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Nikon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX IF-ED  Hot PDF Print E-mail
Lenses Nikon
User rating
4.3
out of 5
Editor's rating
3.5
out of 5
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Reviewed by:
Editor
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Average user rating: 4.3 
361 User reviews
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Lens Summary

Overview

nikonVR.gifA compact and lightweight high-power zoom lens for Nikon digital SLRs, featuring enhanced Vibration Reduction
2005 Release  

 

Main Features

  • Offers the broad 18-200mm focal range (11.1x zoom) for use in a variety of situations (equivalent to a 27-300mm lens in 35mm format)
  • Enhanced Vibration Reduction (VRII) offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed 4 stops faster
  • Two ED glass and three Aspherical lens elements
  • Incorporates a compact SWM (Silent Wave Motor) for quiet focusing
  • Enables focusing from as close as 50cm (20 in.) from the subject through its entire focal range
  • M/A mode for rapid switching between autofocus and manual focus operation
  • Seven-blade rounded diaphragm opening
    Sample Images
    VR ON VR OFF
    VRon.jpg VRoff.jpg
    Click to enlarge Click to enlarge

    Camera:
    		   Nikon D200
    Focal length:
    		   95mm (The picture angle is equivalent to a 143mm lens in 35mm format.)
    Shutter Speed:
    		   1/8 second
    Aperture:
    		   f/5.3
    Sensitivity:
    		   ISO100

Lens Specifications

Generic Lens Specifications
Lens Type: Zoom
IS / VR / OS: VR
Nikon DX lens: Yes
Min Focal Length (mm): 18
Max Focal Length (mm): 200
Number of Elements: 16
Element Groups: 12
Max Aperture: 3.5
Minimum Aperture: 36
Diaphragm Blades: 7
Closest Focus Distance (m): 0.5
Filter Type: Screw In
Filter Diameter (mm): 72
Diameter at widest (mm): 77
Lens Length (mm): 96
Weight (g): 560

Details


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Editor review : Nikon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX IF-ED
Overall rating (weighted)
3.5
Sharpness
3.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
3.0
Value for Money
4.0
This lens is Nikon's latest offering in the superzoom category where one lens tries to do the job of many. With an 11.1x zoom ration is certainly packs a lot into a small body.

Features and handling.
The newer version of Vibration Reduction (VR)VRII - is fitted to this lens and has clamed to have a four stop advantage when handholding. We found no reason to dispute this claim, managing to shoot sharp images at 1/20sec at the 200mm end of the range, very impressive indeed. The optic is lightweight for its capabilities but manages to retain a solid and durable feel. As with the vast majority of Nikkors, all the controls feel smooth and well weighted.

Performance
Optics with this sort of zoom range are a compromise and this is no different, with the need to close it down a stop or so to get the best results. Performance as the wide end is slightly better that at the longer focal lengths. What is pleasing about the lens is Contrast, witch is good to excellent thought-out the range. Another area that has been well controlled is that of Chromatic aberration, which, although it does exist, has been evened out well enough for it not so show any great extent at any point.
For an all round lens with the ability to cover most subjects without the need to lug a tripod around, this optic fares well.
Why should you care what I think?
My relationship with this item: I have borrowed a friends
Where did you buy this item?: N/A
When did you buy this item?: N/A
Conclusions at a glance
Would you recommend this Item: Yes
Pros: lengh of zoom, VR II
Cons: none realy for this price and coverage.

User Lens Reviews

Average user rating from: 361 user(s)

Overall rating (weighted)
4.3
Sharpness
4.3
Build Quality
4.3
AF Speed
4.3
Value for Money
4.3
 

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

An Oldie but Goodie, Monday, 30 August 2010


Overall rating (weighted)
4.5
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
5.0
I bought this lens used. The first retailer "sweet november" was the worst retailer I ever encountered on amazon. The sale was cancelled, and I was deeply impressed by the courtesy and efficiency of amazon's cancellation staff/policy when the retailer refuses to fulfill the order or communicate with the customer.

