Lens advice

springlea

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Brian
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I am thinking of buying a Nikon 18-200 lens but have read some reports about a problem of lens creep has any one had an experience with this.
 
From what I've read and watched, it certainly does suffer from lens creep. In my opinion, if you have any part of the range this lens provides already covered, it's not worth it. A lens with such a big focal range will always mean compromise unfortunately.
 
The AFS 18-200 is a very good lens in my opinion. Yes in has a large range but that is one of its big pluses. Yes there are compromises but for most purposes they make little difference. With a reasonable aperture it is sharp enough.

If you point the camera straight up in the air without holding it then YES the lens will drop back to wide again and if you look straight downwards it will zoom out BUT don't you hold your camera with your other hand???? To creep you need to go beyond about 60 degrees without holding the lens! This is not really a major problem.
 
the latest version has a lock button to stop it :)

It does BUT you don't need it as when you hold your camera with the lens on, one hand is on the lens. The only time it would matter is IF your camera was on a tripod AND point virtually straight up or down.
 
I wouldn't let the zoom creep put you off the 18-200 - or any other lens for that matter.

From all I've read and heard the 18-200mm is a cracking lens, super versatile and pretty sharp considering the long range it covers. If I had a DX body it would be sitting top of my list as a walkabout/travel lens.

Just to add, my 24-105L creeps from wide to racked out when I point it farther than 60˚ downward (on the tripod over my shoulder for example) and that's meant to be one of Canons decent lenses but it doesn't affect its usage on the tripod when set up or hand holding...
 
Zoom creep was an issue with the very first 18-200mm lenses, however Nikon soon addressed the issue, so any new examples (or most used ones) should be fine.
 
Springlea,

What type of images do you want to take? I can see what examples I have using the 18-200 but you can search on flickr for that lens. The reality is that is is a decent enough lens. No is isn't as good as a 12-24 f2.8 + 24-70 f2.8 + 70-200 f2.8 but then it is about £500 rather than nearly £4000 !
 
18-200 is a cracking lens I sold mine when I went full frame. If I went back to a D300 again it would be one of hte first lenses I would buy
 
Thanks for all of your replys I have the 18-105 kit lens i want to upgrade to the 18-200 instead of have in to keep changing to my 55-200.
 
Just seen the new 18-200 today and the lock switch just locks it at 18. Quality is the same so might be worth finding an older one cheap!
 
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