Nikon 18-105mm VR or 18-200 VR

Peace

Hi All,

I would like to get some opinions on which lens would be the best value for money.

I'm looking at either the 18-105mm VR which comes in at the same price as the 18-135 (non VR) which is 200STG or the other option i am thinking about is the 18-200mm VR which is coming in at double the other price at 430STG.

I was hoping to have a one size fits all occasions lens. I've been getting reasonable results with my D40 & 18-55 kit lens so far but feel i'm about to outgrow it.

I'd like to hear peoples thought and personal experiences with any of the above lenses - both positive and negative experiences welcom.

CabanSail

The 18-200 is the lens I use the most. It does most things very well indeed.

CrowdedHouse

18-200 - Great lens,I rarely use anything else

qwertz

Another recommendation for the 18-200, a great all-round lens, especially when you are travelling.

quilmore

my recommendation is to shop around and get the 18-105mm and a 70-300mm vr if you don't mind having to swap lenses every now and then, have a look at the ebay shops mentioned in a recent post for best prices

the 18-200 is a good lens, a jack of all trades but a master of none, and way overpriced for the results it produces

Thirdfox

and indeed you can consider the 55-200 vr to supplement the 18-55 if you don't want to replace the kit lens (which I've found to be of a pretty high quality (for a kit lens)).

That's what I'm using right now (D40, 18-55, 55-200 vr and 50 f2 pre-AI lens, sb-600)

majiktripp

I had used the 18-135 lens on my D40x extensively and thought it was very good. Capable lens, its only down fall being its non-vr but if you could find one for cheap on ebay you'd be doing well. Aside from that theres the new 18-105VR which I haven't seen or had the opportunity to use, or as you have been saying the 18-200VR which is pretty good too. Is there anywhere local (ie. Conn's,Gunn's) etc where you could try either of the options before taking the plunge?

Hugh_C

I've used the 18-200VR - lovely lens if a little soft at the 200 end (used on a D70). Do you need to go as far as 200mm (equiv of about 300 with the sensor crop)

Peace

Hugh_C wrote: »

I've used the 18-200VR - lovely lens if a little soft at the 200 end (used on a D70). Do you need to go as far as 200mm (equiv of about 300 with the sensor crop)

Hi Hugh,

I don't really know. What i am trying to do is make a good investment that will stand to me in years to come. Up till now i haven't found myself in many situations where i was left wanting such a high powered zoom however next year things might be completely different.

Thanks.

CrowdedHouse

Peace wrote: »

I don't really know. What i am trying to do is make a good investment that will stand to me in years to come.

I wonder though with the arrival of full frame Nikons like the D3 - D700 are we in the last days of DX format and is it worth putting big dollars into DX lenses at all ?

(I know they're supposed to 'work' with full frame Nikons but I believe it's a bit mickey mouse)

alb

CrowdedHouse wrote: »

I wonder though with the arrival of full frame Nikons like the D3 - D700 are we in the last days of DX format and is it worth putting big dollars into DX lenses at all ?

(I know they're supposed to 'work' with full frame Nikons but I believe it's a bit mickey mouse)

If they choose to go full frame with all the SLRs they'll probably have a DX mode that only uses the part of the sensor those lenses cover.

As for the OPs quesiton, I've the 18-200 and am very happy with it, if you carry your gear around any amount it might be worth it just to have one less lens bogging you down

Stephen

^^ the D3 and D700 already do that.