Just how "not as sharp" are super zoom lenses?

[nemesis256]

The recent poll results titled "The Lenses We Would Have If We Could Have No Other Lenses" are the reason I'm asking this. The results had the Nikon 18-200mm at the top. Now I've also read many times that super zoom lenses such as this one just aren't as sharp as lenses that don't zoom as much. For this reason, I got a kit 18-55mm lens with my D5000, and I'm planning on buying a 55-200mm lens in the future. Yes one lens would be nice, but the "not as sharp" problem kept me away from the 18-200mm (and the fact that I would be spending twice as much money). Do any of you have comparison shots?

[OsmosisStudios]

I dont have any head-to-head comparisons, but I found that, even without pixel-peeping, my 18-200 was soft at most focal lengths and most apertures. it sweetened up in a few places around f/11, but that meant shooting in nothing but perfect light.

I've sold it.

[jdepould]

If you shoot everything between f/8 and f/11, you probably won't see much difference. Most people wouldn't. If you shoot wide open with the sunset backlighting your scene, or you shoot basketball you'll see the difference right quick.

[Juju]

I'm a novice at this whole DSLR thing, but I started with a long zoom lens (borrowed) and JUST got a prime lens a month or so ago. Even my unpracticed eye noticed the difference in sharpness immediately.

[kirbinster]

Well the 18-200 is not as sharp as the 70-200, but sharp is subjective and it depends on how and what you shoot. Why not take a look at flickr (or other site) where you can search for pictures taken with the lens.

The 55-200 is actually slightly sharper at 200 than the 18-200. Before you buy the 55-200 I would suggest you consider the 70-300VR. It is a great lens, and you can pick on up used for around $400. It is sharper and gives you more reach and a better VR system.

[dcclark]

As an owner of a Nikon 18-200, I've never found noticeable softness. Unless you're viewing at 100% or selling to stock sites, you won't notice it. The only people who do find these kinds of problems are typically looking for them -- if you are looking at a photo itself and not its pixels, you'd never notice.

You are far more likely to cause softness yourself through poor focusing, camera shake, or too high ISOs. Only if you shoot absolutely perfect photos every time, and you look at them at 100%, might you notice anything.

[Shokinen]

Originally Posted by kirbinster

Before you buy the 55-200 I would suggest you consider the 70-300VR. It is a great lens, and you can pick on up used for around $400. It is sharper and gives you more reach and a better VR system.

I agree with Kirbinster.

[Aegea]

I have a 30-700VR and an older (but fairly well regarded) prime , the Nikon 100mm f2.8 E. I can't really see any difference in sharpness between them at 100mm. I guess all that says is that they are both sharper than the D40's sensor, of course.