Possible Review of Nikon DX VR 18-200 mm?

[Greg Voevodsky]

I saw a review with a Nikon DX VR 18-200 mm and the our well reviewed Nikon 17-35mm at:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200/18200-sharpness.htm

What does everyone think? If it's a good all around zoom for the Nikon D200, wouldn't be good for red?

How much better is the Nikon 17-35 over this besides the f stops?

What does everyone think? And can we get a test or combo test?

Would it work with a matt box and filters?

[Nick Shaw]

From the picture on the review it looks like it is one of the lenses with no apperture ring, so like the Canon EOS lenses it is (currently) no use for RED.

Or am I not seeing something?

[Steve Gibby]

It's an excellent lens to use on a Nikon D200 or D80, but it has no aperture ring, plus it is designed specifically for APS-C sized sensors, so it won't cover RED's Mysterium sensor.

If Nikon made a full-frame version of the 18-200, with an aperture ring, it would be a real good lens for RED One, but I don't hink they will...

[david farland]

Looked at it yesterday as I'm interested in buying a D200.

Breathes like a dragon!

DF

[Steve Gibby]

I haven't personally used it, but Ken Rockwell and others who have tested it seem to really like the 18-200 VR:

Link: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200.htm
Link: http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/nikkor_18200_3556vr/index.htm
Link: http://nikonimaging.com/global/products/lens/af/dx/af-s_dx_vr_zoom18-200mmf_35-56g_if/index.htm

[Dave Cooper]

You can use the lens on RED with the aperture wide open or totally closed. Not much of a choice but it can be used. I vaguely remember someone from the RED team posting on the DVXUser forums saying that APS-C lenses will work on RED. I would have to search over there to be totally sure.

As far as using this lens, it has creeping issues and the focus ring is less than ideal to use for this application.

[Evin Grant]

Gibby, indeed all the DX Nikkors will cover the Mysterium sensor size which in 2540P is 24.4mm wide the Nikon DX format is 24x16mm In 4K mode Red is 22.2mm wide. Alas without manual aperture control there is YET no way to control exposure on a G Nikkor.

[Steve Gibby]

You're right Evin...I knew it would be close in 2540p, but 4k would work. Too bad there isn't an aperture ring on the 18-200. If it had one, even if it did breath, it would probably make an excellent vari-focal lens for RED. Oh well...close but no cigar (Jim-oriented expression!)

[Ken Corben]

Gibby, indeed all the DX Nikkors will cover the Mysterium sensor size which in 2540P is 24.4mm wide the Nikon DX format is 24x16mm In 4K mode Red is 22.2mm wide. Alas without manual aperture control there is YET no way to control exposure on a G Nikkor.

If the S35 formats are DIN S35mm at 24.05mm wide, ANSI S35mm is 24.9mm wide then how does 22.2mm fit on zeiss S35 prime coverage and ultimately film out to 35?

Is RED going to incorporate micro-lenses in the sensor so there are no fall-off problems. Leica incorporated this technology in the new M8 digital camera. It uses all the film lenses with no restrictions.

[Evin Grant]

Leica incorporated this technology in the new M8 digital camera. It uses all the film lenses with no restrictions.

This is not exactly true, the M8 uses in-built software and 6-bit coding to apply a falloff correction matched to each lens's focal length. So even the M8 does have fal off issues, especially with wide lenses very close to the image plane.

[Greg Voevodsky]

Thanks Gibby and Evin... I thought all Nikon lenses were ok... Too bad, it seems like a cool lense. I still might get it and a new D200 to carry along with RED in the field or at least when I'm scouting something.

[S. Um]

The Nikon 18-200 also has a variable aperture (3.5-5.6), which may make life more difficult if you have to zoom during a shot.

