/21/2008
The reviews I read sold me on this lens, and I wasn't disappointed. The huge zoom range makes for less missed shots while changing lenses, and less chance for dirt to get to the sensor. So far I've been happy with the feel of this lens, the controls, and the crispness of my images.
from Grand Island, Nebraska on 2/21/2008
I am simply amazed at the capability of this lens. I am not a pro. But this lens lets me get photos with my D40 that make people think I am. Who needs a camera with automatic dust cleaning, when this lens never gets taken off? The autofocus is spot on, the speed is all I will ever want, and it is built solidly. I may someday move up to a better body than the D40, but I strongly doubt I will "graduate" beyond this lens.
from Western North Carolina on 2/21/2008
I bought this lens for my D80 Nikon as my primary lens. I took a trip to Utah and Colorado recently and took 258 shots. I've now worked through about two-thirds of them and they are sharp as tacks--everything I had hoped for. The vibration reduction works flawlessly at all focal lengths, even 200 mm (equivalent to 300 mm). It was often very windy, but that didn't matter. I may well put my tripod in mothballs (I didn't use it once on this trip).
At first I was concerned because I heard no noise from the lens. I wondered whether it was even working, but I can assure you that it did. I would recommend this lens as your primary lens. It is well worth the considerable expense.
from Orlando FL on 2/21/2008
I have a film photo background. This is my first of the digital SLRs and the associated lenses. I am very happy that I went with this lens instead of two lenses. Keeps my life simple.
I am still learning the capabilities of this digital lens. So far it's done all that I can ask. The auto focus is quick and sharp. The lens stabilization is an awesome must have!
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from las vegas nv. on 2/21/2008
i've lusted after this lens since it came out.this newer version [ without lens creep] & 1/2 the original price is the best nikkor ever in it's price range.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from vt on 2/7/2008
This is my second one, my first was dropped on concrete. It is in the shop, and I will warn that it can take many months for repairs due to spare parts issues. My first was purchased a year ago, so, fairly early version. I noticed that my newest one is much stiffer in the zoom, and hopefully, will be less prone for zoom creep.[...] I got tired of waiting for my broken one to be fixed, so I consider this lens so basic to my kit, that I replaced it with the newer one. For low light/detail work, then swap in a quality prime lens. There are many used one for sale, and when you really need that type of low fstop, or sharpness, the old lens (or really expensive new ones), work really well, but the 18-200 is the one that stays on the camera all the other times.
from Adelaide Australia on 1/27/2008
Alows for a compact solution with a SLR
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Someset, WI on 1/26/2008
I used this lens for the first time on a long trip to Thailand and Burma. It worked great! In fact, I probably will leave most of my other lenses at home when I need to travel light. I got some great 300mm hand-held shots in Burma..beyond what I expected for hand-held. I love this lens!
Images shared by: BuzzTele shots of Balloon on Irrawaddy River, Burma
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Shan Boy in Thai Refugee Camp
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[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Fairfield ca on 1/25/2008
I Use this Most of The Time now,Vr worknice for slower shutter speeds.and the18mm to 200mm wide range of focal length
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Los Angeles, CA, USA on 1/22/2008
This is the lens I use most. Only when I want to work in less light, distant subjects, or macro does it come off. 95% on my photos are taken with this lens. The compact quality construction provides an almost do it all lens that can be put in a small bag for travel.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Pittsburgh, PA on 1/21/2008
I've replace my original lense with this one and have gotten better shots. Since purchasing this lense, I have used this exclusively for the photography that I do. It's a great lense.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from CO on 1/21/2008
I have no lens creep and I just love this lens it is sharp and crisp.
from Houston, TX on 1/21/2008
This lens is the reason I went Nikon vs. Canon.
I have it for a month and love it.
Even not very fast but with D300 does a good job indoor and in the dusk without flash
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Topeka, KS on 1/21/2008
Reviewed this lense for 6 months before I bought it. I have not been disappointed. I have several lenses and this is the one I take with me if I don't want to cart the whole bag.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Woburn, MA on 1/21/2008
Simply put, if you owned and use good fast glass regularly, this lens would be a disappointment. I gave in to the reviews that "it's great for the money" and that's all it says: "you get what you paid for". The focus is slow. If you shoot at walking incoming subjects, it will not react in time resulting in blurs. Keep in mind I used it on a D2Xs body. The image quality is subpar as details are lost. However, it performs well in sufficient lighting and sunny outdoors. But indoors and with flash it will cause you sufferings if you depend on quality. I had to return it as it didn't meet my shooting demands. It's ok for normal point and shoot type pictures.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Saint Louis, MO on 1/21/2008
This lens is great! If you have the means, I highly recomend you pick one up.
