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Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 AF DC II Lens for all Nikon DSLR Cameras Description:

This lens design incorporates aspherical lenses and SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass that provides the utmost correction for all types of aberrations and enables this extended superzoom lens to be housed in a compact and lightweight construction.The power layout of this lens is exclusively designed to suit the characteristics of digital SLR cameras. Two SLD glass elements and two hybrid aspherical lenses offer outstanding correction of various aberrations and produce high-quality images. SLD glass is especially effective in the compensation of longitudinal chromatic aberration, usually evident in tele-photography, and magnified chromatic aberration caused by wide-angle photography. Aspherical lenses offer excellent correction of spherical aberration and astigmatism. Minimal vignetting and superior peripheral brightness is ensured.The advanced optical design is optimized for digital SLR cameras. In addition, the Super Multi Layer coating on each glass surface produces superb color rendition, while reducing flare and ghosting.The lens design incorporates an inner focusing system, which prevents the front of the lens rotating, making it particularly suitable for use with circular polarizing filters and petal shaped lens hoods. The overall length of the lens does not change during focusing, ensuring convenient handling and ease of use.A zoom lock switch eliminates ‘zoom creep’ during transportation, a convenient feature when traveling.A magnification scale is displayed on the lens barrel for each focal length, ensuring ease of use.

• Brand: Sigma
• Model: B0011GGNQ2
• Dimensions: 2.80″ h x 2.80″ w x 3.00″ l, .87 pounds

Features

• The built-in motor is capable of auto focusing with all Nikon DSLR cameras
• Two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) lenses and two Aspherical glass elements provide excellent correction for all types of aberration.
• Sigma’s super multi-layer coating reduces flare and ghosting and provides high image quality throughout the zoom range.
• This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 45cm (17.7¿) and a maximum magnification of 1:4.4.

Customer Reviews:

Sigma 18-200, One of Several Very Good, All Purpose, Walkabout Lenses
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and so, I think, is one’s opinion of a camera lens. I’ve learned over the years that lens reviews are helpful, but they are just opinions. Yes, for sure, you generally get better optics with more expensive lenses, but it’s certainly not a guarantee. And for reasons one can only wonder about, oftentimes two copies of the same lens will produce very different results. For example, my friend Sara, who is as nuts about buying (we’re like compulsive buyers) and using Canon lenses as I am about buying and using Nikon ones, has a Canon EF-S 18-55 kit lens that produces images so tack sharp through its whole range that would make you cry.

And so it goes with super zooms, these wonderful lenses that go from pretty wide to very long. If you look at the reviews of any of them, some people claim horrible results, while others scratch their heads, because they’re just loving them to death.

My first superzoom was a Sigma 18-200 which I got about five years ago and I was blown away with what I could do with just one lens. Plus my shots were pretty darn sharp. The lens was more expensive then, than it is now. It’s still a good lens, it weighs a couple ounces less than a pound and if I only could have been satisfied, I’d have saved a bundle of money. Ah well. Anyway, I had an opportunity to try out the Tamron 18-200 as well back then, but I decided on the Sigma. It was a coin toss. At the time I thought both lenses would be good general, all purpose, walkabout lenses. They wouldn’t be as sharp or fast as primes and wouldn’t be as light as shorter zooms, but heck, one lens which went all the way from 18 to 200mm (okay 27 to 350mm in the real world), such a deal.

Both lenses were five star lenses as far as I was concerned, both still are, because they are what they are, a very good compromise. If you’re expecting a lens that will reach out across a dark night and grab a shot of lovers making out by the beach, then you don’t want these lenses, but if you’re looking for a good general walkabout lens, both will suit you and they won’t break your bank.

But they don’t have image stabilization and when Sigma came out with it, I had to have it. So I shelved the Sigma zoom I had, (thankfully I didn’t sell it) and bought the Sigma 18-200 OS and Sigma’s Optical Stabilizer worked great. I got sharper handheld shots in lower light, but they came at a price, almost half a pound. It doesn’t sound like much, eight ounces (7.6 to be exact), but try carrying it around on your shoulder all day long. I really noticed the difference, especially when I was shooting.

I probably wouldn’t have gone to that auction site with my fairly new lens, if it hadn’t been for Tamron. They came out with their Tamron 18-250 and I had to have it. A bigger reach, the heck with image stabilization. Not only could I go all the way from 27 to 375mm in the real world, but I got back a bit over six ounces, the lens was lighter. So now I had two super zooms, which was good, because I go out people shooting with my sister a lot.