[Darwin]

All DX lens are G series..Yet not all G series are DX. The frustrating part for Me is, my favorite Nikon lens are both G series the 17-55 f/2.8 DX and the70-200VR f/2.8..I wish there was a way around the apperture ring for the RED as I love them two lens. I don't mean to offend anyone but zoom lens with variable apperture like the 18-200VR are consumer junk...However there are some exceptions like Nikons new 70-300VR I use this lens and its tack sharp...But here again its a G series.....errrrrrrrrrrr I need help lol

[Bruce Allen]

Darwin, as mentioned earlier, Birger Engineering (www.birger.com) seem to be working on a 3rd-party control method for G lenses (as well as Canon).

I wrote to them and the president of the company sent me a nice letter back. So, if it's driving you nuts, write them a short email to say you're interested in buying their product when they make it available.

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com
(no affiliation with Birger)

[Martin Drew]

All DX lens are G series..Yet not all G series are DX. The frustrating part for Me is, my favorite Nikon lens are both G series the 17-55 f/2.8 DX and the70-200VR f/2.8..I wish there was a way around the apperture ring for the RED as I love them two lens. I don't mean to offend anyone but zoom lens with variable apperture like the 18-200VR are consumer junk...However there are some exceptions like Nikons new 70-300VR I use this lens and its tack sharp...But here again its a G series.....errrrrrrrrrrr I need help lol

Why exactly is the 18-200 "consumer junK"? is it just that lens or all products aimed at consumers?

M

[Nick Shaw]

Yes, Darwin, that is a bit of a sweeping statement. My Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM is by your definition 'junk'. It does not have a consistent maximum aperture through the zoom range, and is not even one of Canon's L-series lenses. It is nevertheless highly regarded, and I am certainly hoping that Birger Engineering's adaptor will let me use it on my RED.

'Superzooms' like the 18-200 are by their nature always a compromise, but sometimes the trade-off for convenience is a worthwhile one.

[chuck colburn]

I wonder if anyone out there has been looking into converting these various electrical/mechanical aperture lens to straight mechanical (iris control ring) control.

[Evin Grant]

I love my 18-200 but it is not a practical choice for Red, even with an electronic control unit. The zoom is very sharp from 18-100 and still good from 100-200 but it is not built in a way that lends it's self to cinema shooting. The length alomst triples when zooming and focusing is a very short throw as well as having a very dramatic effect on actual focal length, at infinity the 200mm is actually 200 but at 6ft it's more like 135mm.

Stick to the 17-35, 80-200 and primes for now.

[Dave Cooper]

Yea I wouldn't call the 18-200VR junk, but it definitely isn't meant for professional work.

Ken Rockwell has alot of reviews on his site but I just take them as his own opinion. Nothing to make the standard off of. He tries saying the 18-55 DX kit lens is the same as the 17-55 DX lens minus the 2.8. Evin if you have the 18-55 kit lens, think you could do a comparison between the two? I doubt they only differ by a 2.8 f-stop. There has to be a sharpness difference.

[Evin Grant]

Nikon has become very good at making their conumer optics perform well. But I have no use for an 18-55 consumer lens even if it does match the 17-55 for sharpness.

[Dave Cooper]

Yes I know most if not all Nikon glass is great but an extra thousand dollars for just a metal body with 2.8?

Guess that is a topic for another thread.

Either way I agree that the 18-200 is not fit for RED.

[Ace]

Hitchcock wouldve loved it!

[Darwin]

Wow...Guys I'm really sorry. I did not mean to offend anyone over the 18-200VR...I have one and a 70-300VR I like them both. I use them for traval when I want to go light. I would go so far as to say the 18-200VR is amazing for what it is. However it is not considered commercial grade glass. Good luck with low light situations and durability especially when that lens barrel is extended. The 18-200VR was ment to be a one lens solution and Not a work horse for the professional. I could go on , But I see it would be pointless. if you like the 18-200vr that much and find a way to use a "G lens" on the RED. I wish you the best...

[Darwin]

[QUOTE=Martin;13870]Why exactly is the 18-200 "consumer junK"? is it just that lens or all products aimed at consumers?

Hello Martin,
I was rferring to the build quality and variable apertures of consumer grade glass. An important distinction made by the lens manufactures them selves. Junk was a poor choice of words, Sorry!