Nikon 18-200 VR

[Carmen]

Yes, I've decided that I should get the lens I probably should have got in the first place.... the Nikon 18-200 VR.

I expect if I get this I'll end up selling my Sigma 17-70 F2.8-4.5 as although the Siggy is faster at the wide end at least, the lack of VR probably cancels the difference out and more... I may also end up selling the 70-300 as well.

Everyone raves so much about this lens and my research suggests that once it's on the D200 it probably won't ever come off unless I fancy a session with the little 50mm prime. Sounds good to me, I'm all for not lugging loads of kit around.

I've heard rumours about a new version of the 18-200 coming out, anyone know when this will be? I won't get the new version but it might mean there's a bargain old version to be had eventually.

[Stevepud]

Hi Carmen, dont forget to check for Lens Creep is you look at pre-owned 18-200's

I'm sure mine suffers... If you point the camera down, the lens got to full tele, and when you point the lens to the sky, it creeps back to wide. I'm assuming thats what is meant by the phrase Lens Creep - I read somewhere that Nikon want £200 to fix that.
I'm sure I read somewhere that they fixed that on the new one, but thats going tobe >£500 I guess.

Its just a bit annoying, but hasnt affected me yet, as I havent left the camera on a tripod at an angle.

S

[Carmen]

Yes I've read that is a problem on the 18-200 old version. The new version is supposed to fix that. I think it's a minor issue - although your post suggests that Nikon can fix it? for £200 unless it's a major issue I think I'd live with it.

I have never noticed a problem with lens creep on my sigma lenses, even though the 17-70 does have a lock button (though it only works when it's at wideangle to stop lens creep during storage) I've never used it.

[David Worthington]

that lens / camera combo is EXACTLY what I have alongside the D300 with 17-55...and ya know what...they can hardly be seperated...I dont care which one i shoot a wedding with...both are brill...and the D200 18-200 is what i take with me for just fooling around / hols etc etc

old version lens creeps...who cares ...not meeeeee

[Carmen]

Oooh exciting. I want it NOW!

I know any wide range zoom lens is a compromise but this one does look to be very sound and very versatile.

I like my Sigma 17-70, it's a good lens, but it's a huge heavy beast of a lens, F2.8 is useful but it's only available at wide angle where as the VR on the 18-200 is available all the way through.

[Stevepud]

that lens / camera combo is EXACTLY what I have alongside the D300 with 17-55...and ya know what...they can hardly be seperated...I dont care which one i shoot a wedding with...both are brill...and the D200 18-200 is what i take with me for just fooling around / hols etc etc

old version lens creeps...who cares ...not meeeeee



Well David, If someone of your level has this kit and isn't worried about lens creep - I dont think I'll ever have to be concerend by it then. Which is good to know.

And If I ever get into a situation where it's an issue, I'll bung an elastic band round it an that'll stop it!

Cheers



Steve

[David Worthington]

which is which ?????:crazy:

ya cant tell...??????

QED !!!:laugh1:

[~~Julie~~]

I have lens creep on my 18-200VR and I was worrying about it, but if you're not worried Dave, then I can stop worrying too! Thanks for that!

I do have a slight issue with focus on the 18-200, not quite sure what it is, but I'm fine with other lenses, just every so often with the 18-200 my focus seems way out - still got to figure that out!

Sorry Carmen - your thread!! Yup great lens, perfect for your 200! And I bet you can't wait!!! :)

[Carmen]

the 18-200 my focus seems way out - still got to figure that out!

Sorry Carmen - your thread!! Yup great lens, perfect for your 200! And I bet you can't wait!!! :)

LOL, gotta figure out where to get it from, how much to pay and whether to wait a while (if I can) to see if the V2 comes out before I go for it....

... not sure I can wait but at over £400 even second hand it's a good way to make me wait.

I promised myself no expensive photography purchases this month. So far I'm doing good but we're only on day 4 :laugh1::laugh1:

[David Worthington]

dunno about the focus prob julie....I assume you know to hold the button down for 1 sec to give the VR time to engage before shooting ?

wanna guess which is which above.


sorry carmen...its your thread and the scousers nicked it !!!

[Carmen]

dunno about the focus prob julie....I assume you know to hold the button down for 1 sec to give the VR time to engage before shooting ?
sorry carmen...its your thread and the scousers nicked it !!!

LOL, I'm very guilty of nicking threads so don't worry!

Waiting 1sec is something I'd have to get used to too, as on my panasonic compacts the optical stabilisation has two modes, one where it works ALL THE TIME so you cans see the effect on the liveview screen or electronic view finder, and one where it worked only when you pressed the button. mode 2 was supposed to be more effective but I never used it, as mode 1 was so effective anyway. I guess I'm not used to waiting so that will take a bit of getting used to.

[~~Julie~~]

dunno about the focus prob julie....I assume you know to hold the button down for 1 sec to give the VR time to engage before shooting ?

wanna guess which is which above.


sorry carmen...its your thread and the scousers nicked it !!!

I do do the 1 sec thingy, but then again sometimes, especially with kids, 1 sec is a long time to keep focused!!! Just more practise with the VR I think!

Nope sorry, can't tell which lens is which - I'll go with a guess of 17-55 on the wine and 18-200 on the couple??

[David Worthington]

you could only be wrong once ...but you werent !!!!! its correct....take any prize off the bottom shelf !!!

[~~Julie~~]

you could only be wrong once ...but you werent !!!!! its correct....take any prize off the bottom shelf !!!

Aww thanks Dave!! :grin:

[Chris Hawkins]

The lens creep is a very minor pain IMHO. New 18-200 (with zoom lock) will be out in 3 months or so. I suspect current versions will drop in price - wait of you can.