So one would think I’d be satisfied, but when the Nikon 18-200 came out, well Nikon optics in a superzoom. I had to have it, so the Tamron went up for auction (because I just loved the Sigma, even though it didn’t reach as far). The Nikon lens focused faster, but not that much faster then the other two, had image stabilization and was faster at the long end and it took great shots, but it weighed more than the other lenses, coming in at a whopping 20 ounces and it was creepy, creepy, creepy and with no zoom lock. The other lenses had almost no zoom creep and they had a zoom lock, which I never used. Very annoying the zoom creep was, still, great shots from a great lens.

Satisfied, well for awhile, then came 2008 and the Tamron 18-270 with their VC version of image stabilization and up for auction went my expensive Nikkor lens. Yeah, I still hung on the my first super zoom, the Sigma. For sure the Nikkor was a five star lens, but a girl can’t justify more than two super zooms at any one time.

The Tamron lens actually weighed a fraction less than the Nikkor it replaced. It was a bit slower on the long end, was a bit stiff in the zooming, but easy to get used to and almost no, sometimes no, zoom creep and it has a lock. It’s just simply one heck of a lens. Sometimes it’s a bit slow to autofocus in lowlight, but still I think it finds its focus faster than I would, but not as fast as the Nikkor.

I should add here that Nikon has upgraded their 18-200 adding a zoom lock. I’ve played with one and not only have they added that zoom lock, but it doesn’t seem to creep nearly as much, but that could just be the copy I used. I should also mention that Sigma has come out with their Sigma 18-250 OS which I was lucky enough to use for a month. That is just one super fine lens. It focuses fast and I think it finds its focus better in low light than the Tamron 18-270. Also this new Sigma has a super quiet motor, though I’ve never really been bothered by the sound of a focusing lens.

By reading other reviews of these lenses, I’ve learned that they are all subject to zoom creep, so I suppose in the main, I’ve been lucky. All of these lenses are very good, at least all of the copies I’ve used. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend any of them. However, if you go with Nikon, you’re going to be paying an awful lot more. You get a slightly faster lens on the long end and you get Nikon quality, but Sigma and Tamron give quality as well and Tamron warranties their lenses for six years, so they’re pretty confident that they’re building a great product (and now they’re part of Sony).

So through my whole super zoom experience, which one do I wind up using the most? You guessed it, that Sigma I bought five years ago. Like the proverbial Timax, “It takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’.” If the day is bright and I’m going people shooting it’s the one I put on my camera, because it’s light and it’s images are true.

Great lens at great price
I got this lens to replace the 2 kit lenses that came with my Nikon D40x. I love that the automatic focus works on my camera, because not all lenses with AF will. I travel a lot and also take a lot of pictures of small children (who tend to move around constantly) and not changing between the two kit lenses is a huge plus and well worth the money spent. Also, having just one lens, and at this size, is great for carrying around in my bag. I have taken a lot of pictures with this lens in the last month and have not had any problems or noticed any downgrade in quality from what I had previously. I have not even noticed any vignetting, although I am not sure how much I have tested the extreme focal lengths. Agree with other posters that is it not the greatest lens for low light photography, but it is just as good as what I had before, and I didn’t expect anything else. My main criticism of this lens is the loud autofocus, which I find a bit annoying.

I purchased from Amazon Prime and upgraded to overnight delivery, and received my product as expected.

Nice Lens
I have an older version of this lens on my Canon Rebel XT, but bought this newer model for my Nikon 300. It’s light and easy to use. Its optics are fine for me, since I don’t need huge blowups. For portaits I use a 62 mm soft focus filter, since I don’t want the hassel of having to employ PhotoShop for retouching. The results are lovely.

Amazon.com Product Description
Designed exclusively for Nikon digital SLR cameras, the Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 high-zoom-ratio lens covers a host of wide angle and telephoto focal lengths. The lens includes a built-in motor that provides high-speed autofocus, along with two special low dispersion (SLD) lenses and two aspherical glass elements that correct for all types of aberration. Sigma’s super multilayer coating, meanwhile, reduces flare and ghosting and provides topnotch image quality throughout the zoom range. And thanks to the inner focusing system, you don’t have to worry about front lens rotation, making this lens particularly suitable for petal lens hoods and circular polarizing filters. Other features include a minimum focusing distance of 17.7 inches, a maximum magnification ratio of 1:4.4, a compact and lightweight housing, and a zoom lock switch that prevents the lens from creeping due to its own weight.

Specifications

• Focal length: 18-200mm
• Maximum aperture: f/3.6-6.3
• Lens construction: 15 elements in 13 groups
• Angle of view: 76.5 to 8.1 degrees
• Number of diaphragm blades: 7
• Minimum aperture: f/22
• Minimum focusing distance: 17.7 inches
• Maximum magnification: 1:4.4
• Filter size: 62mm
• Mount: Nikon
• Lens hood: Petal type
• Dimensions: 2.8 inches in diameter and 3 inches long
• Weight: 13.9 ounces
• Warranty: 1 year