I was told to get this lens for the D300?

Question

i have been looking for a 18-200mm f/2.8 lens for the Nikon D300 but all that i can find is Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Lens. Does the other lens even exist or am i too blind to see it if you know where i can find it please help!

Thank you

Answer 1

It appears that somebody is conflating two different lenses together. If there were such a thing as as 18-200mm f/2.8, I'd be the first in line to get one! (Well, I probably wouldn't, with a million other photographers fighting for that lens.)

The 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 is a very good all-around lens, with one major caveat: the variable aperture limits how far you can push the lens in low light. At 200mm, you'll be limited to f/5.6 maximum aperture, which is two stops slower than what you would get on, say, the 70-200mm f/2.8. Luckily, you do have VR (vibration reduction) technology to help make up for some of that loss in that lens.

Also, the relatively high maximum aperture will limit your ability to blow out/blur out backgrounds. You get a good deal more depth of field at f/5.6 than f/2.8 which, depending on the application, may be desired, or may not.

The lens is also not known for having the best optics out there but, given the huge focal length range, it does admirably well. However, I would recommend this lens to anyone but professional photographers, and even there, there's situations this lens might prove useful.

If you want a pro's opinion on the best all-around zoom lens for the D300, it would be the Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX. You lose a LOT of the telephoto range, but the optics and maximum aperture are fantastic for a zoom lens. It's also about twice the price of the 18-200mm you're looking at.

Answer 2

Although I have a lot of lenses, the one that's on my camera body in the bag is a 28-90 f/3.5 as it's very versatile for both wide and some zoom.

Nikon makes an 18-135 that'd serve a similar duty.  There's also a 24-120.  The 17-70 is an f/2.8, which would be very nice as it's faster than the above ones.

Answer 3

The Nikon 18-200 mm F/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF DX VR Lens is a great lens for the D300 it has extra low disperasion glass, An internal focusing motor in the lens, has vibration reduction. the only thing to think about is are you planning on going to a full frame sensor camera in the future ( the D700 or D3) as this lens is a DX lens for APS c sensors ( the one in your D300 and most other Nikon DSLR) Nikon USA does not list an 18-200mm f/2.8 lens and I have never seen one myself but it is possible there was an older series lens to these specs that I never heard of

There is an 80 to 200 f2.8 for around 900 US dollars could that be what they meant ?

http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/...