DPReview posts Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Review

DP Review, seems to be my favorite source for camera news at the moment, and they seem to be the first in the field with a review of Canon’s new EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens. The short of it, the lens compares favorably to other similar lenses in some respects and not so favorably in others. Distortion isn’t very well controlled, nor is chromatic aberration. Center sharpness looks pretty good, but edge sharpness isn’t all that great.

Build quality seems nice though, and my experience handling one briefly bears that out. The zoom ring is nice and snug but still very smooth and precise. Though the lens’s lack of a USM focusing motor, especially for a lens in this price range (roughly $700) is disappointing, and the focus ring is small, and turns when the lens focuses.

Read DP Reviews full review: Canon EF-S 18-200 mm F3.5-5.6 IS Lens Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review.

Based on this review alone, I’d say that this lens is probably a good buy for someone who’s looking for a single lens to cover the wide focal lenghts and doesn’t need ultra razor sharp images, or is using an 8-12 MP camera (where it should be some what sharper). This lens isn’t for the pro or advanced amatuer photogrpaher looking for the best image quality possible though.