18-300mm Nikon lens

[deadshot]

I've just looking at the new 18-300mm Nikon lens.
Obviously they are hoping to compete with the Tamron 18-270mm but it weighs 810 grms and costs £849 over here. Even if I could carry it I couldn't afford it.Thats over £1 per grm.
You can work it out in $
What are your thoughts ??

[TCav]

I have no doubt that it will be popular among those that use their dSLRs to record video.

I would hate to try it on my brand new 24MP D3200.

[kazuya]

the idea of having just one lens that does it all is a good one
but as a walk around lens its a bit on the chunky side

[sguido41]

I was going to get the 18-200, as I had a great experience with it on vacation. (Borrowed it from a friend.)

I purchased the $1k plus (CDN) lens and expected relatively good performance. Well, first impressions were great...but I had my SB-900 mounted on my D90 at the time.

Batteries died in the flash, so I was taking some pictures with the on camera flash and noticed the 'lens hood shadow' when it was at 18 to around 27. Problem...there wasn't a lens hood on the lens!

Since I don't want to lug my flash around with this new, admittedly heavy lens, I asked Nikon if it was just my lens or if the D90/18-300 combo isn't going to work with on camera flash in the wide angle range.

Here's the answer I received from Nikon:

"The lens is too long to be used with the built in flash as it is giving a shadow of the lens.

We suggest using the SB-900 or no flash at all to avoid that situation.

Regards,

The Nikon Team"

So...I am displeased that this expensive, heavy lens, has a limitation for indoor vacation photography...say, in a museum. I have no desire to bring the flash, so am currently reviewing my pics from my last vacation to see how limiting this would be. Sure, I can crop...but I didn't spend over a grand for an undocumented limitation! After you proceed past 27, I haven't observed the shadow, but will have to spend some more time playing with it.

So...is this lens acceptable? You'll have to determine what you're going to use it for. But for an 'all around' lens to be handicapped at the wide angle range...that is a serious consideration against it. One purpose, in my humble opinion, for an all around lens is to not have to carry extra stuff, and travel 'light'. (An oxymoron with this lens. It is heavy. Bringing the camera up to eye level for prolonged times reminded me of carrying something else that you needed to bring up to eye level, got heavy after a while, and 'shot' stuff!)

[TCav]

SLRGear.com just posted their test results for this lens.

To use their words, the performance of the Tamron 18-270 Di II VC PZD is "in the same ball park", and the Sigma 18-250 DC OS HSM is "almost as good", but both are cheaper than the Nikon 18-300 AF-S DX VR.

[tclune]

Originally Posted by TCav

SLRGear.com just posted their test results for this lens.

To use their words, the performance of the Tamron 18-270 Di II VC PZD is "in the same ball park", and the Sigma 18-250 DC OS HSM is "almost as good", but both are cheaper than the Nikon 18-300 AF-S DX VR.

And both are way lighter to lug around, with the Tammy being only about half the weight.

[Ozzie_Traveller]

G'day fellas

Re- flash stuff .... one thing I notice with the Fuji Xs1 is the way that the camera-flash is double-jointed and sticks up very high above the camera body > and the manual says that this is to overcome 'lens shadow' when the lens is extended in use

It can be done ...

As to the weight of a lens - any lens ... what does the 'bells & whistles' 70-200 f2,8 weigh?? and people walk around with them not complaining at all

Horses for courses
Regards, Phil

[SIMON40]

In defence of DSLR's...and their flashes... an "all in one" lens is not exactly what DSLR's were designed for. They were designed,partly,to change lenses suited to a given situation for optimum quality- and that didn't include having a trash can up front for close up/wide angle work- the only scenario you're likely to use the inbuilt flash. A large lens up front would normally be for longer work,where the inbuilt flash would have no use whatsoever...
And to be honest, inbuilt DSLR flashes are only really a kind gesture anyway- a proper flashgun again being what a DSLR is supposed to have up top.
Curiously- I wonder if any DSLR manufacturer will ever include an inbuilt flash with a rotating flash for bounce use.... might help a bit....!

[TCav]

Originally Posted by SIMON40

Curiously- I wonder if any DSLR manufacturer will ever include an inbuilt flash with a rotating flash for bounce use.... might help a bit....!

Builtin flashes aren't strong enough to bounce.

[SIMON40]

TCav- indeed their not at present... though maybe an area for improvement... if they feel it's necessary...
I think their strength is not too bad- especially if you comp' up a bit- it's just their size seems to direct too much light into a small area,which is less than ideal.
I shouldn't imagine the logistics required for a rotating flash are too extreme- I just suspect they'll never oblige as a basic add-on flash is not too expensive... though it would be handy if you want to travel light and need the occasional burst of light- whilst using an 18-300 or such like...!