Discount Sale Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR II Nikkor Telephoto Zoom Lens

New ultra-high ratio zoom lens AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II for use expressly with Nikon DX-format digital-SLR cameras. A number of unique Nikon technologies have been developed for, and applied to, including a high zoom magnification of 11.1x, a Vibration Reduction (VR II) image stabilization system that provides camera shake compensation equivalent to increases in shutter speed by four stops, and a Silent Wave Motor (SWM), as well as a zoom lock switch. Designed expressly for use with Nikon digital-SLR cameras, exceptional image performance is assured. As the compact AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II covers an extremely wide range of focal lengths (18-200mm, equivalent to 27-300mm in 35mm format; a zoom magnification of 11.1x), it offers excellent versatility for various scenes that include portraits and landscapes. The addition of a zoom lock switch allows photographers to secure the lens barrel at its minimum length, eliminating the natural gravitational effect that can draw the barrel downward during transport. This lens offers superior optical performance in a compact size of just 77 x 96.5 mm, despite a high zoom magnification of 11.1x. Nikon's Silent Wave Motor (SWM) assures fast and quiet autofocusing. The Vibration Reduction system (VR II) provides camera shake compensation equivalent to increases in shutter speed by four steps. Two Vibration Reduction modes are available.

I believe it was Thom Hogan who described this lens as not perfect but really good at everything. That's the review in a nutshell.
Sigma 10-20mm, Nikon 14-24Mm, Canon EF-S 55-250mm, Lensbaby Composer, Sigma 120-300mm, Tokina AF 100mm, Teleconverter 2x 7LMC, Sigma 10mm, Pentax smc DA 12-24mm, Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX, Panasonic H-FS100300E, Pentax smc DA 50-135mm, Sigma AF18-200mm, Canon EF1528 , Opteka 500-1000mm, Marumi 77mm, Tamron AF 18-200mm, Canon EF 20mm, Canon EF-S 18-135, Canon EF 70-200mm, Sony SAL-16105, Lensbaby Composer, Sanyo 4.6 , Sigma 24-70mm, SAMYANG 8 mm, Sigma 17-50mm, Sigma 24-70mm, Sony 16-80mm, Tamron AF 70-300mm, Nikon Af-S 300Mm, Tamron AF 28-300mm, Canon ANGC, Lensbaby Sweet, Tokina AF 10-17mm, Canon EF 100-400mm, Sony SEL24F, Opteka 500mm, Opteka 800mm, Pentax SMC 35mm, Sigma 8mm, Canon 2XEF II
This is what I would term a prosumer lens. It certainly is not cheap yet it does not have the build quality of Nikon's top-of-the-line. The barrel, for example, is plastic rather than metal. I fear that a drop would be catastrophic and even a hard bang on the edge of a table might do serious damage if the lens was fully extended. On the other hand, this lens is a lot less expensive than those in the Nikon pro line. In addition, the lens is much lighter and easier to carry than it would be were it made entirely of metal.

It is my understanding that the only meaningful difference between this lens (the VR II) and its immediate predecessor is the addition of a cam lock to prevent lens creep. My own sample doesn't creep at all, even with the cam unlocked but apparently that has been a significant irritant for a number of buyers.

The use of "VR II" in the name is potentially misleading because it may lead shoppers to believe that the VR system has been improved over the original model. This is not the case. Both the original 18-200 and the new version contain Nikon's second generation VR system. Some have suggested that Nikon's marketing is a bit shady on this point while others counter that the "II" simply designates a new model.

Sharpness is less than absolute across the entire range but more than adequate for anything that an amateur, or even most professionals, is likely to need. There is mild to moderate distortion, more marked at the focal length extremes but scarcely visible in the vast majority of images and readily correctable in Photoshop, DxO, or other post-processing software. Contrast is crisp and I find the lens surprisingly free of flaring and ghosting.

No one should buy this lens thinking that it will make him/her a better photographer. Good photography is in the mind and the eye, not in camera. What the 18-200 will do, though, is provide a one-lens solution to the great majority of focal length needs, minimizing the need to tote a hefty bag full of lenses. It happens that, as a long time Nikon user, I have such a bag. Despite all the choices at my disposal, my 18-200 probably stays on my camera 85-90% of the time.

Folks who are obsessed with numbers, charts, and MTF curves will probably fret over the 18-200, taking delight in pointing out every little defect. For the rest of us, the only significant downside that I see is that the lens is not ideally suited for extended service in rough environments or adverse weather situations. Since most of us seldom shoot in such circumstances, this should not be much of a problem.

I heartily recommend the Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G AF-S ED VR II (whew! what a mouthful) to any advanced amateur or professional seeking a highly usable wide range zoom.

There are a lot of reviews comparing every feature of the lense. They are long, detailed, but more confusing than helpful. So I'll try to keep it short.
Canon EF 16-35mm, Sigma 105mm, Sigma 70-300mm, Canon EF-S 10-22mm, Sigma 19mm, Sigma 18-250mm, SIGMA Lenses, Olympus 14-42mm, Canon EF 28mm, Sony High Zoom, Sony Alpha 75-300mm, Olympus 75-300mm, Tamron SP AF 28-75mm, Sigma 105mm, Lensbaby Composer, Nikon 70-300mm , Sigma 17-70 mm, Sigma 17-70 mm, Panasonic Micro Four, Canon EF-S 17-85mm, Tamron SP AF 70-200mm,. Olympus VF-2, Opteka 650-2600mm, Olympus FCON-P01, Sigma 24-70mm, Canon EF 85mm, Tamron - AF 200-500mm, Nikon 55-200MM, Tokina ATX, Sigma 19mm, PENTAX SMC DA, LENSBABY Composer PRO, Tokina ATX , Sigma 105mm, Tamron AF 18-200mm, Nikon 17-55mm, Sigma 85mm, Sigma 85mm, Sigma 24-70mm, Canon EF-S Zoom, Canon EF 8-15mm
Let's say you a typical amature photographer. You take all kinds of pictures in all kinds of conditions. So what lense would be the best?

You can probably live with some minor distortions but nothing gives you as much freedom as a wide range zoom. If you shoot inside a room, you really need 18 m on a low end. The smaller the number the wider the angle and the more people you can squeeze into the frame from the other side of party table. Every mm here makes a big difference. So 18 mm on the low end is pretty much a must have. On the longer end, well, the bigger the better. However, if you that also means heavier and it also means much harder to take good pictures because on a long zoom range the camera gets less light, it's sensitive to shaking hands and the lense distortion is getting worse. Also it's more expensive.

So bottom line is - if you can afford the Nikon 18-200 mm lense - go for it. That will be your single all around lense and you won't feel sorry. If it's too pricey - check out the 18-105 mm one. Think about it this way - there are a lot of specialized lenses but really only a few all-around ones. So 80% people really need to choose between only 3: 18-55, 18-105 and 18-200 and the biggest factor here is how much you can afford. So it's actually not that complicated.