much better than expected - is currently the best travel zoom

- Sigma 18-200 OS
- Sigma 18-250 OS
- Tamron 18-250
- Tamron 18-270 VC
- Tamron 18-270 VC PZD
- Nikkor 18-200 VR I
- Nikkor 18-200 VR II

The results were mostly disappointing, the focus moved somewhere between mediocre and disastrous. Since I am traveling but definitely did not want to toil with 2-3 interchangeable lenses, I contented myself until a few weeks as a makeshift with the Tamron 18-270 VC. Really happy I was with this not (reasonably useful picture quality, but lousy and annoying AF Zoom Creep), but all other tested lenses were the bottom line is even worse - even the Nikkor 18-200 VR I. Therefore, I was expecting from the successor VR II not much, since it was said that the optics would be unchanged from the VR I.

Is that really true? I doubt it. It may of course be that my old VR I was a cucumber (series dispersion finally there even with Nikon) - at least my new 18-200 VR II is visually so much better than the previous version. Definition and resolution differ in the lower range of focal lengths hardly of my very good Tamron 17-50 2.8 VC. In the middle focal lengths it is reflected also bravely; at least my copy proved the inexpensive but good Nikkor 18-105 VR clearly superior. At the top of it could almost keep up with my venerable Nikkor 80-200 2.8D. Against 200mm it is admittedly a bit softer, but still OK. Full set appears this is 18-200 VR II Although in most focal lengths not bad, but when the shooting situation allows, I would still recommend stopping down to f8 (sharpness gain). The latter is combined with the super zoom more typical weak luminosity of course a clear disadvantage compared to 2.8er zoom or fixed focal length - but the comparison is not fair, because after all this is about an entirely different class, namely, the "jack of all trades" under the lenses. Long live the space- and weight-saving travel Zoom! :)

That I do not write to the distortion of the VR II, has a reason: I do not know them and they do not interest me. First, the D7000 can correct internally, secondly, it can, for example, Lightroom or DxO also automatically done. To my knowledge, there are even freeware that contrives the. So nowadays only a minor point, not a critical evaluation criterion more than ever with analogue systems.

Oh, another important point: The autofocus of the Nikkor is absolutely first class. Fast and reliable, as it should be - that is exactly what I missed when Tamron 18-270 VC and why earlier hiked several images in the digital dustbin.

Conclusion: strong buy recommendation! The Nikkor 18-200 VR II is indeed an expensive, but worth every Euro. Who does not want to change lenses estates, wants to carry around less weight with them and / or simply looking for a holiday and round appearance, is right here.