Question about lenses

[Ella1267]

I have a Nikon D40 that I absolutely love. I have recently started looking for an all around lense. I would like to buy the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II but it is almost $900. Does anyone have experience good or bad with the Sigma version? I do alot of the auto focusing and very little manual. (still learning) I want a good lense but would settle for something cheaper if the quality is just as good. Any comments on either lense and experience would be an awesome help.
Thank you

[firebox40dash5]

No experience with the Sigma, but if you're willing to buy used, you can save a good bit on the Nikon. The second version of the 18-200mm (the VR II) didn't add anything but a zoom lock, because people complained about the zoom creeping if the lens was pointed up or down. The older version is otherwise identical, and can be picked up a good bit cheaper. A quick look at amazon shows the new version for $750 new or $675 used, or the old version as low as $560 used. I suspect you could find traditional dealers who still have new stock of the old version in the $700 range.

[inkista]

From the samples I've seen, most superzoom lenses have quality about on par with the 18-55 kit lens that comes with most dSLR bodies. You pay for the versatility of the very large zoom range by having more optical compromises throughout the range. You typically have lower contrast, softness at the extremes (also CA and distortion, usually at the wide end), and slow maximum apertures.

That's not to say they're not worth it. The convenience of only having one lens that can go from wide angle to telephoto on a crop body (not to mention the shorter minimum focus distance) is phenomenal.

But if you're after image quality that's just as good for lower cost, splitting across the zoom range with the 18-55, and a 55-200 is certainly going to do it. Especially if you already have the kit lens. A 55-200 VR goes for about $225. Which equates, in my mind, to slightly better image quality for 1/3 the price of an 18-200 VR.

Go for the 18-200 if the price is no big deal and you have to have the zoom range in a single lens. If you'd rather pay less and can put up with changing lenses, then the 18-55 and 55-200 might be a better deal. Or if you want to have more image quality and reach for your money, getting a 70-300 VR might be an even better choice. IMNSHO, SLR lenses are special purpose tools, not general-purpose ones.