sigma 18-200 OS vs nikon 18-200 vr

[yuliang11]

Anyone care to fill this up? i've been trying to evaluate these 2 lenses


Sigma 18-200 OS

pros

around rm 600 cheaper
macro capablity without changing lens


cons
heard it's a soft lens




nikon 18-200 vr

pros
well know trusted lens


cons
a little more expansive
no macro

[karheng]

Anyone care to fill this up? i've been trying to evaluate these 2 lenses


Sigma 18-200 OS

pros

around rm 700 cheaper
1:3 macro capablity without changing lens
OS works very well
sweet spot at 200mm.
HSM version fast and close focusing
Lightweight and easy to zoom in and out..
No zoom creep (new, not sure old)

cons
heard it's a soft lens (at certain distances and 18mm)
Metering and IQ of lens may not be perfect with ext flash.
No manual override (can't really remember)
NO resale value

nikon 18-200 vr

pros
Image quality above average for zoom range throughout
Accurate metering and better IQ with Nikon bodies
Internal focusing
Good built quality
VR has 2 steps, active and normal
Can manually adjust focus while using AF.
Good resale value


cons
a little more expansive
no macro capabilities
zoom creep
a bit soft at 200mm

[limecity]

I read one member posting b4 say..

Nikon VR = cannot panning shot
Sigma OS = yes panning shot

:-D

[karheng]

I read one member posting b4 say..

Nikon VR = cannot panning shot
Sigma OS = yes panning shot

:-D
you can pan your shots with any lens...

VR can be turned off without any problems. Why would you need stabilization while panning when you're moving your lens anyway? :P

[limecity]

Duno leh. the other member who did the review. did the test on F1 cars? lol.

i tried to do panning with my 70-300, panning at 200mm, couldn't get the object clear enough. abit of shaky blur.

^^

[sampoerna]

I read one member posting b4 say..

Nikon VR = cannot panning shot
Sigma OS = yes panning shot

:-D

Out of 10,000 shots, how many is for panning? :D

[bobtahar]

you can pan your shots with any lens...

VR can be turned off without any problems. Why would you need stabilization while panning when you're moving your lens anyway? :P

Nikkor 18-200mm with VR on is difficult to panning probably because of the lens creep... when you move the lens side to side.. the lens will creep a bit thus difficult to focus...

I read somewhere that 18-200 VR is very clever to detect panning & the mechanism in the lens will stop one of it axis if you pan vertically or horizontally... it even stop the VR function automatically if on a tripod.

However, I'm using the Sigma OS... & very satiisfied with it. Saved me RM800. Here's my simple review http://www.shutterasia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5037

[yuliang11]

thanks for the replies everyone, esp karheng that was quite helpful. looks like there are a few school of thoughts here. i will keep monitoring this thread for any users feedbacks. :run_away:

[karheng]

Nikkor 18-200mm with VR on is difficult to panning probably because of the lens creep... when you move the lens side to side.. the lens will creep a bit thus difficult to focus...

I read somewhere that 18-200 VR is very clever to detect panning & the mechanism in the lens will stop one of it axis if you pan vertically or horizontally... it even stop the VR function automatically if on a tripod.

However, I'm using the Sigma OS... & very satiisfied with it. Saved me RM800. Here's my simple review http://www.shutterasia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5037

PRobably due to the lens creep. But when you shoot, isn't it that you hold your barrel where you zoom anyway? :?

I guess the difference here lies in the smaller glass on the Sigma and the bigger glass on the Nikon...NIkon has a very heavy ED element in front of the lens...

As for limecity, i think u need to learn panning technique. F1 cars are very fast and require you to have very accurate panning capabilities. Try a motorbike first.....easier to learn...

[limecity]

PRobably due to the lens creep. But when you shoot, isn't it that you hold your barrel where you zoom anyway? :?

I guess the difference here lies in the smaller glass on the Sigma and the bigger glass on the Nikon...NIkon has a very heavy ED element in front of the lens...

As for limecity, i think u need to learn panning technique. F1 cars are very fast and require you to have very accurate panning capabilities. Try a motorbike first.....easier to learn...
whaha. yahor. maybe something wrong with my panning.
i do panning on the tut-tut in thailand with 55mm. already not very sharp liao.

never experience F1 before. hmm will do panning from the tv next time. wahah

[karheng]

This is the construction (http://nikonimaging.com/global/products/lens/af/dx/af-s_dx_vr_zoom18-200mmf_35-56g_if/index.htm) of the Nikon lens... See how big the ED element is?

limecity: practise makes perfect...subjects further away are easier to pan.....

[mki88]

thanks for the replies everyone, esp karheng that was quite helpful. looks like there are a few school of thoughts here. i will keep monitoring this thread for any users feedbacks. :run_away:

That is of course. You wouldn't know how much Karheng is poisoned by these two lenses. :tongue_roll:

[noruazumi]

why need to turn on VR while doing panning? does it help? :?:rolleyes:

i had a chance to tried 70-200VR.
i turned on the VR while doing long exposure.
all became blur and i was wondering to myself why it happened.
then first thing came to my mind, the VR!
i turned it off, and no more blur.

[karheng]

That is of course. You wouldn't know how much Karheng is poisoned by these two lenses. :tongue_roll:

Wahahaha tested both extensively...Can say that each has its own strengths but really prefer the nikon for the quality of the photos...if there is demand i will post the shots from both lenses here...albeit in different conditions...

[PSi]

I read one member posting b4 say..

