Nikon 18-200mm VR —Lens Review

The Nikon 18-200mm VR Nikkor zoom lens is a great,everyday lens. It pairs nicely with my Nikon D300. Even though I do appreciate the superior quality of a prime lens,the Nikon 18-200mm VR is a strong performer for its price point.

Here is the Nikon 18-200mm VR lens:

Nikon 18-200mm VR Lens

Having the range of 18mm to 200mm in one lens is great to have at a moment’s notice. This lens is in my bag almost all the time::more times than not,it’s what’s already on my D300. Overall the lens produces sharp,high-quality images. Competitors such as Tamron and Sigma offer lenses with comparable zoom,but by all the accounts I’ve read,the Nikkor is superior. Also,the Nikon 18-200mm VR lens will work on the Nikon D40 which comes without an AF motor in the camera body.

It’s worth noting the main feature that sets this lens apart from all others in its class —Vibration Reduction (VR). While the Vibration Reduction doesn’t always eliminate the necessity of a tripod,it does help with most photographs. Essentially,VR compensates for camera shake. There are two Vibration reduction modes on the Nikkor 18-200mm,Active and Normal.  Active VR mode compensates for continuous vibrations:: Normal compensates for random shake. Both work well.

Here is the Nikon 18-200mm VR lens on my Nikon D300.

Nikon 18-200mm on D300

Nikon D300 with 18-200mm VR

Nikon 18-200mm VR Facts

• Introduced,November 2005
• Current (2009) price,$699 USD

I invite everyone to consider my other reviews if time permits.