But, I wanted the lens so I went ahead with another retailer, who was excellent. The lens itself is a dream: yes, it is heavy (I love that, hate the lightness of today's cameras and lenses);yes, it is noisy, but I love the sound of a lens working; yes, my copy has lens "creep" (when the camera is off), but I don't really care about that. On the other hand, the pictures are superb. Not only is the image sharp enough to "shave with" but the Color balance/saturation is perhaps the best of the three other Nikkor lenses I own. By far, my favorite lens. Hope the new version is as good.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Poorly Designed Lens and bad workmanship, Sunday, 22 August 2010


Overall rating (weighted)
1.0
Sharpness
1.0
Build Quality
1.0
AF Speed
1.0
Value for Money
1.0
I brought this lens in 2007. First I noticed that when the is lens pointed downward it moves. So you have to hold the lens still and the camera. In Aug. of 2010, the lens started to grind and the image would shake while trying to use autofocus. I did not use the lens very often. So Keep these things in mind if you purchase this lens. By the way, I think the pictures are good.
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7 of 10 people found the following review helpful

Convenient lens with flaws and very poor quality, Wednesday, 16 June 2010


Overall rating (weighted)
2.0
Sharpness
2.0
Build Quality
2.0
AF Speed
3.0
Value for Money
1.0
The 18-200 is a very convenient lens, as it replaces several standard zooms all-in-one and thus keeps photographers from having to lug tons of gear with them, or to interrupt a studio session to change lenses every 10 minutes. But beware, there are some serious flaws hiding under the hood, including a pretty bad one - the Nikon customer service (or lack thereof).

PROS:
The image quality is decent, not outstanding, but not bad either, especially if you use spot metering and apertures around F11. And at a fairly reasonable price, there are a few arguments in favor of this lens:
- one single lens for all types of photo situations and motives
- Image Stabilizer (VR)
- fair graphic quality

CONS:
The auto-focus is not exactly fast on this lens, it keeps hunting a lot, even in good light conditions. The lens feels like a plastic toy when you handle it, which wouldn't be too bad it that wasn't a tell-tale sign of the poor quality of manufacture. Mine broke after just a year and a half, without any apparent reason. It did not drop, wasn't subjected to harsh weather conditions or heat (which can cause the glue that holds the plastic lenses inside in place to dissolve), it just suddenly stopped focusing in the hyperfocal range when zooming beyond 50mm.

And tough luck, Nikon's worldwide guarantee only covers this lens for one year if you live in Europe, not 5 years like advertised (which is only in the US). So because of this, I had to cover the repair costs myself, which so far amount to 150 Euros. Which wouldn't be so bad, if Nikon's repair service would not charge me an additional 50 Euros just for shipping the lens back. That's about 5-6 times the sum UPS charged me for sending the parcel to Nikon, same distance, same route. WTF!?! So in addition to being rude and haughty on the phone when you call support (because the lens you bought half and a year ago already died on you and you are somewhat upset at this very short lifespan), they rip you off on transport costs. I felt very poorly treated by Nikon service staff, not like a valued customer at all. More like a petty nuisance.

In addition to the poor longevity of the lens and the even worse customer service, the lens has other flaws, like the often mentioned lens-creep when shooting downwards, as well as sucking dust into your camera body. When zooming in and out with the 18-200mm, the lens creates a vacuum that sucks dust from the outside in, straight onto the mirror and sensor. I never had to clean my camera body as often as since I've had this lens. If you remove the lens rear cap and hold the lens in the hollow of your hand and then zoom in and out, you can feel the draft of air.

So, to sum up:
- short longevity
- only one year warranty for Europeans
- rude service staff
- expensive shipping for repair
- lens-creep
- slow auto-focus
- sucks in dust

If I hadn't run into these massive issues with the Nikon customer service, I would have given this lens a 4 star rating, but the way Nikon (in this case Nikon France) treats its customers is more than disappointing. Especially when you expect to buy quality, and your gear gives up on you in less than two years. And also, come on, one year warranty? Ridiculous!

