N-Photo - The Nikon Magazine - USA (2019-07)

f you’re going to splash out
on a ‘holiday lens’, it makes
sense to keep the price
down and buy something
that you’re not going to be too precious
about. With the least expensive price
tag in the group, the Tamron
18-200mm is low-cost and, at
400g, it’s also very lightweight.
As the second edition of Tamron’s
18-200mm lens, it adds VC (Vibration
Compensation) and boasts an
upgraded autofocus system. It’s still
based on an electric motor but with
an integrated gear train that runs
more quietly than the original lens. As
with the Sigma lenses, the focus ring
rotates during autofocus and doesn’t
enable full-time manual override.
The lens is 30g lighter than its
predecessor, despite being a bit larger.
This is due to the fitment of a plastic
rather than metal mounting plate, but
at least it includes a weather-seal ring.

Performance
AF speed is pedestrian, but the
stabilizer works well with four-stop
effectiveness. Image quality is
respectable in all areas, making the
lens outstanding value at the price.

easuring just 71x86mm and

weighing in at 430g, this

Sigma is the smallest

lens in the group. It’s only

slightly heavier than the competing

Tamron 18-200mm, despite having a

metal rather than plastic mounting

plate. The Sigma is also significantly

smaller and lighter than the Nikon

18-200mm, despite matching it for

zoom range. A space-saving ultrasonic

motor helps to shed a few ounces, but

the focus ring rotates during AF.

Three aspherical elements help

reduce the size, while three SLD

(Special Low Dispersion) elements

minimize fringing. Sigma’s Super

Multi-layer Coating is applied to reduce

ghosting and flare. The stabilizer has

an effectiveness of about four stops

and features auto panning detection.

Performance

Sharpness isn’t as impressive as

Sigma’s 18-300mm at matching focal

lengths, but it’s still good and corner-

sharpness is better in the 100-200mm

section of the zoom. Sharpness is

consistent across the zoom range,

while fringing and distortions are well

controlled for a superzoom lens.

Tamron 18-200mm

f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC

£199/$199

A smart buy as a holiday lens

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-

6.3 DC Macro OS HSM | C

£279/$399

A compact and capable travel companion

Sharpness

As with the competing Sigma

18-200mm, sharpness is

good, but consistent through

the zoom range.

Fringing

Amounts of colour fringing are

average for a superzoom at

the short and long end, but

negligible in the mid-sector.

Distortion

It’s not bad overall, but barrel

distortion is worse than

average at the short end

of the zoom range.

Sharpness

Centre-sharpness isn’t exactly

fabulous, but remains nicely

consistent throughout the

zoom range.

Fringing

There’s slightly more colour

fringing than from Sigma’s

18-300mm lens at mid to

long zoom settings.

Distortion

Despite the shorter zoom

range than Sigma’s bigger

lens, pincushion is a bit worse

at mid to long focal lengths.

N-Photo verdict N-Photo verdict

This upgraded Tamron
superzoom delivers
decent enough
performance at an
affordable price tag.

It’s compact,

lightweight and

attractively priced,

if lacking a little

in sharpness.

Features Features

Build &

handling

Build &

handling

Performance Performance

Value Value

4

Overall

4

Overall

IM

SUPERZOOMS