Sigma 18-200 superzoom

[vtecstu]

Yay or nay?

Bit of background - Ms Nearlystu is becoming Mrs Stu early next year, followed by a honeymoon to southeast Asia. Where I'd hope for plenty of incredible photo opportunities.

We each have a NIKON D60, but while I'm happy to lug around a kit bag containing 18-55 kit lens, Sigma 70-300, and 35mm f1.8 prime, she has no interest in changing lens every 5 minutes and so still only has her kit lens, preferring to zoom and crop when we get back.

So I'm considering the Sigma 18-200 as a Christmas present. This is the more budget version by the way, so a sub-£200 budget rather than the Sigma stabilized version, or NIKON equivalent.

I know that the image quality won't be perfect, so my question is this - is the IQ at the longer end likely to be any better or worse than a zoom and crop with the kit lens. Similarly is the shorter end likely to be noticeably less good than the kit lens?

Thanks in advance!

[paulmon]

I've had one of these for the last 5 years and its a great all rounder. I used to take 3 lenses away with me but the Sigma never came off so now I use the space in the camera bag for other things.

P

[vtecstu]

Cheers - more positive than I'd expected to hear! Sounds like you've no concerns with it.

Anyone else?

[ScoobyDood]

Possibly over your budget but I use the Tamron 18-270 with Vibration Compensation - Can be had now for around £320 and is a very surprising lens

Edit - Used on a D80 and D5100

[Major Bloodnok]

vtecstu said:

... my question is this - is the IQ at the longer end likely to be any better or worse than a zoom and crop with the kit lens.

I would think that it would have to be really bad to be worse than cropping (and sizing up) - at least you'd still have all the original pixels.

[rottie102]

It's a good lens and the IS can be had for less than £200 on ebay. That's what I'd go for, it's not the fastest thing...
And then I'd have the 18-200 on one body and 35mm on the other - very good travel combo.

[vtecstu]

rottie102 said:

It's a good lens and the IS can be had for less than £200 on ebay. That's what I'd go for, it's not the fastest thing...
And then I'd have the 18-200 on one body and 35mm on the other - very good travel combo.

Cheers for the feedback all. Pulled the trigger on the OS version from Amazon this morning - about £240, but did sound like the one to go for, and obviously has the Amazon returns policy in case either it's rubbish, or she thinks it's an even worse surprise than if I'd run over her cat.

Am still intending to take all my lenses with me on honeymoon, but suspect the 35mm will get by far the most camera time! Hopefully will have some shots to contribute to the 'random photos' thread by April...

Thanks again!

[sjj84]

I've got the stabilised version, also from Amazon if memory serves me corretly. Have it on the camera all the time, it's quite a heavy lense, but better than carry extra ones around with you.

[Simpo Two]

I'm not normally a fan of IS/OS/VR etc but in this case, at 200mm and with limited aperture to play with, it would be useful, so money well spent IMHO.

[Stiglet80]

I have been very pleased with mine, find it very useful for when I can't be bothered switching lens as a good all rounder and images seems as crisp and clear etc as my other lenses.

[vtecstu]

More good comments! Only real negative I've seen (aside from the "jack of all trades, master of none" that you'd expect from this sort of lens) is the weight - I think it's about 3 times the weight of her kit lens. Hopefully she'll cope though...! Will try to update post-Christmas!