I would certainly NOT recommend this lens to anyone because of these points. And the way Nikon customer service treated me certainly made me seriously think about switching to Canon when time has come to buy a new camera. And until then, whatever my next lens will be, it's NOT going to be a Nikon.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Great price!, Wednesday, 12 May 2010


Overall rating (weighted)
4.8
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
5.0
Very hard to come by. They can't be made fast enough! Excellent product. Works as expected.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

A Necessity for Me, Monday, 01 March 2010


Overall rating (weighted)
4.5
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
5.0
I'm not a pro, but my hobby requires me to take a lot of pictures. I've been working with point and shoots in the year I've been involved in this activity and I just couldn't deal with the shutter-lag and other limitations of the cameras I was using, so I made the jump to a dSLR, the Nikon D3000.

It was an excellent choice, but the 18-55mm kit lens, while a good lens in it's own right, just didn't have the flexibility necessary to get the shots I need and frequently changing out lenses is just not an option.

Almost every professional reviewer has lauded this lens, while noting its compromises, so I bought it even though it was a stretch for my monthly budget. I have no regrets.

For someone who used an image-stabilized, super-zoom point and shoot, the D3000 and this lens is the perfect upgrade. I can see that eventually I will want a wider lens for special purposes, but until that time comes, this is the perfect choice. I need a lens that can do it all and do it well.

I agree that the lens-creep issue is a problem, but it is a manageable one. When I'm not shooting, I lock the lens, even though at 18mm the lens doesn't creep yet. When I bring the camera up for a shot, the lock is easy to switch off with my left thumb, so it's just one small adjustment among many I've had to make to accommodate a more complex and more capable camera.

I would say to those new to dSLRs, buy whatever Nikon camera body you like and get this lens at the same time. Yeah, it's not cheap, but it's a lens that will more than meet your needs until you become a more sophisticated shooter and beyond.
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2 of 10 people found the following review helpful

Shoddy workmanship, Monday, 01 March 2010


Overall rating (weighted)
1.0
Sharpness
1.0
Build Quality
1.0
AF Speed
1.0
Value for Money
1.0
When I bought this lens I noticed that it was made in Thailand. That should have been my first clue. Like all the "newer" Nikkors it is made with a lot of plastic. After one month of shooting (about 2000 actuations) on an assignment in Japan the zoom stopped working smoothly, then stopped working at all. It also will not stop up or down. I have a lot of other Nikkor lenses that are much more solidly made, but some of them can only be used in the manual mode on my digital cameras. I'm sending it to Nikon's repair facility tomorrow and we'll see what happens. Hopefully they will repair it quickly. It's more than annoying to spend almost $1000 on a lens that fails. This is the first Nikkor lens I have had in 26 years of shooting that has given me any sort of trouble. I guess I was do.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Zoom is a little loose, Tuesday, 09 February 2010


Overall rating (weighted)
4.0
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
4.0
When pointing straight, this lens is a fantastic zoom. It's good with focusing and is relatively quick. Nikon's VR technology is also really good. The only complaint I have is that when I point up or down the lens will start expanding or pulling back on its own based on the gravitational force. I expected to be able to set this lens to a certain barrel length and have it stay there until I changed it.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Great for beginners and if you only had one lens, Thursday, 21 January 2010


Overall rating (weighted)
3.8
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
3.0
Value for Money
4.0
When I first started with DSLR photography I was stoked about this lens

I got it and could not be happier. 18-200mm fast, take it with me everywhere. It sat on my D40 then my D200

Then as a photographer I began to grow. I wanted faster lenses, Prime lenses, etc. Since then this lens has sat in my bag
I got a feel for how I like my pictures to be taken and what I needed was something faster. If i wanted zoom I wanted something further.

Also since i will be moving up to the FX body soon this lens will be useless since it is a DX lens.

As a customer decide if what you plan on doing is moving up in photography and taking it to another level,
or being happy with prosumer DSLRs with DX lenses.

If it is the latter, get this lens
Otherwise invest in fx lenses that will grow with you and this expensive hobby
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

The best Nikon lens, Wednesday, 20 January 2010


Overall rating (weighted)
4.8
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
Sorry for the short review but I have had this lens for 3 years and it is hands down the best investment I have made for my camera. you will need no other lens. Buy it NOW!!!!!!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

a versatile lens, but...., Tuesday, 12 January 2010


Overall rating (weighted)
4.5
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
4.0
This is a good lens if you only want to take a single lens on vacation. I find myself constantly having to swap my 18-55, 55-200 lenses because I'd snap people, then landscapes, and then architecture, and then animals. This lens has made snapping holiday photos much easier.

