Manage updates with the Download AppNikon AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G IF-ED
Manufacturer: Nikon Inc. Part number: 2159
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Though you pay for the convenience, the Nikon AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 G IF ED covers a range that would normally take two lenses, yet remains compact with a solid build.
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CNET editors' review
Nikon AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G IF-ED price range: $657.79
- Reviewed by: Matthew Fitzgerald
- Edited by: Lori Grunin
- Reviewed on: 07/21/2008
- Released on: 11/15/2005
The good: Compact; broad focal-length range; Vibration Reduction for better handheld photos, especially at telephoto.
The bad: Suffers from lens creep.
The bottom line: Though you pay for the convenience, the Nikon AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 G IF ED covers a range that would normally take two lenses, yet remains compact with a solid build.
User reviews
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Great lens for all around use
by jim_stott on August 22, 2006
Pros: VR allows shooting in low light with good results
Cons: Unable to lock the lens so it extends by itself while walking
Summary: I have been using this lens for 2 months and find it to be extremely versatile. Focus is fast and the VR is a great feature. I had been using ...
Summary: I have been using this lens for 2 months and find it to be extremely versatile. Focus is fast and the VR is a great feature. I had been using a Tamron 28-300 and although it is a good lens the VR allows me to shoot in much lower light without the need for a tripod. I gain a good 4 stops due to the VR feature. The 18-200 range enables me to do the majority of my photography without having to change lenses. I am looking to buy a macro lens and will definitely get a Nikon VR lens when I do.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Creeps the Crap out of me
by Toscane on July 22, 2008
Pros: Hey it's a Nikon
Cons: Creepy Creepy
Summary: I have absolutely no idea what the downside of a creepy lens is.
Summary: I have absolutely no idea what the downside of a creepy lens is.
3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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great all around lens
by dtung118 on July 26, 2008
Pros: great range, small, light, VR, M/A
Cons: expensive, speed
Summary: c|net released this review a little late... but here goes... this lens is a great all around lens. by no means is this a professional lens.
people keep complaining ...Summary: c|net released this review a little late... but here goes... this lens is a great all around lens. by no means is this a professional lens.
people keep complaining about distortion and lens creep, but distortion occurs with every zoom lens, and this one is not much different than the nikon 18-70mm zoom, and it doesn't matter much at all, because this is a digital only lens, meaning that you won't be able to use it on a film camera, also meaning you can correct it with a few easy steps.
lens creep is not an issue as long as you reset your lens to 18mm. lens creep happens with most zoom lenses that have the weight to do so.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Huge zoom range, compact and very good quality
by ben2ee on July 25, 2008
Pros: nearly ideal one-lens setup, Huge zoom range, compact and very good quality
Cons: Expensive, backward zoom motion, occasional focus problems
Summary: As the review points out the lens has flaws here and there but is a terrific solution for someone who wants a single lens for their SLR. That's the ...
Summary: As the review points out the lens has flaws here and there but is a terrific solution for someone who wants a single lens for their SLR. That's the reason I bought it and I'm quite happy. Most of the time I use the camera, I usually don't have time to pick out a specific lens. The 18-200 allows me to grab the camera and go. Paired with a D40, it's a fairly compact solution for an SLR. The range is just HUGE. I can easily zoom from where I'm standing to my subject without moving. You'd really have to be a wildlife photographer to need much more zoom. Same goes for the wide angle although I can see getting something wider.
I had a Canon 20d with the 17-85mm zoom. Bigger body but smaller lens. I find the Nikon solution far more portable but I can't say I notice a huge difference in the photo quality which I think is in the Nikon's favor.
Call it a lifestyle lens. For it's flaws, most reviews I read dpreview, KenRockwell, praised the quality despite the flaws. I admit I'm not dedicated enough to always have the right lens on the camera for the occasion that pops up. I love having the SLR and the quality of the shots it provides and with this lens. When I did have multiple lenses, which I did until recently, I just didn't end up using most of them, even when it would have been more appropriate. I don't think I'm giving up much for the great results I get.
