Customer Rating: 
Summary: 3.5 would be more accurate
Comment: I have had this lens since 9 July, and used it without incident until 25 July, when the OS failed. Up to that point, I would have given this lens a five-star rating without the slightest hesitation. The distortion control, as well as the sharpness on the first sample were excellent. Furthermore, the focus was accurate to a T in all situations, including very low light.
The replacement lens, which I have now used for about a week, does not have nearly the same sharpness at the edges. It is fine in very bright light, but in dimmer situations, both the sharpness, and the focussing ability, are not up to the standard of the first sample.
I also find that the OS on this sample does not give the same f-stop compensation as on the first one.
This said, the lens remains a good one, and I would still recommend it for use with the Nikon D40.
Whether or not I will retain this one, or again request a replacement based on the less than stellar focussing ability in low light/low contrast situations remains to be seen.
Customer Rating:
Summary: excellent lens
Comment: I have tried many lens with my 40D. I like the 18-55mm IS kit lens. It's probably the sharpest standard lens that Canon ever made. 28-135mm IS is also good, but lack of 18-27mm zoom. I sold it and bought the Sigma 17-70mm and Sigma 18-125mm OS. I returned 17-70mm because I have shaking hands and most of my photos are indoor. I also returned 18-125mm because it produce very very soft and lack of contrast. Almost like older P&S digital camera. I then bought the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8. Hoping the f/2.8 will help with my shaky hand and indoor situation. I return it after compare to my 18-55mm IS. Not worth the extra $300 for Tamron for the same zoom. Finally, I decide to buy the Sigma 18-200mm OS after reading many positive and negative reviews. To my surprise, 18-200mm is very sharp lens in ALL ranges. I read that lens can be soft at certain zoom. I have tried for a week to try to find the soft spot, I can't find it. The only thing I noticed is the "strong" OS motion. I can really see the OS kicks-in. I was surprised that I got almost all keepers in my "walking" shots. Highly recommended. I don't know if any lens in this range can be better, especailly with OS.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good lens for the money
Comment: I buy many products based upon reviews from other users. That is also the case with this lens. I bought my Nikon D40 about 3 months ago (after 10 years of using point and shoots, including my treasured Canon S2is super zoom), with the kit 18-55mm lens, plus I bought a Nikon 55-200mm VR lens. I love the VR lens, but traveling through Europe for 2 1/2 weeks proved to me that I HATE changing lenses. It's inconvenient and potentially contaminates the inside of the camera body. So, I started looking around at something that I could use as a single walk-around lens. I love the wide angle perspective of the 18mm end, plus needed at least 200mm for the telephoto end. I liked the idea of Tamron's 18-250mm, but it's not image stabilized, which is really essential at the telephoto end. So, back to the Sigma. I read Camera Labs review of the non-stabilized Sigma 18-200mm, and it was favorable. So, I figured that the new stabilized version would be at least as good, and probably better.
I have not used this lens much over the past couple of weeks, but have found that (with a couple of exceptions), it focuses at least as quickly as the 18-55mm Nikkor kit lense, if not faster. The OS works great, making hand-held photos rock solid at 200mm. The only thing that I haven't spent a lot of time doing is taking indoor photos with it. I have taken indoor photos with the onboard flash, and they seem to work fine. I have not had much luck getting sharp photos at the telephoto end indoors, but admittedly have not tried very hard. I'll update this later, as I get more experience. Based upon what I know now, I am NOT AT ALL SORRY that I bought this lens. I was really having a hard time choosing between this and the [MUCH more expensive] Nikkor 18-200mm, but this lens seems like it is well worth the money spent. The focus/OS noise does not bother me at all (In fact, it's reassuring to hear that the camera is trying to focus, etc...). The only thing I wish Sigma had done was to make the lens Auto/Manual focus without having to move the switch from Auto to Manual, which the Nikkor can do. However, if it auto-focuses reliably, I guess it won't be a big deal. The zoom ring is a little tight right now, but I imagine that it will loosen up over time (hopefully not to the point of requiring the lock to be engaged). I also like the large manual focus ring; the Nikkor's is much smaller. Don't be put off by the 72mm diameter (which I was initially). It's not a big deal. Yes, it is quite a bit heavier and larger than the kit lens (or even my 55-200mm Nikkor), but not overly so. In fact, it makes the camera easier to hold, since I think the D40/40x/60 grip is just a little too small. I was concerned that the onboard flash will be blocked by the lens, but it seems to have no effect. I'm not seeing any shadowing. I'll keep you advised on how my ongoing review is going.
Happy shooting!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Sigma 18-200mm Image stabilization, for Canon
Comment: I bought the lens to give me more range without changing lens. Does the job. I bought it right before I went on vacation. Took a while to get use to it. Makes very good pictures at all ranges. I found that I didn't need the 200mm, except for rare occasion. The Image Stabilization was what I wanted since I could not use a tripod on vacation. Only a few pictures showed movement. Even used it in helicopter ride. Got some good pictures.
The only problems I had were the weight. It is heavy for me. Carrying it all day gets tiring. The barrel is quite big, but know it is the I.S. There is some lens creep, had to use the lock. One thing that was hard to get use to was grabbing the focus ring with it in auto focus. The ring is too easy to find.
Overall, it is a good lens. Picture quality is good, and price is good. Good general use lens.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Sigma AF 18mm-200mm review
Comment: This is a great lens. My wife is a newspaper photographer/reporter. She uses this lens as her primary walk-around. The 18mm-200mm range gives her a great deal of flexibility without having to carry extra lenses and go through the lens changing dance. Imagery with this lens is first rate. The optical stabilization works like a charm. We use it on Canon 30D and 40D bodies. You can find some low-res images here:
[...]