Auto-focus is fast and good. If I have problems, it's largely with the auto-focus algorithm in my camera body, not so much the lens.

If you snap with a tri-pod, TURN OFF THE VR. I know it sounds odd, but you'll get a better photo handholding with VR-ON than you will with tri-pod VR-ON. It has to do with the VR algorithm. Essentially, algorithm assumes there's vibration-induced noise and a tri-pod essentially causes it to over-correct. Other than that, the VR is fantastic. Snaps of animals that don't pose look great.

The lens does poorly in close-ups and other short/mid distances. While the center of the image is fine, the outer edges will have a gray/black bordering. You either have to adjust your zoom appropriately or crop it out.

Lastly, this isn't the lens if you're trying to snap a photo as a pro-sumer. Don't get me wrong, your pictures will look fine for things like facebook or standard prints.

This is NOT the lens for larger elegant wall mounted photography...
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Nikon 18-200 VR, One of Several Very Good, All Pur, Thursday, 07 January 2010


Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and so, I think, is one's opinion of a camera lens. I've learned over the years that lens reviews are helpful, but they are just opinions. Yes, for sure, you generally get better optics with more expensive lenses, but it's certainly not a guarantee. And for reasons one can only wonder about, oftentimes two copies of the same lens will produce very different results. For example, my friend Sara, who is as nuts about buying (we're like compulsive buyers) and using Canon lenses as I am about buying and using Nikon ones, has a Canon EF-S 18-55 kit lens that produces images so tack sharp through its whole range that would make you cry.

And so it goes with super zooms, these wonderful lenses that go from pretty wide to very long. If you look at the reviews of any of them, some people claim horrible results, while others scratch their heads, because they're just loving them to death.

My first superzoom was a Sigma 18-200 which I got about five years ago and I was blown away with what I could do with just one lens. Plus my shots were pretty darn sharp. The lens was more expensive then, than it is now. It's still a good lens, it weighs a couple ounces less than a pound and if I only could have been satisfied, I'd have saved a bundle of money. Ah well. Anyway, I had an opportunity to try out the Tamron 18-200 as well back then, but I decided on the Sigma. It was a coin toss. At the time I thought both lenses would be good general, all purpose, walkabout lenses. They wouldn't be as sharp or fast as primes and wouldn't be as light as shorter zooms, but heck, one lens which went all the way from 18 to 200mm (okay 27 to 350mm in the real world), such a deal.

Both lenses were five star lenses as far as I was concerned, both still are, because they are what they are, a very good compromise. If you're expecting a lens that will reach out across a dark night and grab a shot of lovers making out by the beach, then you don't want these lenses, but if you're looking for a good general walkabout lens, both will suit you and they won't break your bank.

But they don't have image stabilization and when Sigma came out with it, I had to have it. So I shelved the Sigma zoom I had, (thankfully I didn't sell it) and bought the Sigma 18-200 OS and Sigma's Optical Stabilizer worked great. I got sharper handheld shots in lower light, but they came at a price, almost half a pound. It doesn't sound like much, eight ounces (7.6 to be exact), but try carrying it around on your shoulder all day long. I really noticed the difference, especially when I was shooting.

I probably wouldn't have gone to that auction site with my fairly new lens, if it hadn't been for Tamron. They came out with their Tamron 18-250 and I had to have it. A bigger reach, the heck with image stabilization. Not only could I go all the way from 27 to 375mm in the real world, but I got back a Bit over six ounces, the lens was lighter. So now I had two super zooms, which was good, because I go out people shooting with my sister a lot.

So one would think I'd be satisfied, but when the Nikon 18-200 came out, well Nikon optics in a superzoom. I had to have it, so the Tamron went up for auction (because I just loved the Sigma, even though it didn't reach as far). The Nikon lens focused faster, but not that much faster then the other two, had image stabilization and was faster at the long end and it took great shots, but it weighed more than the other lenses, coming in at a whopping 20 ounces and it was creepy, creepy, creepy and with no zoom lock. The other lenses had almost no zoom creep and they had a zoom lock, which I never used. Very annoying the zoom creep was, still, great shots from a great lens.

