Canon EF-S 18 200mm F 3 5 5 6 IS Review | 54 Data compared

The DPReview evaluation of the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens highlights its utility as a versatile, all-in-one travel option featuring a robust 11x zoom range and an effective image stabilization (IS) system. Key advantages include impressive center sharpness throughout the zoom range, pleasant bokeh, a useful zoom lock, and a build quality superior to standard kit lenses. Conversely, the lens is less suited for critical work due to a slower, noisier micro-motor autofocus system that lacks full-time manual focus override. Optically, it compromises with significant, noticeable geometric distortions and pronounced chromatic aberration, along with weak corner sharpness across the range.

The Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is a lightweight, 21-ounce "vacation lens" designed exclusively for APS-C dSLR bodies, offering a versatile 29-320mm equivalent focal range and effective 4-stop image stabilization. It delivers remarkable sharpness in the central portion of the frame at almost any focal length or aperture combination, with peak performance achieved when stopped down to f/5.6 or f/8. Additional pros include well-controlled corner shading that virtually disappears at 80mm or greater when stopped down to f/11, filter threads that do not rotate during use, and a built-in zoom lock switch to effectively counter the lens's tendency to creep between 24mm and 135mm. However, the lens makes several compromises in optical performance and mechanical functionality. Major cons include noticeably soft image corners at wide apertures under 80mm, unexceptional chromatic aberration resistance, and significant complex distortion that shifts from barrel distortion at 18mm to a "moustache" effect of blended barrel and pincushion distortion from 24mm onwards. Furthermore, because it lacks a Ultrasonic Motor (USM), the autofocus is driven by gears that generate a low-frequency whizzing sound and focus slower than...

The Canon EF-S 18-200mm IS is described as a highly sharp, versatile lens featuring effective image stabilization, rapid autofocus, and close-focusing macro capabilities. It is deemed a convenient, do-it-all option for general photography that eliminates the need to change lenses. Drawbacks highlighted include "primitive" manual focus mechanics, where the ring moves too quickly for precise adjustments, and the ring rotates during autofocus. Additionally, the lens produces significant geometric distortion at certain focal lengths, according to the review.

The ePHOTOzine review highlights the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS as a versatile 11x zoom travel lens for APS-C users, offering very good central sharpness and an effective four-stop image stabilizer. However, the lens compromises on edge sharpness, exhibits significant chromatic aberration, and suffers from heavy geometric distortion at extreme focal lengths.

The Canon EF-S 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS is an 11.1x super-zoom lens designed exclusively for cropped-body (APS-C) Canon DSLRs, delivering an impressive equivalent focal range of 29-320mm. The primary advantage of this lens is its immense versatility, allowing photographers to capture wide-angle landscapes and distant wildlife without ever needing to change lenses. This convenience saves time, reduces gear weight, and minimizes the risk of dust entering the camera body. Additionally, it features a highly beneficial optical Image Stabilization (IS) system, which effectively counteracts camera shake and provides a stabilized preview directly through the viewfinder for easier composition at long focal lengths. However, achieving such a broad zoom range introduces notable performance compromises. A key disadvantage is the lack of a quick, quiet Ultrasonic Motor (USM) for autofocusing; instead, the lens uses a standard motor where the manual focusing ring physically rotates during autofocus. The maximum aperture of f3.5-5.6 is standard and offers no low-light advantage, while the overall optical sharpness cannot match that of shorter-range zoom lenses. Furthermore, like most of Canon's non-L series gear, the lens hood is not included...

The Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is an entry-level "super" zoom lens designed specifically for APS-C format DSLRs, tested here on the Canon EOS 50D camera body. This lens offers a highly versatile 11.1x focal range equivalent to 29-320mm on full-format systems, positioned to compete with similar all-in-one lenses from Tamron and Nikon. It provides solid usability through a built-in Optical Image Stabilizer that delivers roughly a 3-stop real-world advantage. Additionally, the optical design includes a non-rotating front element, allowing photographers to easily use polarizing filters. The autofocus speed and overall accuracy are generally fine, even though the lens surprisingly utilizes a conventional DC micro-motor rather than Canon's signature USM technology. However, the lens has notable compromises regarding its physical build and manual operation. The exterior construction features average plastic quality, and the manual focus ring feels exceptionally cheap. A significant design drawback is that the focus ring physically rotates during autofocusing operations, which prevents full-time manual focusing (FTM) and requires users to keep their hands clear of the ring. Furthermore, the tested sample suffered from zoom creeping, though a...

The Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC (Model B018) for Canon EF-S mounts is a highly affordable, ultra-lightweight super-zoom lens designed for APS-C enthusiasts seeking convenience on a budget. Weighing just 400 grams and costing $249, it stands as the lightest and cheapest lens in its super-zoom class. A major pro of this updated model is the inclusion of Tamron’s Vibration Compensation (VC) system, which effectively counteracts camera shake to help users capture sharper handheld shots. Optically, the lens performs at its absolute best at the wider 18mm to 50mm focal lengths and at wider apertures up to f/8, where center frame resolution is high, while distortion is completely nonexistent at 28mm. Vignetting and chromatic aberrations are also remarkably well-controlled across most standard shooting configurations. However, the lens suffers from notable performance trade-offs, earning a low overall DxOMark score of 11 points due to low peak sharpness. The primary con is its dark maximum aperture of f/6.3 at the 200mm end, which drops to a measured T-stop of just over 6.7; this heavily dims the viewfinder and degrades autofocus performance...

The Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is identified as the top performer due to its superior image stabilization and fastest autofocus speed, making it ideal for action, while the Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC offers the best zoom range (15x) and effective stabilization. The Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS lagged behind in the evaluation, with sluggish autofocus and unreliable image stabilization, according to Michael The Maven. Michael The Maven | While Canon leads in speed and stability, and Tamron offers the longest reach and effective VC, the Sigma option struggled in reliability, notes the Michael The Maven review. The Tamron is noted for its versatility, although it features a slower autofocus motor compared to the Canon. Michael The Maven |