Product Description

Nikon is a precision optical company with worldwide manufacturing, research and marketing capabilities. The Nikon name is equated with extraordinary photographic performance, innovation, precision and optical quality.PRODUCT FEATURES:Offers broad 18 - 200mm focal range for use in a variety of situations (equivalent to a 27-300 lens in 35mm format);11x zoom coverage offers a perfect compact and lightweight, one lens solution;VR II system offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed 4 stops faster;Two ED glass and three aspherical lens elements minimize chromatic aberration, astigmatism and other forms of distortion, while ensuring high resolution and contrast;Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) offers superb color reproduction while minimizing ghosting and flare;Incorporates a SWM (Silent Wave Motor) for fast quiet focusing;Delivers high-level optical performance designed for use exclusively with Nikon DX format digital;Employs a seven-blade rounded diaphragm opening that achieves a natural blur for out-of-focus elements;Enables focusing from as close as 50cm from the subject through its entire focal range;M/A mode for rapid switching between autofocus and manual focus operation;Flower-shaped Lens Hood HB-35 (provided) greatly reduces stray light.

Product Details

• Brand: Nikon
• Model: 2159
• Dimensions: 9.00" h x 6.00" w x 4.00" l, 1.50 pounds

Features

• High-ratio, 11x zoom lens and 18-200mm focal range
• VR II Vibration Reduction technology provides a four-steps-faster shutter speed
• Lens incorporates two ED glass and three aspheric lens elements
• Delivers high-resolution and contrast, outstanding image quality, and fantastic photographic versatility
• AF-S Silent Wave Motor provides fast quiet autofocusing, and M/A mode makes it easy to switch from auto to manual focus

From the Manufacturer
The 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor lens is a compact, lightweight, 11.1x zoom lens that is ideal for high-performance, everyday photography, and it incorporates advanced features such as Nikon's Extra Low Dispersion (ED) glass, Silent Wave Motor technology (SWM), and Enhanced Vibration Reduction (VR II) in a DX-Nikkor design engineered exclusively for use with Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras. With a remarkable 18-200mm focal length range (picture angle equivalent to a 27-300mm lens in 35mm format), the lens conveniently covers everything from wide landscapes to tight portraits and action photography. Advanced Nikon engineering has lent the lens a compact, lightweight design that offers excellent handling characteristics and superb optical quality.

Beyond the lens's incredible optical versatility is the benefit of Enhanced VR II Vibration Reduction, an innovation that makes it possible to take substantially sharper handheld pictures at slower shutter speeds than would otherwise be possible. This provides the distinct advantage of being able to shoot more effectively in a much broader variety of challenging conditions. With the new Nikon VR II advantage, users can take pictures at shutter speeds as many as 4 stops slower than they ordinarily could shoot without the image-degrading blur associated with camera shake at slow shutter speeds. Nikon's VR technology further enhances picture-taking potential with a choice of two modes to match most shooting conditions. VR Normal Mode primarily compensates for camera shake, and includes automatic panning detection, as well as automatic tripod detection. VR Active Mode effectively compensates for vibration in situations where it is more pronounced and more frequent, such as when shooting from a moving vehicle.

To further ensure outstanding optical performance, the 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor features two Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass elements and three complex aspherical lens elements that provide for higher resolution, high-contrast images while minimizing chromatic aberration, astigmatism, and other forms of distortion. The lens also features Nikon's compact Silent Wave Motor technology (SWM), which combines fast and precise autofocusing with super-quiet operation, as well as Internal Focusing (IF) construction that allows the lens to focus without changing its external size, improving balance and handling chrematistics.

All of Nikon's DX Nikkor lenses are engineered exclusively for use with Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras, making the lens smaller and lighter while providing exceptional center-to-edge-to-corner image quality and overall optical performance.