Satisfied, well for awhile, then came 2008 and the Tamron 18-270 with their VC version of image stabilization and up for auction went my expensive Nikkor lens. Yeah, I still hung on the my first super zoom, the Sigma. For sure the Nikkor was a five star lens, but a girl can't justify more than two super zooms at any one time.

The Tamron lens actually weighed a fraction less than the Nikkor it replaced. It was a bit slower on the long end, was a bit stiff in the zooming, but easy to get used to and almost no, sometimes no, zoom creep and it has a lock. It's just simply one heck of a lens. Sometimes it's a bit slow to autofocus in lowlight, but still I think it finds its focus faster than I would, but not as fast as the Nikkor.

I should add here that Nikon has upgraded their 18-200 adding a zoom lock. I've played with one and not only have they added that zoom lock, but it doesn't seem to creep nearly as much, but that could just be the copy I used. I should also mention that Sigma has come out with their Sigma 18-250 OS which I was lucky enough to use for a month. That is just one super fine lens. It focuses fast and I think it finds its focus better in low light than the Tamron 18-270. Also this new Sigma has a super quiet motor, though I've never really been bothered by the sound of a focusing lens.

By reading other reviews of these lenses, I've learned that they are all subject to zoom creep, so I suppose in the main, I've been lucky. All of these lenses are very good, at least all of the copies I've used. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend any of them. However, if you go with Nikon, you're going to be paying an awful lot more. You get a slightly faster lens on the long end and you get Nikon quality, but Sigma and Tamron give quality as well and Tamron warranties their lenses for six years, so they're pretty confident that they're building a great product (and now they're part of Sony).

So through my whole super zoom experience, which one do I wind up using the most? You guessed it, that Sigma I bought five years ago. Like the proverbial Timax, "It takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'." If the day is bright and I'm going people shooting it's the one I put on my camera, because it's light and it's images are true.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

So convenient for travel, Sunday, 27 December 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
I am using this lens on my D90. I got this lens in July to replace my 18-55 VR and 55-200 VR. I now only carry this lens when I travel. It is so nice to only carry one lens. I never need to worry about missing a shot cause I had the wrong lens on my camera. My only complaint is the lens creeps open when I walk around. When I first got it it stayed closed when it was at 18mm. After a month it would creep open no matter where it was at. I wish Nikon would put some kind of lock on it to prevent the creep when you are not taking photos. I'd like to give this lens 4.5 stars because of the lens creeping open, but I can't, so I'll round up to 5 stars.
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0 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Nikon 18-200mm Lens, Saturday, 21 November 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
3.0
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
3.0
AF Speed
2.0
Value for Money
3.0
I had high hopes for this lense because of reviews and Ken Rockwell's e-column. The price kept me from purchasing it, but recently I was able to buy it and I was excited to try it out. I had to return it because I had a problem with auto-focusing, especially on close objects. Also, it was extremely heavy compared to the Nikkor lense I now use. I have arthritis in my thumb and it was difficult for me to use the lense because of its weight. Amazon was great about the return -- I fully expected to have to pay the usual 10 or 15% "restocking fee" and also return shipping, but to my surprise Amazon did not require either of those. Amazon's return policies incent me to purchase more items from them in the future.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Nikon 18-200 DX VR, Thursday, 12 November 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
4.0
Sharpness
3.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
5.0
This Nikon 18-200 VR DX is a big, fat, somewhat heavy lens. It is also the only lens you will even need for your Nikon DX size DSLR unless you are a fringe photographer with special needs like low light/action, extreme concealability or ultra-wide angles of view. Sure other lenses would be nice to fill up your bag but you can make 98% of every shot with this one lens that you would have made with 5 other lenses and you will not need to waste time and bother with changing lenses and chance getting dust inside your camera body. This one $$$ lens will save you $$$$ on the other 4 lenses you don't need anymore. Save up and get this one and spend the rest of your time and money making better photographs.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Great lens, Sunday, 01 November 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
4.5
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
The lens arrived in perfect condition just 3 days after placing the order. Amazingly fast service.
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