RG wrote:
Thanks, Reg. I guess I'll just keep my 70-200 VR lens and put up with the
added 2lbs. I appreciate the link.
--

John, I would hope you would make your decision on some better source than
the laughable "test" done by the original poster to the Nikonians forum. If
you read all the posts in that thread, you would see a common theme that
there was something seriously wrong with either the "tester's" technique or
his lens. The 18-200 shots of the card file he uses for his analysis are a
complete disaster, and not indicative of a number of 18-200 photos posted
later in the thread by others, or certainly of my own experience. Geez,
even Harry admitted that the boat in the Breezy Point photo was "sharp as a
tack", and I would agree. No sane person would ever try and put the 18-200
at the same level of the 70-200 in terms of optical quality or build
quality. Of course they're not at the same level of price and bulk, either.
If you really research this lens, you'll find that the vast majority of
owners are quite happy with it. Personally, I find the freedom offered by
the extended range of the lens to be quite liberating. But then I shoot
photos simply for the personal joy of it. I don't make my living with
photography, and I'm not looking to win any technical awards. So anything
that makes the experience more enjoyable is a positive. The 18-200 is
simply a delight to shoot with. Mine hasn't been off the camera since I got
it. Well worth the $692 I paid for it. I would think that lens on your
D200 would be a nearly unbeatable combination. I'll be giving the D80 a
hard look later this year.



RG,

Your summary of the review is what I would have expect anyone to come
from reading that thread, except that the review was laughable. It
highlighted an issue I have picked up from reading numerous other
personal reviews in forums and that is the Quality Control issue. I
have read where one person has seen various degrees of sharpness using
different 18-200 lens on the exact same camera. So I really don't think
the original posters test is "laughable", I think it was a great test,
that highlighted an important issue for anyone who wants to buy this
really nice "all in one" lens. If you buy the lens and and it is soft
as a marshmallow, exchange it for another one. It will not be as sharp
as a pro lens, but it will be a nice lens. I still have my lens on
order and will not cancel my order. I will A/B photos and decide if I
want to keep it, if I don't want to keep it, I will sell it on bay and
make money. The reason I believe John will see the difference between
the lens is he likes to photograph wildlife and crop and blowup the
images, this does highlight the differences in the sharpness between a
pro lens and a really nice lens such as the 18-200. There are many
people who elect to keep both lens, for different applications.

You and I really agree 100% on the quality on 18-200 lens.