Joined Jan 18, 2013 Messages 147 Reaction score 4 Location Portland, Maine Can others edit my Photos Photos NOT OK to edit

• 1

Hi.

Are there advantages to having an 18-55 kit lens plus a separate 55-200 versus one that's "all in one" like 18-200? Is it just that the convenience of having "all in one" would cost you more?

Thanks

Joined May 5, 2012 Messages 769 Reaction score 72 Location Oklahoma Can others edit my Photos Photos OK to edit

• 2

As the two lengths get further apart, quality is lost.

Joined Jun 7, 2012 Messages 15,465 Reaction score 7,827 Location Central Florida Website www.flickr.com Can others edit my Photos Photos NOT OK to edit

• 3

there's a whole bunch of ridiculously technical explanations....but the bottom line is that the greater the focal range, the more you sacrifice image quality. other factors can include [but are not limited to] OEM -vs- third party quality control, consumer -vs- "pro" lens build, and the actual materials that go into higher quality lenses as far as glass and casings go.

Joined Nov 27, 2012 Messages 796 Reaction score 143 Location Toronto, Ontario, Canada Can others edit my Photos Photos OK to edit

• 4

I've actually just been researching this myself as I decided to keep my 18-55 kit lens and add a 55-300 or 70-300 to it soon. The benefits of this are:

1. Although you have to swap lenses, the two separate lenses are much lighter individually and thus easier to carry on camera. Some complain that the 18-300 is heavy to have on the camera all the time. 2. It will be much cheaper to keep the two separate lenses, as the 55-200 or 55-300 is a fraction of the cost of a 18-200 or 18-300 all in one, and 3. Most generally agree that having two separate lenses is better for image quality.

Hope this helps.

Joined Nov 23, 2010 Messages 40 Reaction score 0 Can others edit my Photos Photos NOT OK to edit

• 5

  Hi.

Are there advantages to having an 18-55 kit lens plus a separate 55-200 versus one that's "all in one" like 18-200? Is it just that the convenience of having "all in one" would cost you more?

Yes

You really do not want to have a zoom lens that is greater than about 3x it's lower focal length. So if you desire the low end of the zoom to be 18mm, then the high end of the zoom should not be greater than about 54mm.

When you get into a "super zoom" like a 18-200 it will not be sharp through it full range. That is why you may have seen the suggested "trinity" of lenses.

It is also not a great idea, if you can afford it, to purchase a variable zoom lens such as a 18-200 f3.5-5.6 when you can purchase a fixed aperture zoom such as a 70-200 f4 or 2.8

Joined Jul 23, 2009 Messages 48,225 Reaction score 18,938 Location USA Website www.pbase.com Can others edit my Photos Photos OK to edit

• 6

Not much advantage to having the range split into two lenses, and multiple advantages to having 18 to 200mm in one lens... Nikon 18-200mm VR II

It is no longer 1990...superzooms are fine for all the crop-frame Nikons. Shoot at f/8...same as a pro-grade lens...all the whinging and whining about how dreadful superzooms are...if you're shooting an APS-C body of 16 MP or less, any modern Nikkor zoom lens is at least "adequate" to "good". Again...this isn't 1977, nor 1987, nor is it 1990...

Joined Jan 18, 2013 Messages 147 Reaction score 4 Location Portland, Maine Can others edit my Photos Photos NOT OK to edit

• 7

save that it's cheaper, especially if I purchase the D5100 that already has the 18-55, but I think it would be kind of a pain to have to keep swapping lens for road trip photography, but ..... oh well ...

TheLost

Joined May 17, 2012 Messages 1,230 Reaction score 337 Can others edit my Photos Photos NOT OK to edit

• 8

I'm a big fan of super zooms... if used for their intended purpose. I've traveled around the world with the [old] Nikon 28-200mm G and the [now old] Nikon 18-200mm VRII. I've never regretted not taking more lenses with me when i get back from each trip.

I also like using the 18-200mm for family party's, taking pictures of the kids being goofy or even the occasional portrait. Before i had better glass i even used it to shoot my kids sports.

In my opinion.. having owned and used the Nikon 18-55mm, 55-200mm and 18-200VRII... The only thing you loose by getting the 18-200mm is money. I found the Image quality the same at 200mm with both lenses [55-200 & 18-200]. You get slightly more barrel distortion at 18mm on the 18-200mm then the 18-55 but you REALLY have to look to notice. Also, the 18-200mm VRII is built better then the 'kit' lenses.

Lots of people on forums bash SuperZooms because they are 'not pro' lenses... yet it has 800 reviews @ B&H with a 4.5 out of 5 raiting..230 reviews on Amazon with 4.5 out of 5 raiting...

It's not a bad lens.

Here is my 18-200mm doing what it does best.. Just taking pictures. 1/400 | f/9 | 250 iso | 48mm

Last edited: Jan 19, 2013

Joined Nov 23, 2010 Messages 40 Reaction score 0 Can others edit my Photos Photos NOT OK to edit

• 9

  save that it's cheaper, especially if I purchase the D5100 that already has the 18-55, but I think it would be kind of a pain to have to keep swapping lens for road trip photography, but ..... oh well ...

Hi

If your only go to use them for web or prints [4x6] for family, then cheaper variable aperture supper zoom will be fine.