Nikon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX IF-ED

I have worked at a camera store and have handled many lens off all calibers. The Nikon 18-200 VR is the best all-in-one walk-around lens available today and has allowed me to capture a variety of beautiful shots over the years, but it's not without it's problems. First mounted to a D200 and now D90 this has been my primary lens for three years... until the lens element disconnected inside the barrel. Totaled. Fortunately it was insured and I did indeed replace it with the exact same model (something to be said for that). Pros: - exceptional zoom range, pretty good VR, tight fitting externals, weather sealed metal lock mount, quiet focusing. Cons: slow-ish focusing (certainly not quick), frequently fails to land a focus in low light/low contrast situations, far minimum focusing distance (annoying), soft feeling manual focus, questionable internal construction quality, and the ever infamous creeeeeep (not that big of a deal to me and when it has been an issue I just fasten one of those rubber live strong bracelets around it to keep it from creeping). In my wildest dreams Nikon would make a version with pro level construction, but this is the best 18-200mm VR available today. All in all I'd give it 3 and two thirds stars.

I've had this lens for 3 years and have used it on my Nikon D40, D5000, and now my D7000 camera. It's a great lens with great coverage from 18-200mm. I use this lens about 75% of the time when I use my camera. My other lens includes: 35mm/f1.8, 50mm/f1.4, 18-55mm, 55-200mm, and 28-105mm. Though the lens is heavy, it has great coverage (18-200mm) and eliminates the need to carry two lenses with me. I have used this lens for taking landscape (nature) pictures, buildings, florals, portraits of people, group shots with lots of people (18mm comes in handy), events (sports, concerts, conferences, etc), and it's my primary lens when I travel or go on vacation. There are 3 switches on the lens: M(anual)/A(utomatic), VR-On/Off, and Normal/Active. I keep my lens set to Auto with VR-On and Normal. I have used the Active mode with great results. For example, I set the lens to Active while I'm a passenger in the car. I can then take pictures of buildings, etc while my hubby is driving. The Active mode makes the object(s) I'm focusing on stand still. My version does have the lens creep. Not an issue for me as I'm careful not to leave it zoomed out while walking around. When I leave my lens at normal or 18mm position, the lens stays in place. This lens works well my with my D7000. The D7k handles low light situations nicely. With this lens, I set my D7k to go no higher than ISO 3200 and I get beautiful results. With this camera and lens combination, the camera can be quite heavy. That's not necessarily a bad thing as it feels well balanced in my hands. When I use my D40 with this lens, I do notice and feel a slight imbalance between camera and lens. I'm spoiled with my D7k. :) I use a Crumpler Industry Disgrace strap with my D7k and this 18-200mm lens. This strap is well padded and well constructed and reduces the stress on my neck. Overall, I have taken many wonderful pictures with this lens. I recommend this lens with the D7k because it feels great and it's well balanced in my hand.

I've had this lens for 3 years and have used it on my Nikon D40, D5000, and now my D7000 camera. It's a great lens with great coverage from 18-200mm. I use this lens about 75% of the time when I use my camera. My other lens includes: 35mm/f1.8, 50mm/f1.4, 18-55mm, 55-200mm, and 28-105mm.

Though the lens is heavy, it has great coverage (18-200mm) and eliminates the need to carry two lenses with me. I have used this lens for taking landscape (nature) pictures, buildings, florals, portraits of people, group shots with lots of people (18mm comes in handy), events (sports, concerts, conferences, etc), and it's my primary lens when I travel or go on vacation.

There are 3 switches on the lens: M(anual)/A(utomatic), VR-On/Off, and Normal/Active. I keep my lens set to Auto with VR-On and Normal. I have used the Active mode with great results. For example, I set the lens to Active while I'm a passenger in the car. I can then take pictures of buildings, etc while my hubby is driving. The Active mode makes the object(s) I'm focusing on stand still.

My version does have the lens creep. Not an issue for me as I'm careful not to leave it zoomed out while walking around. When I leave my lens at normal or 18mm position, the lens stays in place.

This lens works well my with my D7000. The D7k handles low light situations nicely. With this lens, I set my D7k to go no higher than ISO 3200 and I get beautiful results. With this camera and lens combination, the camera can be quite heavy. That's not necessarily a bad thing as it feels well balanced in my hands.

When I use my D40 with this lens, I do notice and feel a slight imbalance between camera and lens. I'm spoiled with my D7k. :)

I use a Crumpler Industry Disgrace strap with my D7k and this 18-200mm lens. This strap is well padded and well constructed and reduces the stress on my neck.

Overall, I have taken many wonderful pictures with this lens. I recommend this lens with the D7k because it feels great and it's well balanced in my hand.

As a beginner in photography, I was a little hesitate to use 18-200mm lens due to its price and heavyness. However, after attached with this Nikon lens, I was hardly put it off from my D5000. It is fit to my hands and the result is surely above my expectations. I really have a good time with this lens. Thank you Nikon, Thank you Amazon. Regards, antonius

As a beginner in photography, I was a little hesitate to use 18-200mm lens due to its price and heavyness.
However, after attached with this Nikon lens, I was hardly put it off from my D5000.
It is fit to my hands and the result is surely above my expectations.
I really have a good time with this lens.
Thank you Nikon, Thank you Amazon.

Regards, antonius