Nikon 18-200 VR

[sam_ginger]

<p>Nikon 18-200 VR. What is the difference between first and second edition?<br>

Thanks!</p>

[Matt Laur]

<p>Optically and in terms of VR, pretty much no difference. You'll find that the second version exhibits less zoom creep (where the barrel can extend because of gravity when you hold the camera nose-down without the barrel retracted all the way to 18mm). </p>

[Dieter Schaefer]

<p>A lock button that allows the zoom ring to be locked in the 18mm position. And the VR emblem is gold in the second version, red in the first. They are both "creepy" though ;-)</p>

[Peter_in_PA]

<p>They are identical in optical formula. The newer one has the zoom lock and Nikon claims it's less prone to zoom creep, although, as you can see, it still creeps.</p>

<p>For what it's worth, I had the original one for about 3 or 4 years, and it had zoom creep for sure, but when I set it all the way to 18 it almost never crept down on me.</p>

<p>It's not a very good lens on current sensors at 200mm.</p>

[daverhaas]

<p>Newer one has a slightly upgraded vr function - adding about 1 stop of performance to it. </p>

<p>The 18-200 is either loved or hated by its owners. There is no in between. </p>

<p>Personally - I love it for a travel lens. </p>

[daniel_johnson6]

 

<blockquote>

<p>The 18-200 is either loved or hated by its owners. There is no in between.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Ha! That's funny.</p>

<p>I own a version 1, and I love it. Great lens, and my copy at least is very, very good at all focal lengths.</p>

<p>Paired with my D200, it's an almost unbeatable go-outside-and-take-a-walk-with-the-kids setup.</p>

[Peter_in_PA]

<blockquote>

<p>Newer one has a slightly upgraded vr function - adding about 1 stop of performance to it.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>No, it is not. Both versions of the lens have Ver. II of VR. The performance is identical.</p>

<p>Great travel lens, but too soft at the long end for many (most?) of us who are at 12MP or more. On my D50 it was a great travel solution, but when I upgraded to my D90, I swapped my 18-200 out for a combo of the 18-70 (which is identical in performance in its range to the 18-200) and the 70-300 VR (which blows away the 18-200 in the range they share and is far more usable at 300 than the 18-200 was at 200).</p>

<p>It was a good idea in its day. That day is not today.</p>

[duane_creviston]

<p>I just bought one with zoom lock, and after fine tuning for back focusing it is sharp. Sharper than my 18-105 VR, or 70-300 VR. A friend loaned me his for our trip to Kauai. I took some images with his, also a zoom lock VR ll, and when my wife saw some pictures I had taken with it, she told me to go buy one, which I did. It is now on my D7000, and I am an hour away from a private 'doors off' helicopter flight with my wife.<br>

Aloha</p>

[Peter_in_PA]

<p>Duane,</p>

<p>If an 18-200 is sharper at 200 than the 70-300 is at 200, then there's something wrong with that 70-300...</p>