Sigma 18 – 200mm f3.5-6.3
Wed, Apr 1, 2009
Now, after you’ve bought a DSLR perhaps with the normal kit lens (18-55mm). But one day, you see someone with a lens that is much more longer than yours and it can be extended like hell. However, you are afraid to ask people what lens is that so you did some research and it might be 18-200mm.
What a story. That was a joke anyway!
In this post, we would like to cover and show you a simple example on how far 18-200mm lens can go. The test is conducted at Cardiff University’s Mathematics Building library while our editor, Rafie stressed out regarding his bearing design task. Both photography is taken by using SIGMA 18-200mm f3.5/6.3 DC OS lens mounted on the Canon EOS 400D. Oh, Rafie didn’t buy the 18-55mm kit lens because it is crap not that good.
18mm

200mm

What say you?
Related posts:
Tags: 18-200mm, canon, lens, Review, sigma
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April 1st, 2009 at 10:10 PM
I’d say I’m dreaming of a 200mm f2.0 prime lens.. =P
April 1st, 2009 at 11:49 PM
I thought you are making this up. There you go… GBP 3000+ lens! – Open the link below
http://is.gd/qbzU
April 2nd, 2009 at 1:50 AM
cool.. should have bought the 18-200mm lens in the first place. rafie, i’ll appreciate if u can write a review on other fancy lenses like telephoto, wide-angle, prime, macro lens etc.
if u have time though.. thanx~
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:18 AM
Sure Najibnam ; ) we’re thinking of renting lenses for a day or two, test em out, then write a review, especially for lenses that we cant afford but always wanted to know its capabilities,
lens that im especially interested in are nikon 70-200 f2.8, 12-24 f4, pro lenses and maybe for Rafie, the Canon equivalent of em. Do you have any particular lenses ur interested in? maybe we’ll do some research and will write up an article for it ; )
I have a Nikon 18-200 VR, its not a fast lens, but that flexibility in focal range goes a long way, f3.5-5.6, great for sports, portraiture, i thought this for quite some time now, but my list of ideal nikon lenses to have are, and it covers the focal range from 12-200 mm,
Nikon 12-24 f4
Nikon 17-55 f2.8
Nikon 18-200 f3.5-5.6
Nikon 50mm f1.4/f1.8
Nikon 85mm f1.8
i tried three of them personally, 50mm 1.4 and 17-55 f2.8 (stolen, or robbed rather). I think its a suitable amateur gear, achievable without breaking the bank, complete for any photo situation. ; )
April 5th, 2009 at 12:37 AM
mine is without OS but it is still good.my all-time favorite lens.=)
April 30th, 2009 at 6:08 AM
How’s Nikkor 18-200 f3.5-5.6 treating you? Some people say it’s a slow lens. what do you say? if you are a beginner and thinking of changing ur kit lens, are you going for 1)Nikon 18-200 f3.5-5.6, or 2)Nikon 50mm f1.4/f1.8? haha.. i know its not a parallel comparison, but i’m just asking ur opinion…
April 30th, 2009 at 7:43 PM
Najibnam ; )
Salam,
Ok la, 18-200 VR stiil a good overall lens, honestly there isnt that much instances that we need to use an aperture of f2.8 and below. It met my needs well for the concert shots the other day, still kinda hard, but pretty alright. I’d rather go home and bring some photos of varying focal length from a session. With a prime no doubt you’d get crisp shots, noise kept to a minimum as well, but its gonna be of the same focal length, theres no variety in your photos. Unless you crop or is constantly moving about. But in some situations you just gotta live with it.
But everyone wants a fast lens, its like in a photographers blood or something ; p
We have to set some ground rules first before answering your questions
1. What model DSLR we currently have
2. Budget
When i started to move from beginner, i was using a Nikon D40 back then. Id thought of prime, then doing some research it hit me, they aint got no dang screw type motors in them, so go back to rule 1
Starting out from a beginner, an Nikkor 18-200 VR is a MAJOR financial decision, its MORE EXPENSIVE than the D40!! What the fuddgery you say, but it is true. That financial leap of buying something So expensive will have thinking over months on it. I know i did. And this is especially true for students. There are other excellent third party lenses from Sigma and Tamron worth checking out on as well. Once you take a good pic, doesnt matter what lens is on that camera.