Major features of the Nikon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor lens:

• Offers a broad 18-200mm focal range (11.1x zoom) for use in a variety of situations (equivalent to a 27-300 mm lens in 35mm format); VR II Vibration Reduction system offers the practical equivalent of using a shutter speed 4 stops faster
• Two ED glass and three complex aspherical lens elements minimize chromatic aberration, astigmatism, and other forms of distortion while ensuring high resolution and contrast
• Incorporates a compact SWM (Silent Wave Motor) for quiet focusing. Delivers high-level optical performance that is specially designed for use with the Nikon digital SLRs
• Employs a seven-blade, rounded diaphragm opening that achieves a natural blur for out-of-focus elements
• Enables focusing from as close as 50 centimeters (20 inches) from the subject through its entire focal range
• M/A mode for rapid switching between autofocus and manual focus operation
• Internal Focusing (IF) design simplifies the use of circular polarizing filters
• Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) offers superb color reproduction while minimizing ghosting and flare
• Flower-shaped lens hood HB-35 (included) greatly reduces stray light, enhancing image quality

Customer Reviews

Excellent Glass
My goal was to find a lens offering a broad range of magnification and capable of producing excellent pictures. I was looking for the "complete package" for my Nikon D80 camera. A lens I could leave on the camera. I understood the lens would not produce a picture as "tack sharp" as a prime lens but I was looking for something close in quality. I opted to purchase this lens and I have to say I made a good decision. The range this lens offers is terrific, the focus is smooth and quick, the VR is great for low light conditions, and best and most important of all the quality of the photographs are excellent. If you are looking for an excellent all purpose lens look no further.

Back To The Drawing Board For Digital Zoom lenses
I've been a professional photographer for 35 years - although for the past several years, I shot less and less and worked more and more in PhotoShop on Macs doing digital imaging. But since my entire career was with traditional SLRs several years ago, I missed the entire revolution of digital photography. So this is the very first digital lens that I have ever purchased (along with a Nikon D200). Every one of my professional friends has said to me that this lens is awesome. Every article I've read says that this is the best digital zoom ever created by ANY company. But I find this lens 10 steps backwards from the old days of fixed focal lenses.

I am now trying to relaunch my professional photography career - so I copped for a Nikon D200 and this 18-200 VR zoom lens. It is not sharp. There is no way that you can MAKE it sharp. Oh yeah... it's sharp enough for an amateur. It's sharp enough for a family photo album of 3x5 prints. It's sharp enough for Grandma. But... it... is... not... SHARP! I have had to sharpen every single image I have shot with this lens in PhotoShop. My little pocket Fuji ($175) is sharper. And amazingly, it's a zoom lens, TOO!

And automatic focus is the greatest leap BACKWARDS in photography that I have ever encountered. It's pretty much the equivalent of the difference between an automatic transmission in a car - and a standard transmission in a car. And... if you don't know how to drive the standard, then you don't know how to DRIVE! Do you? The same with an automatic lens. If you can't shoot manually, then you are NOT a photographer.

The other day I shot a portrait of a guy and his car. I had the guy up close in the foreground - and I had the car in the deep background 20-25 feet away. It was a bright sunny Florida morning - so I should have had depth of field all the way to MARS! Yet I could not keep both subjects in focus. (Forget SHARP! I'm just talking about acceptable focus!) I would focus on the guy and then pan to include the car - and the lens would automatically rack focus TO THE CAR! I must've done 30 shots in my attempt. So I said screw it and switched the automatic focus off - reverting to manual. But when I did that, it also killed the automatic exposure making every shot overexposed - and I can find no way to manually adjust the exposure - OTHER than through on the main menu - which takes time. So... if you're shooting on the fly in a variety of lighting scenarios - from light areas to dark areas - you can forget about it. You're doomed. You will never switch that main menu in time.

On the shot I just spoke about with the guy and his car, I ended up using one shot of the guy and one shot of the car and comping them in PhotoShop. That's the only way that I could get it done.

This whole digital zoom lens "thing" is BS! And when I talk to my Canon friends, they say the same thing happens with Canon as well. They also say that it took them all a CONSIDERABLE amount of time and experience to master these damned digital zooms.

So... Nikon and Canon... go back to the drawing board and develop true automatic FIXED FOCAL lenses that are actually SHARP!

frustrating
I was so very excited about this lens and it was the first somewhat expensive lens i purchased for my DSLR. I liked the versatility and the VR feature - hoping to protect my sensor from dust with fewer lens changes. The problem? I am about to send it away for it's second repair!
When first received it telescoped out badly, so that if, like me, you frequently photograph insects and flora at foot level - you loose your focus.
That's not all, after only a month the lens froze up (would not zoom or focus - even in manual.) I sent if for repair, it worked alright for a while, then in the middle of my first paid photo job, it jammed up again. (Good thing I brought back ups.) If you haven't already purchased this, I would advise sticking with separate wide angle and telephoto lenses until Nikon improves this lens.