Nikon 18-200 Review
Check Latest Lens Prices
- Nikon 18-200mm – A perfectly versatile lens that can do just about anything you need!
- Approx Cost: $750-$790
- See Latest Prices on Amazon – Nikon 18-200
- See Latest Prices on B&H – Nikon 18-200
- Approx Cost: $750-$790
The Nikon 18-200 Lens
I have only just received mine. So far, it’s pretty incredible… consider this a placeholder for an upcoming review.
Why I bought it
As regulars know from the website here, I love to do landscape photography. I find myself switching lenses a lot. Maybe too much. I switch between my 24-70 and my 70-200 quite a bit! Having all that range in a single lens will be a big help. A downside on this lens is that it is not as “fast” as each of those other two are separately, but this is not an issue, 95% of the time, with landscape photography.
The 18-200 lens fully retracted at 18mm on the body of a Nikon D3X
The Nikon 18-200 lens extended, zooming in on some delicious detail
Any questions about the nature of these reviews? Visit my Ethics Statement. It’s all quite simple!
When you use a DX lens like the 18-200mm with your FX body, doesn’t the resolution drop down to 5.1MP? Why would you use this lens in that case?
My res with the 18-200 is 3928 pixels across as opposed to 6048 pixels across with my 14-24 nikon. So, it is smaller, but still plenty big. It is a concession I will note in the full review for sure.
Looking forward to buying this lens Trey! Although its not as fast, its way more affordable and if your using a tripod for lanscape the slower speed is not really a problem most of the time.
Thanks, Trey. Wonderful website. Just found it yesterday, and appreciate all I’ve seen so far. Thanks for your kind response.
[...] Nikon 18-200 Review [...]
I’ve had this lens for year and a half now and it STAYS on my D90, most of the time with a Nikon 72mm CirPol. Only time I would remove it is to use a prime lens for really low light. Probably about 10,000 frames shot with it so far. It has proven to me to be a very versatile lens and at ~F8 is sharp-as-a-tack…only wish I had a second one for the wife’s camera
I shot some Airshow pics at Burnet, TX last weekend and I have been really amazed at how well it handled and AF’d – I only flubbed focus on about 15 or so frames out of nearly 1200 shot that weekend.
Trey, While you’re at it, could you tell us a little about your tripod setup? Thanks.
Is that a “Really Right Stuff” ballhead on the top of your Gitzo tripod Trey? Big sucker!
Hey, I own one of these. First gen type. Sweet lens for traveling but quite a bad performer for low light. You get focus hunting in low light but in good available light it performs!
I am definitely looking into getting something similar. Switching lenses gets old quick! Not to mention, when you need a telephoto lens it’s usually right away. Plus I’m all about lightening the load. Thanks for the article and the encouragement.
Thanks -
Ron – I will save that for another review – happy to do so.
Rich – it is a really right stuff head !
I have the lens and use it on my d90 everyday. I have had it for about 6 months and it is a great lens edge to edge. The only downside I could find is the VR noise but you get this with VR/Is lenses.
Hey Zack, when you say noise do you mean audible noise?
I have the 18-200 VR ii and its quiet i thought ?
Dod, VR can omit a barely audible high-pitched noise. Once the VR is at work you can sometimes hear it. Perhaps it’s less evident on the second generation of this lens.
I sold several my older lenses, including the 18-70mm (D70 kit lens) and a more powerful zoom 70-300 for the 18-200 VR1. That’s been years ago and I haven’t regretted it once.
This weekend will be my first attempt at shooting without it. I’m going to try a 80-200 f/2.8 lens for the improved Bokeh and a small wide-angle lens on a second body.
I’m curious about the FX factor too. I’ve read that the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 built for DX sensors works great at the last two millimeters on a full frame. I never thought that it would make sense to use the 18-200 on a FX frame though.
Trey,
I shoot with a full frame camera as well and I’m just dying to know why you are using the 18-200 lens. I still have mine but haven’t used it with the D3 because of the step down in resolution. Thanks for sharing–Dave
Dave,
Well I don’t have the full review up yet – but I know what you mean… You loose resolution, but you gain convenience and flexibility. Since resolutions are already SO HIGH, then you can possibly justify the need for occasional convenience and flexibility in zooms… Much of the importance of megapixels, in many cases, is in our heads! But, i argue against myself in a way here… !
Have traveled in extensively in the last 6 months with my D90 and 18-200mm, and cannot say enough good about it. I’ve bagged shots that would have been impossible with any other lens combination. Example, at Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temple, I’m shooting a landscape at 18mm when I see a wedding party walking toward us. I zoom in a little for a shot of the entire party as they get closer. The bride sees me and smiles. I immediately zoom in further and nail a perfect head shot with her elaborate head gear and a radiant smile–looking directly at me. Time elapsed, under 10 seconds. Did it without taking the camera away from my face. There simply was not enough time to change lenses or bodies before the moment was lost. I will not leave home without this lens.
hi Trey,
This is not a great lens, but a very good lens. However, it’s a perfect travel lens. Anyone ( not a professional travel photographer) traveling with kids and family, knows they can’t stop at every location, change glass and then take pictures. After the first couple of days, it starts driving everyone nuts. This makes a perfect walkaround travel lens. I have been using it over the past year and have been very pleased.
However, don’t underestimate the quality of this lens. If anything, check out the travel photos by this lens by Scott Kelby in his blog. The photographer takes the picture, period….
I thought this lens is meant for camera with cropped sensor, can it work with your D3X and D3S?
It pretty obvious why Trey is making a 18-200 review. Because it one of the best selling lens Nikon has and he will make a lot of money with his affiliate program. There is no reason he would want to use this lens considering it performance and the lens he already own. Like many people already pointed out, it kinda stupid using a DX lens on a FX camera, but it also the most soft lens Nikon is selling right now (abysmal at 135mm). Also 18mm DX is not “that” wide for landscape photography.
Anyway, I love Trey’s work, but I think it a bit dishonest to tell his readers that this lens is incredible…
It a travel lens that will transform your DSLR into a super zoom point and shoot. If there is one lens he should recommend in this price range, it the Tokina 11-16 or something around the same focal length.
I have to agree with John.
The Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens is a gem. I leave the ultra zoom at home and just go out on shoots with the ultra-wide and a Nikon 80-200 f/2.8 lens.
Anyone tried the DX lens on a full frame?
Would you take the 18-200mm over the new 28-300mm (which is FX)?