Which lens for general use

[Crabbegom]

i have a Nikon D80 and I'm looking towards a holiday when I don't want to carry or keep changing lens,so I'm looking at The NIKON 18-200 VR. The Tamron 18-270 or the Sigma 18-250 both the latter have there system of VR I would be glad to have anybody's experience of any of these or even better a comparison. Cheers and thanks

 

[OutLore]

i have a Nikon D80 and I'm looking towards a holiday when I don't want to carry or keep changing lens,so I'm looking at The NIKON 18-200 VR. The Tamron 18-270 or the Sigma 18-250 both the latter have there system of VR I would be glad to have anybody's experience of any of these or even better a comparison. Cheers and thanks

I have an 18-200, but you have to bear in mind the lens is a compromise. Having said that, it's good for times when you are lacking in space, or just don't want to carry much around. IQ is acceptable, it can be a little soft at times but this is easily "fixed" in PP.

VR system works well - it's a good all round, walkabout lens.

I've never tried the other two though.

 

[grahamc]

After a lot of looking around and considering a lot of the same lenses you are looking at, for my everyday/walkabout lens, I have choosen the nikon 16-85mm VR

 

[arclight]

I have an 18-200, but you have to bear in mind the lens is a compromise. Having said that, it's good for times when you are lacking in space, or just don't want to carry much around. IQ is acceptable, it can be a little soft at times but this is easily "fixed" in PP.

VR system works well - it's a good all round, walkabout lens.

I've never tried the other two though.

I have a Tamron 18 - 270. A little disappointed in it sharpness wise.
It covers a very large range so I suppose there have to be compromises.

 

[ian ditch]

i have the nikon 18-200mm and it's never of my camera. people seem to say that this lens is a compromise but as an every day use lens i couldn't recommend it more. buy a newer one as the older ones suffered with lens creep.

 

[BB44]

i have the nikon 18-200mm and it's never of my camera. people seem to say that this lens is a compromise but as an every day use lens i couldn't recommend it more. buy a newer one as the older ones suffered with lens creep.

I'd agree Ian, can't seem to get mine off my camera either. Do you get any, er, air through your viewfinder when usin the zoom? When i had the lens on my old D40 it fairly whistled into the eye!

 

[OutLore]

I'd agree Ian, can't seem to get mine off my camera either. Do you get any, er, air through your viewfinder when usin the zoom? When i had the lens on my old D40 it fairly whistled into the eye!

Really? I'll have to try that on Mrs OutLore's D40 when I get the lens back.... It definately doesn't do it with a D200 :shrug:

 

[ian ditch]

I'd agree Ian, can't seem to get mine off my camera either. Do you get any, er, air through your viewfinder when usin the zoom? When i had the lens on my old D40 it fairly whistled into the eye!

yeah! you do feel a whosh of air thru the veiwfinder when you zoom the lens in, also this lens is so bulky that you get a semi-circle of shadow on your subject when you use the built in flash - well, i get both on my d40x!

fantastic lens though. ha ha ha

 

[fyonn]

I've got a nikon 18-200 and I find it a good general purpose lens. I've used it on a D50, and hopefully soon a D300. Never felt any whoosh of air though, and afaik, that zoom creep when pointed directly up or down was never fixed was it? my lens is fairly new (late last year) and it does it. doesn't really bother me as I rarely take pics directly up or down

dave