Nikkor DX 18-200mm VR II design, build quality and focusing review

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The Nikkor DX 18-200mm VR II is pictured beneath on the far right, with the DX 18-105mm VR kit lens in the average and the DX 16-85mm VR on the left. The DX 18-200mm VR II looks about identical to its predecessor, with the alone alien changes actuality the zoom lock about-face on the side, a hardly narrower zoom arena to board the switch, and a bandy from red to gold for the VR logo.

Measuring 77mm in bore and 97mm in breadth back zoomed-out to its beeline focal length, the DX 18-200mm VR II is absolutely the aforementioned admeasurement as its predecessor. Both are a little beyond in anniversary ambit than the DX 18-105mm VR (which measures 76x89mm) and the DX 16-85mm VR (which measures 72x85mm). In agreement of admeasurement and looks back zoomed-out, the DX 18-200mm VR II is about a chunkier adaptation of the DX 16-85mm VR. Zoom all three lenses into their longest focal lengths as apparent beneath admitting and the 200mm ability of the super-zoom unsurprisingly after-effects in the longest all-embracing butt extension.

Nikon quotes the DX 18-200mm VR II’s weight as 565g, or 5g added than its predecessor, attributable no agnosticism to the fresh zoom lock mechanism. Both models feel heftier than the DX 16-85mm VR and DX 18-105mm VR which counterbalance 485 and 420g respectively. All are acutely abundant beyond and added than the DX 18-55mm VR kit lens which measures 73x80mm and weighs aloof 265g.

The weight of the DX 18-200mm VR II lends it an air of bendability and aplomb that can be defective in lighter lenses, but in agreement of anatomy quality, it’s about the aforementioned as the DX 16-85mm VR.

As mentioned above, the alone above change amid the DX 18-200mm VR II and its antecedent is the attendance of a zoom lock about-face on the ancillary of the barrel. This locks the lens at the 18mm focal length, preventing the butt from extending during transportation. The addendum of a butt beneath its own weight back pointing down, or retraction back pointing upwards is accepted as zoom-creep, and was the above complaint of the aboriginal Nikkor super-zoom. While the about-face on the fresh archetypal absolutely holds the lens in position, edge is still absolute abundant present back unlocked.

But aboriginal the acceptable news: back our analysis sample was absolutely zoomed out to 18mm, the butt captivated in position alike back acicular angular downwards, or army on a camera blind on a strap; additionally back zoomed-in to 200mm and acicular angular upwards, the butt afresh didn’t budge.

But amid the focal lengths of 28 and 135mm, our analysis sample suffered from the aforementioned amount of edge as its predecessor. With the lens set aural this range, the butt will extend or abjure beneath its own weight back acicular angular bottomward or up – and that’s alike on a cast fresh sample with almost annealed mechanics. To be fair if the lens isn’t vertical, the edge bound becomes beneath of an issue, but beneath the appropriate (or wrong) conditions, you’ll acquaintance it – and we accept a affirmation in our HD video tour.

So if you were acquisitive for a super-zoom lens beggared of edge you’ll be disappointed, but afresh to be fair, it may not generally be a problem. In our tests it never occurred with the lens absolutely zoomed in or out, and of advance the fresh lock about-face will ensure the butt charcoal in abode while actuality transported or agitated on a strap. Somewhat perversely admitting you may acquisition yourself abrogation it apart added generally than not, as it can be annoying to acquisition the zoom arena bound back you appetite to bound aberration it to a best focal breadth to grab a photo opportunity. Absolutely it hardly defeats the accessibility and acceleration of the lens back you accept to bethink to alleviate it afore use, but afresh Nikon’s provided the ability should you appetite to use it. As a final postscript, it’s additionally account acquainted edge is appropriately a botheration for added super-zooms, including Canon’s EF-S 18-200mm IS, which accordingly additionally offers a lock at 18mm.

The weight of the optical elements which account edge in the aboriginal abode can additionally be acquainted back agee the zoom ring. If the lens is pointing upwards, you’ll charge to administer added force to aberration the zoom arena than best models, but the operation is adequately bland and you’ll calmly be able to accomplish baby adjustments area desired.

Towards the lens arise is a attenuate chiral absorption arena which offers full-time adjustments and doesn’t circle during autofocusing. Amid it and the zoom arena is a focus ambit window. The clarify arise measures 72mm and additionally doesn’t circle while absorption which will appear as a abatement to users of polarising or accelerating filters.

Like its predecessor, there’s three switches on the ancillary of the barrel. One switches the camera amid AF with full-time chiral focusing, or chiral absorption only. The additional switches the VR arrangement on or off, while the third sets the VR amid Normal and Active modes. We’ll appraise the VR capabilities on the Appearance page.

The metal lens arise appearance a elastic arena to accommodate some amount of ecology sealing – it’s far from actuality water-proof, but it’ll advice anticipate dust and damp from entering the body, or absolutely the rear of the lens. Like best of its lenses, Nikon additionally food the DX 18-200mm VR II with a awning and pouch.

It’s absorbing at this point to analyze the Nikkor DX 18-200mm VR II adjoin the Canon EF-S 18-200mm IS. Both lenses allotment the aforementioned absolute focal ambit and aperture, but the Nikkor archetypal manages to beat its battling in a cardinal of attenuate respects. The EF-S 18-200mm IS doesn’t accept Canon’s quiet absorption motor, the chiral absorption arena rotates while autofocusing, there’s no focus ambit window, no elastic arena on the lens mount, and like all non-L Canon lenses, no awning or accessory supplied as standard. But in its favour, the Canon super-zoom is about 20% cheaper. It’s absolute to see the administration anniversary aggregation has taken with what could accept been around identical lenses.