Canon EF-S 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS
Canon EF-S 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS Specifications and Review
Brief Review
The 18-200/3.5-5.6IS is Canon's "do it all" lens for APS-C crop sensor cameras. It has the same angle of view as a 28-300mm lens would have on a full frame camera. This means that it covers the entire focal length range needed by most amateur photographers in one lens. Many amateurs don't like switching lenses and worry about getting dust in the camera (and having to clean the sensor) when they do, so for them this lens can provide a solution.
Of course with such a wide focal length range there are optical compromises which must be made, especially if the price has to be kept reasonable. As with most lenses of this type, optical performance wide open at the long end of the range isn't as good as from prime lenses or smaller range zooms. There is barrel distortion at the wide (18mm) end of the range which switches to pincushion distortion at medium and long focal lengths. While center sharpness is pretty good at all focal lengths (even wide open), it's certainly advisable to stop down at least 1 (or sometimes 2) stops to bring corner sharpness up. Stopping down also minimizes the vignetting which is present through the zoom range (and is worst at the short and long ends of the range).
However users who really want a single fairly small, reasonably priced lens that can serve pretty much any purpose from landscapes to portraits to wildlife photography should be put off too much by comments about optical compromises. Small prints (up to maybe 8x10) will look pretty good even when shot wide open. Only when comparing larger prints to those made from better lenses will the optical weaknesses start to show up. Shooting in RAW and using Canon's DPP program allows automatic correction of distortion, vignetting and chromatic aberration, which can improve the image if you're contemplating making larger prints (or even if you're not).
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| Model | Canon EF-S 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS |
| Link to Current Pricing | EF-S 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS |
Production Dates  |
2008 - current |
| Comments | This is the APS-C crop sensor equivalent of a 28-300mm lens on a full frame camera, so it covers a very wide range of focal lengths and might be the only lens some photographers need. |
| Format Restrictions |
APS-C (crop sensor) only |
| Field of View
(degrees) Horizontal,Vertical, Diagonal Full Frame - 36x24mm APS-C - 22.5x15mm |
APS-C Wide : H - 64 : V - 45.2 : D - 73.8 APS-C Tele : H - 6.4 : V - 4.3 : D - 7.7 |
| Full Frame FOV equivalent with lens on APS-C body |
28.8-320 mm (1.6x multiplier) |
| Image Stabilization |
up to 4 stops |
| IS Panning Detection |
Automatic |
| Length | 102 mm (4.02 inches) |
| Weight | 600 gm (20.29 oz.) |
| Maximum Diameter | 79 mm (3.11 inches) |
| Lens Mount Material |
|
| Lens Color |
Black |
| Filter Size | 72 mm |
| Filter Rotation |
Filter does not rotate |
| Internal Zooming |
No (extends on zooming) |
| Focusing |
no information |
| Focus Range Setting(s) |
No, always uses full focus range |
| AF motor |
MM |
| Distance Scale | No, does not have distance scale |
| Closest Focus | 0.45 m (1.48 ft) |
| Maximum Magnification | 0x |
| Canon TC compatibility |
No, Canon TCs can not be used |
| Weathersealing |
Not weathersealed |
| Lens Hood | No information |
| E-TTL II Support |
Yes |
| Elements/Groups |
16/12 |
| Diaphragm Blades |
6 |
|
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With the large number of entries contained in the Canon EOS Lens database it's inevitable the some of presented here may not be complete and/or may contain errors. If you find an error or missing data, please contact me and I will add or revise the data as necessary
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