I regret selling mine - and the D300.

[~~Julie~~]

I regret selling mine - and the D300.

Well I'm certainly glad you sold it!! lol! :)

[Chris Hawkins]

Well I'm certainly glad you sold it!! lol! :)

I'm sure you are :-)

For me it did 90% of what I wanted for a quarter of the size and weight of D700 and FF lenses. Just what I need sometimes :-)

[Carmen]

The lens creep is a very minor pain IMHO. New 18-200 (with zoom lock) will be out in 3 months or so. I suspect current versions will drop in price - wait of you can.

I regret selling mine - and the D300.

Cool, I think even I can wait that long, it'll give me some time to save up too!

EDIT: Warehouse express has the VRII version on it's site for £699 saying first stocks are due in Sept. They reckon it has improved functionality and quality, but, confusingly the original version (which they're selling for £529) also uses VRII technology which is the same on the new version... Ken Rockwell reckons the only difference is the zoom lock and maybe a difference in feel of the zoom, no optical difference, though this is not what the bumf suggests on WE. Still doesn't seem worth the extra £170 to me!

Still £529 is still rather a lot.... unless it comes down in September I'm going for a pre-owned one...

[Kenny]

HI Carmen

I have am 18-200 VR and you may have spotted it living on my lens at Tiny's do at twickers.It never really leaves my cam and its a fantastic lens.Im just sad that I may have to part with it in september when I get my uni funding as Im determined to go full frame and will have to sell all my current gear to fund it-including the 18-200.I wish there was some way I could use it on the D700 as this is the one lens I cannot bear to part with.

Ive never been disappointed with this lens.Its been my best friend on the cam and if it worked properly with a D700 then I would keep it.

Bessy regs

Kenny

[Carmen]

Well if you do sell it Kenny...... give me first refusal!

[Kenny]

HI Carmen

if I do sell it I cant think of a better home Id like the lens to go to.This lens holds very sentimental value to me.It was given to me at my very first forum meeting with my other forum as a total surprise.My friend who passed away two years ago brought it down and asked me if I wanted to borrow it for the meeting.I took it with me but was scared to use it and half way though our forum meeting he took me to one side and said to me " why arent you using the lens Kenny"

To which I replied " Im too scared too.Its a very expensive lens and I fear if I damage it I could never find the money to replace it."

Then he said to me " But its your lens Kenny" he was testing me to see if I liked the lens and it transpired that people on the forum were " in on it" and it was my birthday surprise.My friend was very ill on that meet and never told me and its really hard for me to come to terms with selling the lens but I know my friend wouldnt mind if it meant both going to a good home with someone who would think as much of the lens as I do and would also enable me to progress.

Im going to have to think about what I do but be assured that if I do sell the lens the Id be happy to see it go to you.

Bessy regs

Kenny

[Carmen]

ah Ben what a nightmare. I guess these things do happen sometimes. I'll bear that in mind. I'll keep an eye on the new price of the old version (assuming there's any left when the new one comes out).

[fenboy]

If it`s any help to you Carmen,i bought my 18-200 a few months ago ,before the price increases, from Jessops.They let me try several before i decided and i managed to find one with no lens creep.It`s never off my cameras and still no lens creep.So i would try before you buy and see if you can find a fairly tight but smooth one.They are about.I paid £399 for mine ,after a bit of negotiation which was equal to the best price online at the time.
Good Hunting,

John Turner:):)

[Carmen]

If it`s any help to you Carmen,i bought my 18-200 a few months ago ,before the price increases, from Jessops.They let me try several before i decided and i managed to find one with no lens creep.It`s never off my cameras and still no lens creep.So i would try before you buy and see if you can find a fairly tight but smooth one.They are about.I paid £399 for mine ,after a bit of negotiation which was equal to the best price online at the time.
Good Hunting,

John Turner:):)

If it was £399 now I'd snap it up! £699.99 for the version 2 does seem a bit steep. Still I guess even if I did end up paying £500 for an old version (new) I don't think I'd regret it... would I?

[fenboy]

If it was £399 now I'd snap it up! £699.99 for the version 2 does seem a bit steep. Still I guess even if I did end up paying £500 for an old version (new) I don't think I'd regret it... would I?

No Carmen IMHO you would definitely not regret buying one of these.

John Turner:):)

[Carmen]

No Carmen IMHO you would definitely not regret buying one of these.

John Turner:):)

Expensive purchase, but you're right I already don't regret it one bit.

I took it out last night to take some snapshots at a barbeque, it was very, very dark, but the lens mostly focussed OK, at least way better than any of my other lenses would have, even the F1.8 prime, or the F2.8-4 zoom I just sold. It did hunt on occasion but we're talking so dark that I could never have seen to manually focus. That was even just using the inbuilt AF assist light which is actually partially obscured by the lens - I didn't even use an external flash.

To say I'm impressed is an understatement and a half.:ok:

[fenboy]

Right Carmen,that`s got the 18-200 sorted.Told you ,you would not regret it.
Now whats next.I think maybe you would want the Nikon 70-200 mm VR f2.8.Just thought i would put it in your mind and you can add it to your shopping list.LOL
Oh and i haven`t got one yet either.

John Turner:):)

[Carmen]

Right Carmen,that`s got the 18-200 sorted.Told you ,you would not regret it.
Now whats next.I think maybe you would want the Nikon 70-200 mm VR f2.8.Just thought i would put it in your mind and you can add it to your shopping list.LOL
Oh and i haven`t got one yet either.

John Turner:):)

LOL. Don't get me started - you're a bad influence, you'll be telling me to get a D700 next (would love to but.....). Luckily constant 2.8's are way out of my budget and as I have no professional need for one.....