Summary: 3.5 would be more accurate
Comment: I have had this lens since 9 July, and used it without incident until 25 July, when the OS failed. Up to that point, I would have given this lens a five-star rating without the slightest hesitation. The distortion control, as well as the sharpness on the first sample were excellent. Furthermore, the focus was accurate to a T in all situations, including very low light.
The replacement lens, which I have now used for about a week, does not have nearly the same sharpness at the edges. It is fine in very bright light, but in dimmer situations, both the sharpness, and the focussing ability, are not up to the standard of the first sample.
I also find that the OS on this sample does not give the same f-stop compensation as on the first one.
This said, the lens remains a good one, and I would still recommend it for use with the Nikon D40.
Whether or not I will retain this one, or again request a replacement based on the less than stellar focussing ability in low light/low contrast situations remains to be seen.
Customer Rating:
Summary: excellent lens
Comment: I have tried many lens with my 40D. I like the 18-55mm IS kit lens. It's probably the sharpest standard lens that Canon ever made. 28-135mm IS is also good, but lack of 18-27mm zoom. I sold it and bought the Sigma 17-70mm and Sigma 18-125mm OS. I returned 17-70mm because I have shaking hands and most of my photos are indoor. I also returned 18-125mm because it produce very very soft and lack of contrast. Almost like older P&S digital camera. I then bought the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8. Hoping the f/2.8 will help with my shaky hand and indoor situation. I return it after compare to my 18-55mm IS. Not worth the extra $300 for Tamron for the same zoom. Finally, I decide to buy the Sigma 18-200mm OS after reading many positive and negative reviews. To my surprise, 18-200mm is very sharp lens in ALL ranges. I read that lens can be soft at certain zoom. I have tried for a week to try to find the soft spot, I can't find it. The only thing I noticed is the "strong" OS motion. I can really see the OS kicks-in. I was surprised that I got almost all keepers in my "walking" shots. Highly recommended. I don't know if any lens in this range can be better, especailly with OS.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good lens for the money
Comment: I buy many products based upon reviews from other users. That is also the case with this lens. I bought my Nikon D40 about 3 months ago (after 10 years of using point and shoots, including my treasured Canon S2is super zoom), with the kit 18-55mm lens, plus I bought a Nikon 55-200mm VR lens. I love the VR lens, but traveling through Europe for 2 1/2 weeks proved to me that I HATE changing lenses. It's inconvenient and potentially contaminates the inside of the camera body. So, I started looking around at something that I could use as a single walk-around lens. I love the wide angle perspective of the 18mm end, plus needed at least 200mm for the telephoto end. I liked the idea of Tamron's 18-250mm, but it's not image stabilized, which is really essential at the telephoto end. So, back to the Sigma. I read Camera Labs review of the non-stabilized Sigma 18-200mm, and it was favorable. So, I figured that the new stabilized version would be at least as good, and probably better.
I have not used this lens much over the past couple of weeks, but have found that (with a couple of exceptions), it focuses at least as quickly as the 18-55mm Nikkor kit lense, if not faster. The OS works great, making hand-held photos rock solid at 200mm. The only thing that I haven't spent a lot of time doing is taking indoor photos with it. I have taken indoor photos with the onboard flash, and they seem to work fine. I have not had much luck getting sharp photos at the telephoto end indoors, but admittedly have not tried very hard. I'll update this later, as I get more experience. Based upon what I know now, I am NOT AT ALL SORRY that I bought this lens. I was really having a hard time choosing between this and the [MUCH more expensive] Nikkor 18-200mm, but this lens seems like it is well worth the money spent. The focus/OS noise does not bother me at all (In fact, it's reassuring to hear that the camera is trying to focus, etc...). The only thing I wish Sigma had done was to make the lens Auto/Manual focus without having to move the switch from Auto to Manual, which the Nikkor can do. However, if it auto-focuses reliably, I guess it won't be a big deal. The zoom ring is a little tight right now, but I imagine that it will loosen up over time (hopefully not to the point of requiring the lock to be engaged). I also like the large manual focus ring; the Nikkor's is much smaller. Don't be put off by the 72mm diameter (which I was initially). It's not a big deal. Yes, it is quite a bit heavier and larger than the kit lens (or even my 55-200mm Nikkor), but not overly so. In fact, it makes the camera easier to hold, since I think the D40/40x/60 grip is just a little too small. I was concerned that the onboard flash will be blocked by the lens, but it seems to have no effect. I'm not seeing any shadowing. I'll keep you advised on how my ongoing review is going.
Happy shooting!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Sigma 18-200mm Image stabilization, for Canon
Comment: I bought the lens to give me more range without changing lens. Does the job. I bought it right before I went on vacation. Took a while to get use to it. Makes very good pictures at all ranges. I found that I didn't need the 200mm, except for rare occasion. The Image Stabilization was what I wanted since I could not use a tripod on vacation. Only a few pictures showed movement. Even used it in helicopter ride. Got some good pictures.
The only problems I had were the weight. It is heavy for me. Carrying it all day gets tiring. The barrel is quite big, but know it is the I.S. There is some lens creep, had to use the lock. One thing that was hard to get use to was grabbing the focus ring with it in auto focus. The ring is too easy to find.
Overall, it is a good lens. Picture quality is good, and price is good. Good general use lens.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Sigma AF 18mm-200mm review
Comment: This is a great lens. My wife is a newspaper photographer/reporter. She uses this lens as her primary walk-around. The 18mm-200mm range gives her a great deal of flexibility without having to carry extra lenses and go through the lens changing dance. Imagery with this lens is first rate. The optical stabilization works like a charm. We use it on Canon 30D and 40D bodies. You can find some low-res images here:
[...]
Sigma AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS (Optical Stabilizer) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras Reviews: Page 2 of 9
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