I've read about lens creep with this lens, but I have had very little lens creep. The little it creeps is only when you have it somewhere in the middle and not all the way out or all the way in. My previous lens creeped like crazy, at any focal length, so to me, this thing is steady as a rock.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Tampa, FL on 1/21/2008
With this lens and the vibration reduction I can get sharp pictures at 1/8th of second without the use of a tripod. This when used with my d-300 produces clear and colorful pics with no aberation. Great lens! Buy it now!
[1 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from MO on 1/12/2008
dont get this lens, your better off without it. the focusing stopped working during ym vacation to kenya and tanzania, i sent it back to kion, a few uses later the AF has stopped completely.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from SC on 12/20/2007
If you don't like it you don't know how to use it or you got a bad sample. Just an outstanding lens. Over 30,000 images with it since I got it October of 2006. And yes I use it for sports, although not in low light and yes I get outstanding landscapes with it and yes it's a good portrait lens too.
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
I have just returned from a year travelling and have shot around 200 images per day with this lens, so I think I am in a reasonably good position to comment. The lens is on its last legs, rubber has peeled away and IF does not work properly (it lasted 11 months of continual use). The images are OK. You'll need to work on them in PS if you want to add them to your portfolio. If the subject is close then the image is acceptably sharp, however distant objects are not acceptable. Landscapes are specially poor, for instance small trees dotting a hillside will be indistinct and there is occasional purple fringing.
The weight was a huge bonus while travelling and also the convenience of not having to change lenses, however bear in mind that this is a kit lens not a pro lens so if you are shooting to sell I would not recommend it.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Wharton, TX on 9/26/2007
With this lens there should never be any excuse to not have your camera with you at all times. This is the one lens that comes closest to being a universal lens. The range it covers meets all the normal requirements, the focus is instantaneous, and the weight and size is light and compact enough to carry all day and the VR insures sharp pictures even when you forget your tripod (no VR will not get you sharp pictures shooting long exposures). No matter which camera you use be it a D40 or D3 this lens should be the one mounted all the time. Pictures can happen anytime and if you take your camera everywhere this is the lens that will capture the shot.
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Tinley Park, IL on 9/26/2007
This is a solid lens and with what I have shot using it so far, it has been very sharp and consistant. The lens is a little slow but the VR helps overcome this. I have had no lens creep problem with mine. I've used it for studio portraits as well as wildlife and it's been a great performer. For those who don't want to change a lens often this is one I would recommend.
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Kansas City, MO on 9/26/2007
I needed a dependable, versitile lense with vr, I think this is a very good choice.
[3 of 3 customers found this review helpful]
from Old Town, ME on 9/26/2007
Great all-around lens. The VR really helps with hand held shots and the wide zoom range means it can handle a wide variety of situations. I knew I'd like this lens, but was surprised by how much. I've used a competitor's 18-250 super-zoom, and this lens blows it away (the extra 50mm doesn't really make that much of a difference.)
Images shared by: AJ
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[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Loveland, CO on 9/26/2007
Sweet lens. I need to shoot in many different situations at work. This lens fits the bill.
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Prescott, AZ on 9/26/2007
This is a great lens. It covers a large range and pretty much stays on my camera all the time. The VR is amazing and works well. My lens doesn't creep unless you hold it down and shake it. It's a very sharp lens and I would consider it money well spend.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Fairfield Ca on 9/8/2007
I love this lens just about use it all time,
my other lens is 80mm-400mm vr
[4 of 6 customers found this review helpful]
I have read all the reviews on many sites, about how poor image quality issues are related to "operator error". The Nikon 18-200 VR does everything, but nothing very well. Most images are good, but not sharp, and they don't "pop". I just bought the Nikon 18-135, and it blows away the 18-200. I'm going to keep my 18-200, but I work so hard, to get fairly good quality pictures. I just bought the 70-200 VR, and my God, it's awesome!
[8 of 8 customers found this review helpful]
from TWIN CITIES, MN on 8/27/2007
I will start with what it is not for:
1.This is not for pro's cherished lens for their daily work for living.
2.This is not for fast action, sport photos. That does not mean it is slow in focus, but not fast enough to catch kids in their basketball games, either.
Now what this is for:
1. A perfect whole day's walk-around lens for street people photos, sight-seeing photos, zoo-visiting photos, sometimes sun-rise, sun-set photos, because it is fairly light for its versatility. 18-200mm range is good for even lanscape photos! Not much distortion 18-24mm, but a bit soft and distortion towards 200mm. About f/8 and 11, it shines best!
2. A perfect companion for one-lens-only trips say, Swiss Alps, Paris, London, Alaska, even Disney, etc!
3. It will render pretty vivid colors for your Fall-color trips, and beach trips as well. If you are all for hikings. This one is a must without breaking your back or neck!
