By: lukua (11-Jul-08)      Experience with product: 4 Months

Strengths:	focus fast! clearly the zoom range combined with the wide-angle in one lens! one lens to suit most of situations, GOOD VR
Weaknesses:	BAD Seal! DUSTS go into the lens. 5-year warranty doesn't cover cleaning the dust in the lens. What does warranty cover?

Full User Summary
BAD Seal! DUSTS go into the lens. 5-year warranty doesn't cover cleaning the dust in the lens. What does warranty cover? If 5-year warranty doesn't cover cleaning the dust in the lens, What should warranty cover?

By: annon (21-Feb-08)      Experience with product: 8 Days

Strengths:	Lens is built well. The VR works great. Great pictures.
Weaknesses:	none that I can tell.

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My wife and I love playing with this lens. We will probably buy no more lenses. This is a doit all lens. I am happy with it.

By: touristguy87 (07-Jan-08)      Experience with product: 7 Days

Strengths:	clearly the zoom range combined with the wide-angle
Weaknesses:	not quite sharp at full-zoom even at F8

Full User Summary
I would rate this a step below the Sony/Tamron SAL18-250 in terms of sharpness across the frame...clearly it doesn't have the 250mm range (and I would happily take a bigger, faster, sharper more-expensive lens) but in general it is about the lens that I want, 95% of the time. That 18-250mm was schweet, though, making this just "ok". I have some hesitations about it when shooting landscapes at full-zoom, and I am sure that some lens-correction is necessary in PP. Otherwise, very nice. Focuses well, especially on the D300, not slow, does what I want. Noticeably heavier and less sharp wide-open, though, than the SAL18-250 on the A700 so if you are mostly interested in day shooting that is a serious alternative that you should look at. But I think the VR is better here and clearly the noise grain is better on the D300 than on the a700. All in all this lens on the D300 gives me something that I couldn't get with EOS: a nice, long, wide, reasonably fast and sharp lens that focuses well even in the dark. Not to mention in twilight, dusk or even on a cloudy day. I would say that if you want a superzoom, you have a few real choices...this one or the Tamron 18-250 or the 28-300 or something like that, but try to get one with VR on a Nikon frame, from anyone but Nikon. If you go with the Sony you have a choice. With Nikon, I'm pretty-sure this is the only real choice. With Canon there really is no choice other than the Canon 28-300. The Sigma 18-200 just sucks (you can get some decent shots out of it if you are lucky and it focuses well, but most of the time it won't focus well). Don't believe me? Check my 400D or my Sigma 18-200 review. This is WAAAAY better. And not bad in and of itself. By the way I am talking about a lens that will give you some form of VR when mounted on a suitable DSLR. If you're happy to go without that, then you do have a lot of options from Canon and Tamron. I hate tripods with a passion....now, if I were comparing this lens to another lens, I would put up comparison shots. When and if another option comes out for my new D300, I will look into this further. As it is, just take my word on it. This is an "ok" lens. Not great, but it will do a good job with just about every shot you want to take with it, as long as you do not need images that are sharp across the whole frame. It's not *that* good.

By: retired pro (19-Nov-07)      Experience with product: 5 Days

Strengths:	Owned less than 1 week. Giving it a good trial & found nothing to complain about.
Weaknesses:	The creeping zoomI SOLVED THE PROBLEM - IT'S VERY SIMPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Full User Summary
Slide a rubber band over the lens barrel bridging therevolving ring with the 18--200 numbers with the areabehind ( NIKON------DX ) My band - triffle less than1/4 in width - about 2 7/8 in long (flat). The rubber bandis stretched over the lens barrel, causing drag that virtually eliminates the creep. I intend to blacken myblue rubber band with a Sharpie permanent marker.

By: Bern2 (09-Mar-07)      Experience with product: 5 Months

Strengths:	Hand-holding a 300mm equivalent zoom lense and getting sharp photos is this lens' stock and trade. It's fast, crisp and never disappointing.
Weaknesses:	Very difficult to find unless purchased in a kit with a Nikon body.

Full User Summary
Full zoom action shots are consistently more accurate because of the speed and vibration reduction functions. While this lens is pricey, you must consider it will replace at least two or possibly three lenses. You will save time in a fast moving environment because you won't be changing lenses at the perfect moment. The lens feels solid and comfortable. The zoom ring progresses nicely throughout the range. The auto focus is breathtakingly fast and spot on. One question remains: Why hasn't Canon produced a similar lens?