I can't definitively blame the lens for this but I do get my share of shots which aren't in focus. If the subject is moving, I still haven't perfected getting higher percentage of good shots.
I'm quite happy and would buy it all over again.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great lens to carry for extended periods.
by Photographinganything on February 21, 2008
Pros: Great range, VR very good, Light weight
Cons: Variable aperture, plastic filter threads, soft at 200mm.
Summary: I've been using this lens since the beginning 2007 on a Nikon D200 and then the D40x. This is a great 11x range lens for all day use inside ...
Summary: I've been using this lens since the beginning 2007 on a Nikon D200 and then the D40x. This is a great 11x range lens for all day use inside or out. I've carried it for hours through parks and woods and used it for simple family gatherings. This lens is almost a permanent fixture on my Nikon D40x now. The VR is fantastic when shooting at or close to 200mm and it even works great for tracking shots of flying birds.
It can be very soft at 200mm and you need to watch your parallel lines at 18mm. But what the heck, for every day shooting it beats replacing the lens every 10 minutes.
A constant 2.8 aperature would be nice but it would probably push the cost up another $500 or more like the 70-200mm AF-S VR G. I would have liked a little more metal up front for the filter threads. You need to be very careful when changing the filters on this and all Nikon lenses with those nasty plastic threads. And watch out for temps below 20 degrees F. The AF-S lens motor sounded like a death rattle when I was shooting at my favorite lake with a temp at 12 degrees F.
But all in all I really like this lens, especially on a light weight camera body like the Nikon D40x. It can hang around my neck all day long without being a drag. And it makes pretty decent images. 11x power, VR up to 3-stops, light weight, pretty fast autofocus... not too many variable aperture zoom lenses can do it all but this one comes very close.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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No thanks - No way
by mwalshaw on July 23, 2008
Pros: Cant think of any
Cons: yesterdays gear on the way out
Summary: Why would anybody want a DX lens. Both Nikon and Canon, the only two manufacturers which matter in photographics, are heading for full frame sensors - the same size as ...
Summary: Why would anybody want a DX lens. Both Nikon and Canon, the only two manufacturers which matter in photographics, are heading for full frame sensors - the same size as the traditional 35mm film plane. A DX lens on a F/F sensor will crop the image by a third. This lens is a cheap build lens with lots of softness at either end and some CA to boot. This lens cannot be used on quite a number of Nikons which dont support AF-S.
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A great general purpose lens
by 9344429000076 on August 28, 2012
Pros: Does a good job for nearly every purpose. The VR lets it take very sharp pictures in quite poor light.
Cons: You have to remember to put the zoom lock on or the lens falls out to maximum zoom while you walk. The lens sun shield seems to be as frail as a taco shell & I left it in the box. I am going to buy a rubber one.
Summary: I bought a Nikon D7000 camera to use with an old 35-105 Nikkor AF lens that was on my redundant 1988 film camera. It wasn't flexible enough - not ...
Summary: I bought a Nikon D7000 camera to use with an old 35-105 Nikkor AF lens that was on my redundant 1988 film camera. It wasn't flexible enough - not enough zoom & the minimum shoot distance was too great. The 18-200 DX lens does practically everything I need to do photographically. A fixed focal length, low f-stop lens is better for specific jobs but if you want to carry one lens, this is a pretty good choice.
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The best all around walk-around lens available.
by argus2968 on September 8, 2011
Pros: - Zoom range, VR (normal and active), ease of use, metal mount, quiet focusing.
Cons: Severe problems focusing in situations: low light, low contrast surfaces (snow, beach, etc..), light directed down barrel.
Long focusing distance - must stand at least 3ft away at 18mm, 2.5ft at 200mm.
Questionable material choice on critical internal cSummary: This has been my primary lens for the last 3 years on a D200 and now D90. While the 18-200 is a fantastic all-in-one lens it's internal construction quality ...
Summary: This has been my primary lens for the last 3 years on a D200 and now D90. While the 18-200 is a fantastic all-in-one lens it's internal construction quality coupled with it's weight worries me as I've already had to replace it once.