4. For this price, I must say it's an upgrade from general use, and a less perfect one for professional works for sale to your clients. Yet you might produce good ones for sale with this lens, if you know how to make best out of it!
5. One more lens you need besides this can be Nikon 12-24 (it is a pro lens, though about [$] range for both used and new ones). I will say 18-200 for 90% of the time, 12-24 for the rest 10%.All in all, you will not regret to spend [$] for this lens whatsoever! Remember it was a kit lens for D200, also you can put this to D40 or D40X. What a compact combination for your all-day walk-around for a pure enjoyment!
A possible scenario for this lens:
1. Either D 40 or D 40X with this lens for all day walk-around or travel companion. It's more than a back-up body and lens combo! You will produce a stunning photos with this kind of combo.
2. D200 with 12-24 for a serious photos for sale to your clints!Hope this helps somebody out there.
[3 of 4 customers found this review helpful]
from Bethlehem, PA on 8/20/2007
I replaced a Nikon 18-70 and 70-300 with this lens. Like most Nikon glass, it's amazingly sharp. The focal range suits my needs for 80% of what I shoot. I still carry my wonderful 105 macro, but have found that this lens focuses close enough to give me near-marco capability. The VR seems to work very well for the few images I've tried without a tripod. As with most reviewers, my only real complaint with this lens is CREEP CREEP CREEP. While I realize some amount of creep is "expected" in a super-zoom, I was nonetheless disappointed in the quality of this lens. I expect better from Nikon.
Images shared by: JacLowe Antelope Canyon with the Nikon 18-200 VR
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Hand-held with the Nikon 18-200 VR
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[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Ellington, Connecticut on 7/13/2007
A very useful lens. Reduces the number of lens one needs to carry. A bit of distortion at max and minimum focal lengths. The trombone creeps when camera is pointed in a down orientation.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Philomath, OR on 7/11/2007
I read all the reviews before I bought this lens. It has lived up to its hype.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from East Alabama on 7/10/2007
A sharp lens with good range and zoom multiplation; like many in this class it
lacks large f stops
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
The lens is fine for the only lens on a trip. But it is the first Nikon product in 40 years to disappoint on quality. The lens creeps out of focus in up or down positions and is a pain in the neck when hanging from a strap because the barrel creeps out to full extension. I would suppose that will worsen and also expose the whole lens to more damage than normal because any knock is magnified by the leverage. Nikon should recall it and fix the problem.
[0 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
fair if the alternative is a 18-70 and a 70-200
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Egypt on 4/14/2007
This lens is great. The VR works perfectly fine. It eats up battery life but the results are great. The pic attached is a pic i took with my Nikon D80 (perfect combination) at 200mm, no tripod used (of course the pic is cropped) but just to show you how much details and how sharp.
The great thing about this camera is that I can use it for everything, from wide angle to decent zoom range.
I had a problem with my D80 however which is it casts shadow if using the flash at the widest angle (18mm). Other than that great choice I never take it off, I use it all the time.
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[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Austin, TX on 3/29/2007
I've been shooting many, many photos with this lens on my D200 for about a month. The VR is great and compensates for the slow maximum aperature of the lens. I find that it is as sharp as it needs to be to get good photos. Folks, it ain't the lens or camera that makes a good photo, it's the creative eye behind the camera and lens. If a shot it good, it doesn't matter what lens and camera were used. Anyway, if I were standed on a desert isle and could have only one lens for my D200, this would be it. (Well, it would be nice to have the 12 to 24 mm, too.) Now, if Nikon, Sigma, Tokina, or Tamron would just make a 16-to-135 mm lens, with VR of course, I'd buy it, too. But, for now, I'm really happy with this excellent 18-to-200 mm lens.
[5 of 5 customers found this review helpful]
This lens is so versatile due to its range. The focus is very fast and accurate to boot. The new VR II is purely phenomenal. It states in the instructions that you can take shots four stops slower than with out it (first generation VR was two stops) and I have to say that I was skeptical. I have never had a steady hand when it comes to photography and have been tripod dependent for years. With the new VR II I have been able to get sharp focused shots at 200mm at shutter speeds as low as 1/30. For some this may be the norm even without VRI but for me even without caffeine on board and the VRI it wasn't possible.
Also, to mention I use this lens on my Nikon D80 and when I first got the camera body I was using two zoom lens and switching back and forth and I kept getting dust on my sensor. Its fifty dollars to get it cleaned if you cant blow it off. And you usually dont notice the dust until after you download the pictures. What a pain and disappointment to find out that your favorite shot has black spot above your subject. Yes it fixable but what a pain. But that the beauty of the 18-200. I never have to take it off unless doing some bird watching and using my 80-400 (another great lens). Trust me spend the money now or you'll and up spending more in the long run by selling what ever you bought in its place and then buying this lens. By the way it takes great macro shots due to its close focus. Hand held at that!!!
