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Canon EF-S 18-200 f / 3.5-5.6 IS review

The Canon EF-S 18-200mm f / 3.5-5.6 IS has an amazing range of focal lengths (which fully covers the needs of many photographers) and excellent effective image stabilization in a conveniently sized body.

When Canon's initial press release for the 18-200 IS came out, most were skeptical about whether this lens could deliver any decent optical quality at all focal lengths. In any range above 5x (max / min), it is already necessary to carefully consider the result obtained, since some optical imperfections may already appear. And an 11x zoom lens can be a treasure trove of optical problems. The absence of a USM system triggers a second warning. Of course, Canon will put its best in-lens AF system to get decent image quality from even a midline lens like the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f / 4-5.6 IS USM.

The compact solution is ideal for many travel needs. As you would expect, the focal length range is the strength and appeal of this lens.

When using the short focal range of zoom lenses, the wide and long end of the focal lengths are used most often. Because of its width 18-200 is able to avoid this fate, it stays away from the ends for a much higher percentage of the time. Sometimes it helps a lot when you know you have a small supply.

The size and weight of the lens is also pleasantly surprising. It is not as light as the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f / 3.5-5.6 IS, but it is similar to many other mid-range lenses.

Outside the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f / 3.5-5.6 IS is the main zoom ring. Also, a small area is reserved for the device of the concept of a rear lens for mounting / dismounting, but 55.9 mm is occupied by a ring. This design works well, it is very easy to find the right place without looking, especially since you will use it most often. The zoom ring moves smoothly and has very little backlash.

Like most Canon zoom lenses, the EF-S 18-200mm f / 3.5-5.6 IS increases its length when the focal length is changed. At 18mm, lengthening is negligible, while at low to medium focal lengths it becomes more noticeable. At 200mm, the lens is already big enough. The total extension length is 61 mm.

Canon has implemented a small zoom lock switch at the bottom of the lens. This position is exactly where the left thumb rests when shooting in landscape orientation. Scaling problems occur mainly below 135mm.

As you can see in the above photos, this lens does not rotate when focusing - accordingly, the filters will not rotate either (very useful when using polarizing filters). The 18-200 closely resembles the Canon EW-78D. It delivers 18mm higher than 200mm, but is relatively small so it is easy to get to the filter or lens cap inside it.

The lens does not have a focal length indicator or information screen. In fact, it is likely that few of us will miss this feature.

Canon EOS 50D lens.

The USM AF ring is very handy - many were disappointed when they found out this lens didn't have one. However, for an MM (micro motor) AF lens, it is pretty good. The speed is tolerable, and the sound of the work will not greatly distract attention when focusing.

Full manual focus FTM is not available on the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f / 3.5-5.6 IS and the ring rotates during autofocus. Since the zoom ring is so large and the focus ring is small enough, it is unlikely that this nuance will bother you. The manual focus ring is relatively small and smooth enough, but has some gaps, especially around 50mm.This is much better than the supplied 18-55 lens with a tiny ring on the moving part. This lens is not parfocal - you need to readjust it if the focal length changes.

Most importantly, the focusing accuracy was very good. Of course, accurate focusing isn't particularly difficult with a slow (narrow aperture) 1.6 body lens.

Judging by the slightly blurred foreground and background, the quality is not easy. The fact is that the 6-blade diaphragm, when closed, provides a not very good quality of the light spot. In the frame, you can see out of focus highlights, their circles appear darker in the center and lighter around the edges, instead of being uniform over the entire area.

The results were better at wide openings. The 1.6 body lens allows you to get bokeh, but not as easy as we would like.

Let's continue to look at the important aspects of image quality. At 18mm, chromatic aberration is strong both in the middle of the frame and in the corners. The position improves with increasing focal length, and straightens completely to 50mm. From 135mm, aberrations return in the middle of the shot and in the corners and remain up to 200mm.

Strong convex distortion is present in the middle of the frame at 18mm. When working at this focal length, you have to pay close attention to how much of the frame needs to be kept in clear straight lines, otherwise you will see a lot of distortion in the center and improvement near the corners. To see this, take a look at the green trim on the corner of the building in the example below.

At 24mm the lines are almost straight again, but by 28mm the distortion reappears and remains relatively strong from 50mm to 200mm.

Taper is well controlled overall, but is more pronounced at the long end of the focal range (where the lens hood is less effective). But Canon-Mount Super Zoom Lens Flare Comparison shows that the EF-S 18-200 is the best in its class for this parameter. Colors and contrast are displayed well.

Vignetting is visible in the corners when the hole is wide open. It appears moderately at the long end of the focal length range and at 18mm. As an "EF-S" lens, the 18-200 IS does not have the large circle size of full-frame "EF" compatible lenses, and therefore exhibits more vignetting on EF-S compatible bodies.

The Canon EF-S 18-200mm f / 3.5-5.6 IS lens is relatively sharp in the center even at wide open apertures. Setting it to 5.6 gives good sharpness in the center of the image up to 50mm. We recommend using f / 8 between 80mm and 200mm for better center sharpness. The corners are soft when opened wide, and there is a need to set F / 8 for good sharpness over most of the focal length range. Angles are decent at f / 5.6 at 18mm, at 135mm f / 11 is preferred. The sharpness of this lens definitely exceeds initial expectations.

As noted earlier in the review, a Canon EOS 50D was used to test this lens. One of the things with the very high density APS-C 50D sensor is that diffraction starts to undermine the image at f / 8. Settings up to f / 11 provide less sharpness with the latest 1.6 cameras (all lenses). This makes the aperture adjustment range narrow for the best image quality with this lens.

With a narrow optimal aperture range, image stabilization becomes even more valuable as it allows you to operate this lens handheld at a much wider range of shutter speeds. The stabilization system in the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f / 3.5-5.6 IS is very effective. At 18mm, it manages to get a very good percentage of sharp images for 0.6 sec. and keep getting clear pictures up to 1 second. At 200 mm, good results come out with a shutter speed of 1/20 sec. In addition, all manipulations are performed almost silently.

The relatively close 450mm minimum focusing distance provides a good 0.24 x maximum magnification ratio for the 18-200.This is not a macro lens, but its capabilities are quite close to this.

If I wasted the money, time, and effort to travel to photograph, get up well before sunrise, and find the perfect spot, I would take a higher grade lens that is more specialized for a particular occasion. But not everyone strives to get the highest quality images, and not all shooting conditions require this.

Some people just want to capture all of their memories and experiences (and still have very good quality images) without the burden of a backpack of lenses (and tripod). There are situations when the presence of a backpack and a tripod is not necessary or even impossible. For these people and these situations, the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f / 3.5-5.6 IS is the best choice.

The Canon EF-S 18-200mm f / 3.5-5.6 IS offers a wide focal length range and excellent image stabilization in a compact body. There are many people who travel with this lens. Its versatility and multitasking can help out in the most difficult conditions, when it would seem impossible to get a high-quality picture without the appropriate professional equipment. If you travel often, but you rarely want to take a few kilograms of optics with you, then the lens we have considered is the solution to many problems and the right choice.

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