All in all I give it 3 and a half stars. I used to work at a camera store and have handled manylens for extended period of time. Nikon has the best version of the 18-200 and it has allowed me to capture a vast variaty of shots over the years. However, it's obvious problems cannot be over looked. -
The creep is a joke!
by goodeyej on December 13, 2008
Pros: Great range.
Cons: The lens creep is unbelievable. In this day and tech age, this is a product that should never have left the drawing board.
Summary: I can't believe Nikon would release a product with such a major mechanical malfunction. The lens "creep" is a pain in the backside. Try to do a tripod shot ...
Summary: I can't believe Nikon would release a product with such a major mechanical malfunction. The lens "creep" is a pain in the backside. Try to do a tripod shot for a product shot or any shot with the lens pointing down. It will drive you crazy when your trying to frame and focus a product shot or any shot with the lens pointing down and the lens won't stop moving. Just carrying the camera with the strap over your shoulder will make the lens creep out to it's 200mm length allowing it to bang around. I've been shooting with Nikon gear for 30 years. I am beginning to see why Canon is winning the DSLR wars as I hear the techs at Nikon tell me to just not point the camera downward. Whoppy do to you Nikon.
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Great all-purpose lens
by jay.butler on August 9, 2008
Pros: Zoom range,vibration reduction
Cons: Zoom creeps on my early version
Summary: This is a great travel lens. If you only have space to pack one lens, this would be the one. It can also be the one lens that you leave ...
Summary: This is a great travel lens. If you only have space to pack one lens, this would be the one. It can also be the one lens that you leave on the body all of the time.
I think that Nikon has addressed the zoom creep. My lens is one of the first. A friend with a later lens has had no creep issues.
Sure, it would be nice to have a full-frame lens, but that would add bulk and weight. Plus, FX camera bodies are still only in the $3,000+ range.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Nikon Inc.
- Part number: 2159
- Description: This Zoom-Nikkor lens offers broad 18 - 200mm focal range for use in a variety of situations (equivalent to a 27-300 lens in 35mm format). 11x zoom coverage offers a perfect compact and lightweight, one-lens solution. VR II system offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed 4 stops faster. Two ED glass and three aspherical lens elements minimize chromatic aberration, astigmatism and other forms of distortion, while ensuring high resolution and contrast. Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) offers superb color reproduction while minimizing ghosting and flare. The lens incorporates an SWM (Silent Wave Motor) for fast quiet focusing and delivers high-level optical performance designed for use exclusively with Nikon DX format digital. The lens employs a seven-blade rounded diaphragm opening that achieves a natural blur for out-of-focus elements; it enables focusing from as close as 50cm (20 in.) from the subject through its entire focal range. M/A mode is delivered for rapid switching between autofocus and manual focus operation. Flower-shaped Lens Hood HB-35 greatly reduces stray light.
General
- Packaged Quantity 1
- Length 4 in
- Diameter 3 in
- Weight 1.2 lbs
Lens System
- Lens System Zoom lens
- Special Functions Zoom
- Intended For Digital SLR,
35mm SLR - Focal Length 18 mm - 200 mm
- Lens Aperture F/3.5-5.6
- Optical Zoom 11.1 x
- Magnification 1 / 4.5
- Min Focus Range 19.7 in
- Focus Adjustment Manual,
Automatic - Zoom Adjustment Manual
- Max View Angle 76 degrees
- Min View Angle 8 degrees
- Lens Construction 12 group(s) / 16 element(s)
- Filter Size 72 mm
- Diaphragm Blades 7
- Lens Coating Nikon Super Integrated Coating
- Mounting Type Nikon F
- Features Internal focusing system ,
VR (Vibration Reduction) ,
Silent Wave Motor (SWM) ,
Aspherical lens ,
ED glass
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Dust cap,
Lens cap,
Soft case,
Lens hood
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Nikon Inc. products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Nikon Inc.
- Address:
1300 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, NY 11747-3064 - Phone: 1-631-547-4200
