18-200 VR distortion and softness

[posez]

ya. the distrotion looks bad here.

Hiya, agree with what is being said so far - especially about how one must really know what this lens is for.

This shot that shows bad barrel distortion is just unfair - it's an architectural shot.Most ppl who do this kind of shooting normally shoot with primes. You are never going to get no distortion on an 18mm shot like that with a zoom that starts off at 18mm, or 17mm for that matter! Try the 17-55mm in such situations, you will get distortion as well.

Enjoy the lens for what it's worth, I'm sure you will grow to appreciate how good it is, even if it does not fit into you normal shooting style. If that is so, you may want to consider the 12-24mm for shooting wide and/or the 17-55mm and/or a pro grade long telephoto. All in all, that may cost you 4 to 5 times more than what you paid for the 18-200.

 

[mcn]

sister
dxo, very not cheap :sweat:

if you want to minimise the effect, can try DxO Optics Pro ...it works great cause it takes into account the particular distortion of each lens modal at different focal length on each camera model and adjusts to reduce distortion... works only on RAW files...

 

[theRBK]

sister
dxo, very not cheap :sweat:

sister? sorry I don't swing that way

and for slightly over $200, you get rid of distortion in all your lenses not bad what...

 

[satz24]

i guess it's actually the sharpness that bothers me more than the barrel distortion...

I'll try to work with the aperture recommendations that one of the posters kindly provided

I guess that does impact on being 'creative' though.... for example if I want to have a sharp foreground subject, but blurred background, normally I'd use large aperture....but that could mean the 18-200 is working in its non-optimal aperture range (for sharpness)

I know...gotta spend up big for a better lens!!!

what are the general opinions on the 'older' Nikon 70-300 lens anyway?

thanks all


Satz

 

[wind30]

if you want to minimise the effect, can try DxO Optics Pro ...it works great cause it takes into account the particular distortion of each lens modal at different focal length on each camera model and adjusts to reduce distortion... works only on RAW files...

olympus studio has that.

I don't understand why other manufacturers don't do that. They could hard encode the distortion parameters of each lens and then correct it in their RAW development software. So even for cheapooly kit lens like 14-45 show VERY little distortion after you develop using olympus studio with the auto correct function turned on.

 

[wind30]

i
I know...gotta spend up big for a better lens!!!

I think a 12-24 tokina + 50mm f1.8 and 85mm f1.8 nikkor is only SLIGHTLY more expensive as the 18-200mm....

It is not about spending more rather about convenience. If you are willing to swop lens and carry a bit more, you can definately do better than the 18-200mm.

 

[ihub88]

Learn to manage your own expectations.

thats why i do not recommend the 18-200

 

[ihub88]

i guess it's actually the sharpness that bothers me more than the barrel distortion...

I'll try to work with the aperture recommendations that one of the posters kindly provided

I guess that does impact on being 'creative' though.... for example if I want to have a sharp foreground subject, but blurred background, normally I'd use large aperture....but that could mean the 18-200 is working in its non-optimal aperture range (for sharpness)

17-55 will be good to start off with

I know...gotta spend up big for a better lens!!!

what are the general opinions on the 'older' Nikon 70-300 lens anyway?

thanks all


Satz

Take the ED version, that one is better.