Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC
Review Date : Mon, 3 Mar 2008
Author : WDC Team
This is one of the cheapest lens in this category and is available in Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sigma and Sony mounts...
| Pros: | Price, great chromatic aberration control |
|---|---|
| Cons: | Inconsistent performance, low resolution at 200mm |
This is one of the cheapest lens in this category, and it's available in Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sigma and Sony mounts. It doesn’t offer image stabilisation, and so is best suited to cameras with on-board IS.
Consisting of 15 elements in 13 groups, it includes two Super Low Dispersion (SLD) elements and two hybrid aspherical optics to deal with distortion. Compared with some others, this is a relatively simple lens at a reasonable price.
Its small size and light weight make it useful for travelling, while the zoom operation is fluid, only losing a little traction at 200mm. It’s among the noisiest with regards to focusing.
This lens does a great job at controlling chromatic aberrations at 200mm, with a blinding result at the centre and above average in the corner. Elsewhere the lens puts in a lacklustre performance, with the chromatic aberration readings at 18mm at about average for this type of lens. The resolution, while peaking at nearly 1200lwpph at f/4, rapidly fall offs into mediocrity. At 200mm, the low resolution is matched only by Nikon's alternative.
Verdict
A bit of a disappointment with inconsistent performance
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Latest comments
February 21 02:15
Christian
I believe you guys got the wrong product picture, this is the none OC version is it not?
January 02 20:31
John
This is a great lens - dont be put off by the above review - I have taken some great photos with this lens on a Cannon EOS 400D
February 06 22:20
teluk
I have had this lens for 3 months and it performs well, I have no complaints at all
August 05 14:06
Tony Shapps
I've been shooting incoming aircraft at airshows at full 200mm and then enlarging centre section with great success and quality!