nikon 18-200 vs sigma 18-250mm?

O

oldson

Suspended / Banned
Messages
201
Name
simon
Edit My Images
Yes
i am looking for a good allround zoom to replace my kit lens (18-105 vr)
will be looking at selling the kit lens to offset the cost.
i am stuck on the two following lenses and any advice would be appreciated.

nikon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 G AF-s DX VR @ £525, or
sigma 18-250mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM @ £499

has anyone used boyh of these?
cant find any direct comparison reviews anywhere.
cheers folks:)
 
Price's are a bit high ain't they ..I'm sure you can pick up a 55-200mm VR nikkor len's for £200?? :suspect:



-Edit-

And then i realized it's 18-200mm. What a dipstick :bonk:

Delete this post please lol :bang:
 
It's unlikely you'll find someone who's owned both as they are similar lenses at similar prices. I've been using the 18-200VR for over a year as a walkabout lens and been very happy with the output for the money. Most of the shots I post on here are taken with it. In general Nikon lenses are better quality than Sigma, and unless you need the extra 50mm it's not worth going for the Sigma in my opinion.
 
Have a look on www.dpreview.com lens review section, they have tested the Nikon Tamron and Sigma versions of the 18-200ish range lenses.
I had the Nikon 18-200vr and loved it. A lot of people will knock it but there are far more who accept it for what it is and are very pleased with its results, me included.
Wish I had never sold mine!

Allan
 
I cannot compare them as I have only used the 18-200vr. It is a fine lens which I will only be selling as it is a crop sensor lens otherwise I would be keeping it. It has such a wide range that you can just leave it on the camera and it makes a fine walk around lens.
 
Can't comment on the Sigma but I had the Nikon for around a year and never really took to it. It was way too soft for my liking on most of my shots, with the occasional pin sharp result just to make it all the more annoying. I never did figure out why I found it so uneven - maybe it was user error, but I don't think so. My feeling is that it is covering just too wide a range.
 
aberal said:
Can't comment on the Sigma but I had the Nikon for around a year and never really took to it. It was way too soft for my liking on most of my shots, with the occasional pin sharp result just to make it all the more annoying. I never did figure out why I found it so uneven - maybe it was user error, but I don't think so. My feeling is that it is covering just too wide a range.
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you mean. I remember looking at some photos I'd taken which were soft with horrible bokeh/blurry background and thinking "this lens has to go" and then looking at a few other shots which were lovely and sharp and just great images. Threw spanners in the works. In the end, I thought if it's not going to be consistent, I'm getting rid and I did. If I was going away and I only had room for one lens though, I'd probably pick one up again.
 
Defiance said:
It's unlikely you'll find someone who's owned both as they are similar lenses at similar prices. I've been using the 18-200VR for over a year as a walkabout lens and been very happy with the output for the money. Most of the shots I post on here are taken with it. In general Nikon lenses are better quality than Sigma, and unless you need the extra 50mm it's not worth going for the Sigma in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Ditto.
 
welly said:
I know exactly what you mean. I remember looking at some photos I'd taken which were soft with horrible bokeh/blurry background and thinking "this lens has to go" and then looking at a few other shots which were lovely and sharp and just great images. Threw spanners in the works. In the end, I thought if it's not going to be consistent, I'm getting rid and I did. If I was going away and I only had room for one lens though, I'd probably pick one up again.
Click to expand...

This is the lens I use 95% of the time and I love it for a walkabout, but recently I have had the same thoughts as that of welly in the above post. I can't see me getting rid of this lens but it does frustrate the hell out of me sometimes and delight me straight after.

A recent set of examples if your interested Samples of 18-200mm ..... Link Here

Paul
 
thanks for the replies guys.
i am edging towards the nikon, as there will be more used ones available.
in view of some of the "less than glowing" references, i dont fancy paying the premium for a new one.
cheers
 
I sold my 18-200 for the same reasons as a few people have mentioned, lack of consistency. Also the lens tended to "creep" which got pretty annoying on a long walk.

It's not a bad walkabout lens by any stretch but I'd rather have the 18-55 and 55-200 combo or maybe a nice 50mm which forces you to be creative and to actually think more about each photo.

Do you really need the extra reach, I found I rarely used it and when I did the results weren't always that good. Perhaps go for a lens with less range but a higher quality.
 
there will be a compromise with those lenses but you know that
the tamron ones are okay I've heard but no OS/VR on most of them
 
oldson said:
thanks for the replies guys.
i am edging towards the nikon, as there will be more used ones available.
in view of some of the "less than glowing" references, i dont fancy paying the premium for a new one.
cheers
Click to expand...

Probably a wise decision. But the truth of the matter is that you are making a compromise. That's ok, we all do, because we have to - there is no such thing as a lens which does it all. Personally, I've narrowed my horizons and gone for a 17-55 DX which just about covers it all for a walkabout in DX format. I'd love the longer reach and get a lens which would get me the close ups with everything else I want, but it's just not possible nowadays. Maybe some time in the future...?
 
just as a matter of interest. how would you guys compare the quality of the nikon 18-200vr with that of my kit 18-105 vr?
cheers
 
This is news to me, perhaps I had an exceptional copy? My 18-200 was so SHARP on my D70 it was unreal! And I do look at my pics 100%. In fairness haven't tried it much with my D200 so it might be a case that the jump from 6MP to 10MP won't do it any favours..
 
I'm glad I'm not the only one, I've had my 18-200 for a ciuple of years now and have always been disappointed by the consistency. I've just come back from Cuba which is heaven in photographic terms, particularly if you like cars, but again I'm looking at some of my shots and they can be so soft one minute and pin sharp the next. Maybe I'm getting old and my hands just shake more than they used to. Having said that I wouldn't really know what to replace it with, I don't want to cary lots of gear with me so I guess I'll have to accept the compromise until something better turns up.
 
I know you were not looking at this lens to begin with, but it matches the Nikon in terms of focal length and features. The Sigma 18-200mm OS could save you a lot of money and it came out on top in a test between 5 or so telephoto zoom lenses in the april issue of Digital Photo. It was compared along side the Nikon and won.

Here is the conclusion to the review:

Digital Photo - April 2009
‘It works a treat, with sharp shots achievable at 1/15sec at 200mm. Snatching the Digital Photo Gold Award is the Sigma 18-200mm DC OS. It’s well made and highly featured…it performs really well, with the OS anti-shake system working a treat. Optically, this was the best lens we tested, just nudging ahead of the Canon and Nikon 18-200mm models. And as for the price, at £299 it’s the cheapest lens on test, so in our books that makes it top dog.'
Click to expand...

Go here for more info: http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lenses/dclenses/18-200mmOS.htm
 
voodoochild said:
I know you were not looking at this lens to begin with, but it matches the Nikon in terms of focal length and features. The Sigma 18-200mm OS could save you a lot of money and it came out on top in a test between 5 or so telephoto zoom lenses in the april issue of Digital Photo. It was compared along side the Nikon and won.

Here is the conclusion to the review:



Go here for more info: http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lenses/dclenses/18-200mmOS.htm
Click to expand...

thats worth a look, thanks:thumbs:
 
still havent given up hope of the 18-250 sigma.
cant find much in the way of reviews.
i am slightly put off , the nikon, with so many of you saying it is inconsistent!
will keep looking, for now.
thanks to you all for your replies:thumbs:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top