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

ith 16-300mm, 18-300mm and
18-400mm lenses packing the
superzoom sector of the
market, Nikon’s ageing
18-200mm certainly doesn’t win any prizes
for outright zoom range. Compared with all
of the Sigma and Tamron DX format lenses
on test, however, it has a more refined
ring-type ultrasonic autofocus system,
a dual-mode optical stabilizer, better
handling, and delivers superior image
quality. Since our last superzoom Big Test,

the price of the Nikon

18-200mm lens has also

dropped from around

£650 to £429, making

it much better value for money.

If you want a bigger zoom range than

the Nikon 18-200mm can offer, the Sigma

18-300mm gives the best overall

performance at the most reasonable

price. Nikon’s 18-300mm gives relatively

lacklustre image quality and is much more

expensive to buy. The Tamron 16-300mm

and 18-400mm win out if you’re determined

to extend your wide-angle coverage or

extra-long telephoto reach, respectively.

For a low-budget buy, the Tamron

18-200mm offers unbeatable value but the

Sigma 18-200mm comes a close second.

For FX format cameras, the Nikon

28-300mm is the top choice.

Features

Build & handling

Performance

Value

Overall

W

The winner is...

Nikon AF-S DX 18-200mm

f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

Nikon takes top honours in the superzoom stakes

Tamron

18-200mm

f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC

Sigma

18-200mm

f/3.5-6.3 DC

Macro OS HSM | C

Sigma 18-300mm

f/3.5-6.3 DC

Macro OS HSM | C

Nikon AF-S DX

18-200mm

f/3.5-5.6G ED

VR II

Tamron

16-300mm

f/3.5-6.3 Di II

VC PZD Macro

Tamron

18-400mm

f/3.5-6.3 Di II

VC HLD

Nikon AF-S DX

18-300mm

f/3.5-6.3G ED VR

Nikon AF-S

28-300mm

f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

Contact http://www.tamron.

com

http://www.sigma-global.com http://www.nikon.com http://www.tamron.com http://www.nikon.com

Target price £199/$199 £279/$399 £369/$399 £429/$647 £499/$629 £649/$649 £669/$697 £929/$947

Effective zoom range

(DX)

27-300mm 27-300mm 27-450mm 27-300mm 24-450mm 27-600mm 27-450mm 42-450mm

Elements/groups 16/14 16/13 17/13 16/12 16/12 16/11 16/12 19/14

Mounting plate Plastic,

weather-sealed

Metal Metal Metal,

weather-sealed

Metal,

weather-sealed

Metal,

weather-sealed

Metal,

weather-sealed

Metal,

weather-sealed

Diaphragm 7 blades 7 blades 7 blades 7 blades 7 blades 7 blades 7 blades 9 blades

Optical stabilizer Ye s Ye s Ye s Ye s Ye s Ye s Ye s Ye s

Focus type Electric (motor) Ultrasonic

(motor)

Ultrasonic

(motor)

Ultrasonic

(ring t yp e)

Ultrasonic

(motor)

HLD Ultrasonic

(ring t yp e)

Ultrasonic

(ring t yp e)

Focus ring during AF Rotates Rotates Rotates Stationary/

manual override

Stationary/

manual override

Rotates Stationary/

manual override

Stationary/

manual override

Front element

during focusing

Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed

Min focus distance 0.49-0.77m 0.39m 0.39m 0.5m 0.39m 0.45m 0.48m 0.5m

Max reproduction ratio 0.25x 0.33x 0.33x 0.22x 0.34x 0.34x 0.32x 0.32x

Filter size 62mm 62mm 72mm 72mm 67mm 72mm 67mm 77mm

Included accessories Hood Hood Hood Hood, pouch Hood Hood None Hood, pouch

Dimensions (dia x

length)

75x97mm 71x86mm 79x102mm 77x97mm 75x100mm 79x124mm 79x99mm 83x115mm

Weight 400g 430g 585g 565g 540g 710g 550g 800g

How the

superzooms

compare

SUPERZOOMS