Nikon 18-200mm is one of the biggest disappointment in Nikon lenses. Maybe it's the media's fault. This highly praised and highly anticipated lens was overated by media and users. The main selling point is the super zoom range and the VR which is the newest technology at the time it was released. It is the "go-to" lens or the "all-in-one" lens especially when you need to go travelling. The slow lens was claimed to be compensated by the VR technology. However, this is only true for static object. If you are shooting things that are moving , then VR would not help. The problem with this lens is the lack of sharpness. Shot after shot the picture quality appear to be very soft and even unfocused. If you are looking for high quality picture, try something else. Get this lens if all you want is zoom range.

kenchan

Thief River Falls, MN

When comparing which telephoto lens to purchase, I looked specifically at the Nikon - 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR Lens. The "VR" component is critical (this stands for "vibration reduction"). Some other camera body models, such as Canon I believe, has a "VR" element constructed within the body, and since Nikon does not have this quality, the company uses the "VR" in the lenses. Turning it on uses some battery power, but overall I can take some crisp and professional looking images with the telephoto (up to 200mm). Unless you are fine using the Nikon kit lens (which is not that good in my opinion) I would opt for the extra cash and buy this lens to give you some flexibility in photography. The response time for automatic focus is also on par with competitors. Most of the time in dark lighting you cannot get below the 5.6 aperture setting, but all in all it is a quality lens (a little on the heavy side but that is what you would expect for a powerful lens).

pearcider

New York, NY

I would highly reccommend this product to anyone who is beyond 'hobby' photographer.  (Or even if they just have the money to spare)  This lens has quickly become my favorite lens to reach for, and allows me to leave all the other lenses that I once carried at home.  The only downfall is that it does sometimes have a hard time focusing.

Dewdrop01

Manhattan, KS

We do a lot of traveling and I've found that the Nikon D80 with the 18-200 VR lens are all I need to pack. I love the versitility of the lens combined with the speed of the camera.  On all our trips the only time I've needed a lens with more zoom was on a wildlife trek, otherwise the 18-200 meets all my needs. When you are trying to pack light it's helpful not to have to drag along several lens.  I love the VR (vibration reduction) feature of this lens. The only complaint I have is when you are taking flash photos with the builting flash on the D80, the length causes a shadow when trying to capture a group photo. Easy enough to crop out if you keep in mind the lower portion of your photo is going to have a shadow when framing the shot.

donnaolm

Janesville, IA