Support Head-Fi.org by
starting all of your
Amazon.com shopping by
clicking here.
____________________________________________________________________
Today's Featured Head-Fi Blog: Jude's Blog
____________________________________________________________________
Please help
support Head-Fi by becoming a Contributing Member
CLICK
HERE -- Contributing Members, thank you
for your generous support! --
it seems somewhat pointless to use when there are so many lenses available with fewer optical compromises, unless one needs to avoid changing lenses at all costs.
I find the most valuable thing about equipment is having the right lens at the right time. Many pictures last for only a second. If you have to reach in your bag and swap lenses, a lot of them would be gone. I can see avoiding the 18-200 for studio portrait work or architectural or wide landscapes you shoot on sticks, but for a ton of purposes beyond that, it's invaluable. I can't see any difference between primes and zooms unless I shoot grids and blow them up huge in photoshop. (I admit, I don't do that a lot.) With normal photos printed out at normal sizes, there's absolutely no difference at all.
Personally, I wouldn't be without my point and shoot Olympus 3030 either. There are certain situations where a tiny difference in optical quality isn't as important as being able to quickly and inconspicuously get a shot. The equipment has to serve me as a photographer. I'm not interested in coddling equipment for the sake of stuff you can't see unless you really look for it. If you have an 18-200 and you aren't using it, sell it, because there are plenty of photographers who will get great use out of it.
That said, I have seen some bad lenses. My old 43-86 is a mess. But the 18-200 is one of the best designed zooms I've ever seen. I haven't been as excited about a new zoom since the old Vivitar series one 70-210 macro back in the late 70s.
I find the most valuable thing about equipment is having the right lens at the right time. Many pictures last for only a second. If you have to reach in your bag and swap lenses, a lot of them would be gone. I can see avoiding the 18-200 for studio portrait work or architectural or wide landscapes you shoot on sticks, but for a ton of purposes beyond that, it's invaluable. I can't see any difference between primes and zooms unless I shoot grids and blow them up huge in photoshop. (I admit, I don't do that a lot.) With normal photos printed out at normal sizes, there's absolutely no difference at all.
Personally, I wouldn't be without my point and shoot Olympus 3030 either. There are certain situations where a tiny difference in optical quality isn't as important as being able to quickly and inconspicuously get a shot. The equipment has to serve me as a photographer. I'm not interested in coddling equipment for the sake of stuff you can't see unless you really look for it. If you have an 18-200 and you aren't using it, sell it, because there are plenty of photographers who will get great use out of it.
That said, I have seen some bad lenses. My old 43-86 is a mess. But the 18-200 is one of the best designed zooms I've ever seen. I haven't been as excited about a new zoom since the old Vivitar series one 70-210 macro back in the late 70s.
See ya
Steve
Damn it all to heck Steve! I agree 100% with the above (assuming all lens elements and assembly are of same quality). And, yes, I totally grok your Vivitar analogy.
With normal photos printed out at normal sizes, there's absolutely no difference at all.
For you maybe..... for me........ there is a night and day difference. The 18-200VR is rubbish compared to some of my primes (in my opinion, of course. ^_^ ).
If you can see a night and day difference printed out at 4x6 inches, there is something seriously wrong with your lens. Perhaps the autofocus is a bit wonky or the VR isn't working right. The only way you should be able to see a difference is on a computer screen with the magnification up to a tiny fraction of the image, and off in the corner at that. (Not a very easy way to appreciate a composition!) I've shot thousands of pictures with the 18-200 VR and in good light shots are sharp as a tack, even blown up four times the size you're printing out at.
If you can see a night and day difference printed out at 4x6 inches, there is something seriously wrong with your lens.
See ya
Steve
Can't you ever say yes for once?
Man.
And you always take things so literal. You ask a question, I answer your question, and then you 'deduce' the wrong conclusion from it. Always the wrong conclusion Steve!
You think I'm printing my pictures at 4x6", NO, come on! I view them on my computer monitor.
And you always take things so literal. You ask a question, I answer your question, and then you 'deduce' the wrong conclusion from it. Always the wrong conclusion Steve!
You think I'm printing my pictures at 4x6", NO, come on! I view them on my computer monitor.
Well instead of jerking his chain all the time why not simply give him a straight answer instead of deliberately misleading him?
Headphoneus Supremus: Videographus Supremus: Makes audio cables using super-advanced materials, like "some clear tape" and "some not so clear tape."
Originally Posted by bigshot
If you can see a night and day difference printed out at 4x6 inches, there is something seriously wrong with your lens. Perhaps the autofocus is a bit wonky or the VR isn't working right.
You know this argument works both ways also. Perhaps your primes are subpar.
In terms of resolution, I'd agree that in 4x6 it might be hard to see differences. In terms of distortion or unevenness in various qualities it is possible to see.
18-200VR doesn't work at f/2.8 or faster so in that regard, it's use can be different and not comparable.
__________________
lan's Head-Fi International Meet 2008 "CanJam" High Definition Videos! are here
lan's Head-Fi Meet 2007.Nov.10 High Definition Videos! are here
lan's Head-Fi International Meet 2006 High Definition Videos! are here
My advice to you:
- Use your own ears as everybody's hearing and preferences are different.
- Try to audition as much equipment as possible to find your sound.
- Buy used to save money.
Linear Mode
