Nikon 55-200mm vs Nikon 18-200mm


NovaJet

New Member
Aug 23, 2011
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Hi a dSLR newbie here,

Currently I have a 18-55mm vr (kit lens from d5100), a 18-105mm vr and a 35mm f1.8 prime.

I'm considering buying the nikon 55-200mm vr lens. I have heard it is a telephoto lens.

So I have to ask, will the 200mm zoom on this lens give me the same highest magnification level as the expensive 18-200mm vr? Both being 200mm at their longest? The lens size is much larger tho (52 vs 72mm) for the 18-200mm.

If not, then how many times zoom will I get with the 55-200mm? I know the nikon 18-200mm vr gives a 10x zoom, but I get the feeling that this might not give me 10x. Or will I get the same amount of zoom, just a narrower image (cos of telephoto)?

Also lastly, do you think this lens is worth adding in my arsenal of lenses?

Thanks for your replies!!! :)
 

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3.6363636 times
 

Hi a dSLR newbie here,

Currently I have a 18-55mm vr (kit lens from d5100), a 18-105mm vr and a 35mm f1.8 prime.

I'm considering buying the nikon 55-200mm vr lens. I have heard it is a telephoto lens.

So I have to ask, will the 200mm zoom on this lens give me the same highest magnification level as the expensive 18-200mm vr? Both being 200mm at their longest? The lens size is much larger tho (52 vs 72mm) for the 18-200mm.

If not, then how many times zoom will I get with the 55-200mm? I know the nikon 18-200mm vr gives a 10x zoom, but I get the feeling that this might not give me 10x. Or will I get the same amount of zoom, just a narrower image (cos of telephoto)?

Also lastly, do you think this lens is worth adding in my arsenal of lenses?

Thanks for your replies!!! :)

you have a 18-55 , an 18-105 now you thinking of a 18-200

all overlap yr lens..
 

Hi a dSLR newbie here,

Currently I have a 18-55mm vr (kit lens from d5100), a 18-105mm vr and a 35mm f1.8 prime.

I'm considering buying the nikon 55-200mm vr lens. I have heard it is a telephoto lens.

So I have to ask, will the 200mm zoom on this lens give me the same highest magnification level as the expensive 18-200mm vr? Both being 200mm at their longest? The lens size is much larger tho (52 vs 72mm) for the 18-200mm.

If not, then how many times zoom will I get with the 55-200mm? I know the nikon 18-200mm vr gives a 10x zoom, but I get the feeling that this might not give me 10x. Or will I get the same amount of zoom, just a narrower image (cos of telephoto)?

Also lastly, do you think this lens is worth adding in my arsenal of lenses?

Thanks for your replies!!! :)

In DSLR terms, we don't use the 10 times zoom or whatever number..18-200 just means it can zoom from 18mm to 200mm. The zoom factor is 200/18, so comparing 200/18 vs 55-200, even the magnification factor of 18-200 is higher, it DON'T mean that the max zoom is higher. both still is at 200mm at the tele end.

If you don't need it, don't get it. Lens are not collectibles like pokemons...also you have an overlapping in 18-55 and 18-105, you may want to sell off either one.


3.6363636 times

:thumbsup:, you are so kind to cut off the 636363....63 for him :bsmilie:
 

You should sell off your 18-55mm and get a 70-300mm instead if you need a zoom lens :)
 

X times zoom is just a marketing gimmick to confuse normal PnS users. Use the focal length number as an indicator how far reach your lens can go.

If u can stretch ur budget, sell off ur 18-55mm and get a 70-300mm VR. It's a better lens and it'll give you more reach than the 55-200.
 

In DSLR terms, we don't use the 10 times zoom or whatever number..18-200 just means it can zoom from 18mm to 200mm. The zoom factor is 200/18, so comparing 200/18 vs 55-200, even the magnification factor of 18-200 is higher, it DON'T mean that the max zoom is higher. both still is at 200mm at the tele end.

If you don't need it, don't get it. Lens are not collectibles like pokemons...also you have an overlapping in 18-55 and 18-105, you may want to sell off either one.




:thumbsup:, you are so kind to cut off the 636363....63 for him :bsmilie:

no i didn't. it the max my phone cal can display.
 

Wow thanks for all the replies...! :)

So I guess the focal length is 18/200/300mm right? So the higher the number goes, the longer the reach? I guess I should ignore the zoom factor then as it is just relative to the shortest length of the lens...

Also, what is telephoto? Cos I also see the longer range zooms being called telephoto zoom... is there a non-telephoto 300mm zoom, for example?

Trying to keep costs down so not looking into expensive prime lenses first. I am already considering getting the 70-300, as I think it's very good advice. but the price is somewhat higher than the 55-200 that I was thinking of getting. As somebody did mentioned, to sell the 18-55. But I do like the weight of it (lighter than my 18-105)....

Also, is the 50mm f1.4 dx prime good to have as well? I've seen that it is quite expensive... My d5100 cannot auto focus on the non dx lenses... or get a d7000??

Sorry for asking so many qns :)

Thanks in advance for the replies... :)
 

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sell off your 18-105 then.

for everything else, there is Google.
 

sell off your 18-105 then.

for everything else, there is Google.

But if I sell off my 18-105, won't there be a gap between 18-55 and 70-300?
 

But if I sell off my 18-105, won't there be a gap between 18-55 and 70-300?

there is not much difference between 55 and 70mm.

if you wanna keep your 18-105, then sell off your 18-55.
 

for everything else, there is Google.

Oh..... have googled about it ... everything above 100mm is considered telephoto, and everything under 50mm is considered wide angle. :) Great to know that!!

Hmm... okay I will have to decide if which of the 18-xx zooms I will keep... I am already looking at the Nikon 70-300mm VR... and am abandoning plans on getting the 55-200mm. Can anyone recommend me any links or place/person I can get the 70-300 at a good price from? :D
 

Oh..... have googled about it ... everything above 100mm is considered telephoto, and everything under 50mm is considered wide angle. :) Great to know that!!

Hmm... okay I will have to decide if which of the 18-xx zooms I will keep... I am already looking at the Nikon 70-300mm VR... and am abandoning plans on getting the 55-200mm. Can anyone recommend me any links or place/person I can get the 70-300 at a good price from? :D

i not sure how good the nikon 70-300 is but i will still suggest you take a look at the tamron 70-300 vc usd also.

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/threads/458315-Nikon-Price-Lists-(Singapore)-2009-2011
 

Do afs 70-300mm work well on a DX body(D7000). Crop factor is different if i am not wrong?
70-300mm is a FX len correct?
Can anyone give me a brief understanding? Thank you very much.
 

55-200mm has faster f stops than 18-200mm lens in the same zoom comparison.
 

Huh...did I see wrongly?

Nikon 55-200mm VR AF-S f/4-5.6G ED has faster f stop than Nikon 18-200mm VR f3.5-5.6 ED??
 

Do afs 70-300mm work well on a DX body(D7000). Crop factor is different if i am not wrong?
70-300mm is a FX len correct?
Can anyone give me a brief understanding? Thank you very much.

AFD 50mm f1.8 & 80-200mm f2.8 are also FX lens but I'm using them on my D90 :)