New 18-200

<p>I understood that the new 18-200 was the same as before but with a creep lock.<br>

From Warehouse Express description of lens.<br>

In addition the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR II lens includes <strong>improved Super Integrated Coating</strong><br>

Any idea's.</p>

<p>Graham-<br>

Nikonusa.com lists the coating as SIC without mention of a new better flavor, for what that's worh. Same terminolgy used for other SIC'd lenses. They do mention the zoom lock.<br>

http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Camera-Lenses/2192/AF-S-DX-NIKKOR-18-200mm-f%252F3.5-5.6G-ED-VR-II.html</p>

<p>Jim</p>

<p>According to the Nikon site, "<strong>Zoom lock switch </strong>Secures lens barrel at its minimum length." So it's not clear that it can lock the lens at any zoom setting. Has anyone tried or bought this lens- will it lock at any setting? My copy of the previous design creeps so badly I keep a rubber-band on the barrel to hold it to a particular zoom setting, and I'd love to see this lens provided with a feature that would lock at any zoom position.</p>

<p>It will lock at 18mm according to close up pictures. There is also another news to the lens, VR II, so that's improoved too.</p>

<p>The lens has always had VR II. Nikon's VR was in its second generation by the time they shipped the original 18-200.</p>

<p>I don't know about "improved" Super Integrated Coating (wouldn't that be Nano coating), but Nikon SIC has been around for quite some time, probably a decade or more, and the 18~200mm has always had SIC and (as Matt notes) VRII.</p>

<p>I have a feeling Warehouse Express is using the "new and improved" come on as a marketing ploy to convince buyers to trade up to the new lens. Nothing wrong with that really, but it's just like "new and improved" anything ... usually the only thing new is a higher price. :-)</p>

<p>It's simple.</p>

<p>It's the exact same lens with the addition of a zoom lock and, according to Nikon, less tendency to creep. I'm doubtin' the latter in practice, because otherwise why add the zoom lock, and yes, it only locks at 18mm.</p>

<p>The VR-II in both lenses is the same and the optical formula is unchanged.</p>

<p>It's a great lens for what it's designed for but today, imho, the 16-85 would be better for most everybody.</p>

<p>A zoom lock at 18mm is REALLY DUMB. The old design didn't creep at that setting (even my copy that doesn't just creep but practically falls open)- only in the middle ranges. Seems like this "improvement" is a foul ball.</p>

<p>hello everybody,<br>

i got the new 18-200 today, and will be returning it promptly. It creeps quite fast straight out of the box. Does not creep at 18mm, so as someone mentioned above, the zoom lock switch is completely useless. I find the creep unacceptable, but that's just me, others I'm sure are not as bothered by it. Bottom line is, this new lens does not solve the creep issue at all.<br>

Zoltan</p>

<p>I had the original, found it crept badly but worse was soft and had ugly bokeh. I sold it on ebay. I recently got the new lens and while I've only had a little play with it, it doesn't creep at all, is significantly sharper, and the bokeh is better though nowhere near what the better Nikon's have. I'll give it a good workout on an upcoming vacation (which is my primary purpose for this lens) and if it behaves I'll keep it. </p>

<p>I created a short video displaying the creep. Not sure why they put the lock on except for marketing.<br>

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