With respect, I have the 18-200 DC OC directly from SIGMA in exchange for an old not from AC to AC / DC, convertable lens to an exchange price. Kudos to SIGMA for this excellent service. The lens was tested before handing over by a very friendly and competent technician in the laboratory on all mechanical and optical functions and found properly. I use it for 6 months on the Canon 350 D as a standard lens and am over its versatility so excited that my other lenses (SIGMA18-50 DC, CANON 28-80AC / DC Macro, SIGMA 35-135 AC / DC Macro) hardly used. The mechanical stabilizer brings about 3 f-stops, works perfectly and thus compensates for the occasionally criticized luminous intensity from my perspective over completely. The battery is claimed by the OC servos imperceptibly more. Instead of as formerly "plattzublitzen" intimate photos to reach with the help of the OC already good results at room lighting. The zoom range equivalent to the information as far as I could determine this. There are under the same conditions, the same image sections obtained as with my other lenses and mini tripod I leave now, thanks to OC at home. The distortion at 18mm and architectural embossed motifs is absolutely unacceptable for me, totally unnoticeable for landscape and portrait shots, if you follow the simple rules of photography. The other reviews occasionally criticized weaknesses (dull images or blurring, focal defects, etc.) I can not confirm. They do not occur in my copy. Unfortunately, I could not see in which program modes and with what types of cameras occurred these weaknesses. A call to SIGMA would be my recommendation. Remarkably I find the high quality of production and finish and the pleasant handling. Also noteworthy is the caliber and weight of this really highly recommended travel lens.