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
The focus is quick, pictures are sharp and the colors produced are very realistic. The VR is a lot of fun to use and lets you take some creative shots without the flash. The feel of the lense is very good. Construction quality appears to be good and it has a five year warranty.
I have had my lense for over two months and taken over 2000 pictures and the zoom is tight and does not creep. I am using it on a D80 and I find the camera and lense to be heavy when hanging around the neck.
It does everything I want in an easy to use small package. It is the lense I use 90% of the time. I take a lot of pictures of my grandkids, family and vacation/travel and I have no complaints so far.
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
Great lens all around. VR uses the batterys up a bit fast so I'd say make sure you have some spares. This is a great general purpose lens but not good for artistic work since it has a small focal range.
When I do weddings I worry use a number of lenses, however when Im just going for a day trip this lens has me covered.
[3 of 3 customers found this review helpful]
from Toledo, Ohio on 2/5/2007
I got my 18-200 from a local dealer, and it came in three days before I left for a seven day trip to Paris (good timing), and I couldn't be happier with it. I made the step up from the kit d50 lens (eww, haha) and I've now become accustomed to the amazing vibration reduction and extreme range offered by this lens. There is a tiny bit of distortion at 18mm, but one step back and zooming to 24mm takes care of that problem. The zoom is great, if anything the glass could be faster (at three times the price though :() It offers a great balance between zoom, weight, features, and cost. I would highly recommend this lens, and look for it locally before you hit the 8-month waiting lists on the internet
[11 of 11 customers found this review helpful]
from Washington, DC on 1/30/2007
The huge 18-200mm range on this lens is equivalent to 28-300mm in a 35mm format. Zoom lenses with such huge ranges have been around for a long time, and are very popular as an all-purpose lens, but they have inherent drawbacks.
Specifically, these "super zooms" aren't going to be as sharp or as fast as professional lenses or even as fast as cheaper fixed lenses. By "fast", I mean the maximum aperature is only f/3.5 when shooting at 18mm and only f/5.6 when the lens is zoomed out. Compare this to a fixed $100 portrait lens which shoots at f/1.8, and you'll see the drawbacks pretty quickly. The fixed lens can shoot in lower light without a flash, or can capture action shots at much faster shutter speeds.
Nikon has attempted to change the rules with this lens by adding "VR" (vibration reduction) technology. It works like the steady shot setting on a camcorder, allowing you to shoot at a slower shutter speed and still get crisp shots. This makes the lense twice as expensive as other "super zooms".
Is it worth it? In my opinion, absolutely YES. If you are a professional photographer, you would never be fooled into thinking that this can replace all your prime lenses. But if you are a serious amateur and don't want to carry a bag of lenses around with you on vacation, then this little wonder will handle almost any situation. It is definitely sharper than the "super zooms" made by Tamron and others, and that's before you add in the VR technology.
One bonus I love about it is how compact it is. Most sports venues forbid the use of "professional" photo equipment, but I get this lens through security every time, and with the VR technology, get some pretty good action shots.
Others have mentioned that the lens slips when pointed down. I have found that this is true, and it's disappointing; however it does not slip from the fully-closed 18mm position. It only slips if it's already partially zoomed out.
If a super-zoom makes sense for your needs, and you can afford it, then I highly recommend this lens.
Example of a 200mm shot with this lens
Tags: Made with Product
Example of an 18mm shot with this lens
Tags: Made with Product
[5 of 11 customers found this review helpful]
OK for all around basic lens. Not sharp enough for a pro. Also, the lens creeps out while hanging around my neck. Nikon refuses to fix and states that that is normal.If on an angle on a tripod, it slips out of focus. I like having it so that I don't have to change lenses on a hike. Otherwise, not worth it.
[12 of 13 customers found this review helpful]
from Grand Rapids, MI on 1/11/2007
This is; in my humble opinion, the best lens out there for the serious amateur. Landscapes, portraits, a little macro work (though not on par with the serious macro-maniacs requirements), just a great lens all around. How good is this lens? Getting one in your hands is not easy as the demand is so high. Bottom line: save your pennies and buy this lens.
[15 of 15 customers found this review helpful]
from Sinsinnati, OH on 1/3/2007
Great lens that incorporates most focal lengths you will need. Works great in the studio as well as on the street. Light weight, and versatile. My only complaints are that the lens is slow, the zoom ring has loosened up somewhat after 8000 acutations, and the filter size is awkward. Other than those few issues my favorite lens thus far. Would have given this lens 5 stars if it wasn't for the loose zoom[...].
[10 of 21 customers found this review helpful]
I used to carry the kit lens (18-55) around. I was glad that this lens gives me 200mm when I needed it. But as far as sharpness, the old lens does a better job. VR does help, but for $[...] I would skip this one.