Nikon VR = cannot panning shot
Sigma OS = yes panning shot

:-D

VR has a switch with 2 modes, Normal and Active.
Set to normal for panning, VR will correct for up and down movement but will leave side to side alone.
Active, it will compensate for both side-to-side, as well as up-and-down, so cannot use for panning.
Please read the owner's manual.

[sedut]

I'm new here. Will try not to step on anybody's toe.

This is totally from my own experience and personal opinion:

I have not tried the sigma 18-200, but I have the Nikon lens. Personally, it's a versatile lens and I'm happy with it. The picture is sharp especially 30mm onward. I believed many noticed that at 200mm the lens is a bit soft at the corner, yet centre sharpness is still good.

I've seen your photos at flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/yuliang11), so I know all the debate about panning will not really bother you. Since you shoot more on landscape and scenery, lens creeping might not be a big issue. The VR is reliable, but if you stick to your addiction on long exposure, it will not mean much.

In case you also considering Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC MACRO HSM to replace your kit lens, the Nikon 18-200mm has 72mm diameter, hence you can use your same CPL on both lens.

Although the Nikon is not a macro lens, but you can focus as close as 0.5m. Quite ok lor to get the macro-like effect. I've read some review saying that the "Nikon 18-200mm is like a Swiss Army Knife. You can do a lot of things, but a tool created for specific function can always beat the Swiss Army Knife." So don't compare the close focusing ability with what you get with your SP90 and the sharpness that Tamron (17-50) or Sigma (18-50) have at 18-30mm.

[yuliang11]

looks like a tough choice. anyone knows the particular magnification of nikon 18-200 vr ?

[karheng]

looks like a tough choice. anyone knows the particular magnification of nikon 18-200 vr ?

1:4.3 if macro...

[sedut]

just one more thing... again sharing my experience.

I still have not managed to quickly adapt to the zooming method used by sigma because I'm used to Nikon lens. This is not a matter of which is better but just something that you need to get used to.

Nikon - turn right to zoom
Sigma - turn left to zoom

Whenever I changed my Nikon 18-200mm to Sigma 18-50mm and quickly try to shoot...always turn the wrong way...hehehe

[yuliang11]

updated from feedbacks around

Sigma 18-200 OS

pros

around rm 700 cheaper
1:3 macro capablity without changing lens
OS works very well
sweet spot at 200mm.
HSM version fast and close focusing
Lightweight and easy to zoom in and out..
No zoom creep (new, not sure old)
sigma's lens produce much saturated images

cons
heard it's a soft lens (at certain distances and 18mm)
Metering and IQ of lens may not be perfect with ext flash.
No manual override (can't really remember)
NO resale value

nikon 18-200 vr


pros
Image quality above average for zoom range throughout
Accurate metering and better IQ with Nikon bodies
Internal focusing
Good built quality
VR has 2 steps, active and normal
Can manually adjust focus while using AF.
Good resale value
1:4.3 unofficial macro


cons
a little more expansive
zoom creep
a bit soft at 200mm

[bobtahar]

PRobably due to the lens creep. But when you shoot, isn't it that you hold your barrel where you zoom anyway? :?

I guess the difference here lies in the smaller glass on the Sigma and the bigger glass on the Nikon...NIkon has a very heavy ED element in front of the lens...

As for limecity, i think u need to learn panning technique. F1 cars are very fast and require you to have very accurate panning capabilities. Try a motorbike first.....easier to learn...

2 technique I usually do when panning...

1. with my 70-200 f2.8 or previously nikkor 70-300 (non vr).. I just follow the object form left to right (either way) and snap in burst mode... only chose the sharpest.

2. with Sigma 18-200 OS... while OS on... I just need to follow & while the object in center I just took 1 snap only and follow thru... the OS help to make the image sharper...

regarding VR... I heard the panning problem from the user... never try for myself yet.

[karheng]

2 technique I usually do when panning...

1. with my 70-200 f2.8 or previously nikkor 70-300 (non vr).. I just follow the object form left to right (either way) and snap in burst mode... only chose the sharpest.

2. with Sigma 18-200 OS... while OS on... I just need to follow & while the object in center I just took 1 snap only and follow thru... the OS help to make the image sharper...

regarding VR... I heard the panning problem from the user... never try for myself yet.

yuliang11: too much saturation can be harmful to the pics also...esp if using with d40, overblown red channel...

bob: hehehe i never tried panning with the sigma 18-200 OS. But your photos do look very good! It could be Sigma reverse engineered the VR lens to make the OS and tried to improve on it?

[yuliang11]

yuliang11: too much saturation can be harmful to the pics also...esp if using with d40, overblown red channel...



agree if u shoot human

[yiks]

Actually, its best to go to a shop and try them both out. I actually found the Sigma sharper and OS very slightly better. Dint test extensively.

So I searched the web and found this link...

Nikon 18 200 (http://naturephotoadvisor.com/Articles/Nikon%2018-200mm%20Lens%20Review/Nikon%2018-200mm%20Lens%20Review.htm)

would be interesting to hear ppls views on this link.
Especially how using RAW will be able to capture more detail.

[sedut]

the review looks intensive.

yuliang...go to your favourite camera shop...close your eyes (but always open one eye if they have gorgeous amoi) and buy lah.

follow your heart...

then later post your own review of what ever lens that you purchased.

[yuliang11]

the review looks intensive.

yuliang...go to your favourite camera shop...close your eyes (but always open one eye if they have gorgeous amoi) and buy lah.

follow your heart...

then later post your own review of what ever lens that you purchased.


hehhe .thanks everyone . tough choice ahead

[limecity]

think i also kenak poison already ahaha

[razes]

so yuliang11, finally you decide to buy which one of the two lenses?can you share?