So if you passed RULE 1, go to RULE 2, and after that..
you might have to go back to RULE2 again n again n again… ; )
If you passed RULE 1 and RULE 2, its time to make the comparisons:
id say id buy a Prime 50 mm f1.4, because you still have your kit lens for the wide angle view, and the fast lens for night shots. So its quite a versatile gear for beginners. If you get an 18-200 VR, that kit lens will be made redundant, unless you sell it. In the end its all about value…
Hope that helps ; )
April 30th, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Thanx bro for ur opinion.. appreciate it a lot..
haha~ aku gune d60 je.. mmg sux lah xde screw motor..
sigma or tamron 18-200mm pon x compatible kan.. ceyh~
May 1st, 2009 at 12:12 PM
tak jugak… rase nyer ade sigma yg ade build in motor…. roomate aku pki sigma 18-200… carik yg ade… dlm 300pound… http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3341&navigator=6
ni sigma nyer… tamron ade gak rasenyer… aritu ade research2 skali…
May 3rd, 2009 at 12:15 AM
fan_pai,
thanks for the info.. appreciate it..
May 4th, 2009 at 4:01 PM
oh ye lagi satu… klu pki 18-200 kat d60 akan rase cam x balance sgt la… body rase ringan but lens berat… tapi roomate aku pki vertical grip kat d60 die so balance balik la… lagi satu lens sigma tu not really suitable klu byk buat shot ke bawah… sbb lens tu berat so zoom die gerak sendiri… tapi as a substitute to nikon 18-200 ngan budget as a student, die best… cover sumer angle and ade macro function… all in all best gak la…
May 12th, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Just a quick question here, been considering those fast telephoto lenses i.e. 70-200 f2.8 and to own that nikkor vr one is like a 10-years-time dream.
the only option left(for me) are the sigma, tamron and the old nikkor 80-200(two-touch version). did some study on those lenses and just wanna get the opinion of you guys here. thanks a bunch.
quick thought from me: sigma-fast yet soft IQ, tamron-reasonably sharp yet slow af, nikkor 82-slow yet sharp IQ.
any thoughts?
May 13th, 2009 at 9:12 PM
Can you be little specific which lens for the Sigma, Tamron? Links would be great.
May 13th, 2009 at 11:43 PM
sigma 70-200mm f2.8 APO DG EX II
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_detai...
tamron 70-200mm f2.8 Di LD [IF] MACRO
http://www.tamron.co.jp/en/news/release_2007/0307...
May 16th, 2009 at 11:57 PM
Hye Safwanmazlan, that i know of, the most bang for your buck is the Sigma 70-200 f2.8. Affordable lens at 600 pounds, a pro lens at that, Nikkor costs double. If you're willing to go for a f2.8 lens than i believe that you're in need of a fast lens. Sigma is a bit soft at the extreme ends,70 and 200, but then again you'll use the range between that most of the time anyway. Go for the Sigma, i was planning on it as well ; )
May 16th, 2009 at 11:59 PM
Hye Safwanmazlan, that i know of, the most bang for your buck is the Sigma 70-200 f2.8. Affordable lens at 600 pounds, a pro lens at that, Nikkor costs double. If you're willing to go for a f2.8 lens then i believe that you're in need of a fast lens. Sigma is a bit soft at the extreme ends,70 and 200, but then again you'll use the range between that most of the time anyway. Go for the Sigma, i was planning on it as well ; )
What i dont like about Sigma is the paint and coating they use on the Lens body/tube, looks kinda cheap to me, but hey, if the optics work, it aint stopping me from getting one o' them ; p
June 22nd, 2009 at 12:24 AM
Last few weeks I was lucky, I stumbled upon an old sigma lens… its sigma 70-210 f2.8 APO (82mm filter)… it was not that expensive due to it age but the image quality cant show that its that old… safwan you might head up for that lens if you body have screw motor build in… really2 worth it… here the example from the lens…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fan_pai/3625504189/
this might not be the same as latest sigma 70-200 f2.8 HSM… but u'll get the idea how sigma lenses can perform…