Nikon 18-200 VR vs. Sigma 18-200 OS Lens

[Charles_Hubbard]

I need to buy a VR or OS lens in the 18-200 range. The Nikon lens is $200+ more than the Sigma, but price is not an issue.
Last year I purchased a Nikon 18-135mm lens and after 3 weeks, an interior lens element was bouncing around inside the lens! So I am somewhat leery about the quality of the DX lenses from Nikon. My old Nikon lenses are bulletproof, so I believe there is a quality issue at hand. I have 3 Sigma lenses (10-20mm, 15-30mm, 24-70mm) none have had any problems.
Has anyone else had issues with the Nikon VR or standard DX lenses? Should I purchase a Nikon or Sigma VR lens?
Your inputs are welcomed.

[Mike Keller]

It's not a DX lens, but I have the 70-200/2.8G VR lens, and it's the sharpest lens I have. I have three Sigmas, a 14/2.8, 17-35/2.8-4 and 28-105/2.8-4. The 14 is good, the 17-35 is sharp enough but will miss focus on me, and the 28-105 isn't sharp until you get below 5.6. If price is no object, I would buy the Nikon.

[MichaelMoenning]

I don't have the 18-200 as it is too slow at the long end for my work, however, I do have the 10.5, 12-24, and 17-55 DX lenses. They are amazingly sharp. I also have the 70-200, 200 f/2 and 300 f/2.8. Sharp as it gets! I have invested in Nikon glass over the past 20 years because it has served me well. If you are really unsure, I would recommend finding a shop that will rent one or both of them to you for a weekend. They usually will apply the rental price to the purchase price if you decide right away.

I hope that helps.

M

[DougAxford]

I haven't bought a Nikon lens for a long time (gone to Canon for now) but I did get a Sigma 18-200 just cause I'm so cheap and the range was so enticing. None of the staff will use it and it's just gathering dust. Too slow to focus and too many soft images. It may be a good lens but not for us.

I bought a Canon 70-200 2.8 at 3 times the price and love it to bits. It's not just a matter of sharpness. To me, having focus and speed issues with the Sigma causes you to second guess your shooting. That is something I can't allow to interfere with my job.

[Charles_Hubbard]

Thanks for your inputs. What concerns me the most is the build quality of the Nikon lens. As I mentioned, I had a brand new 18-135 DX lens fall apart after 3 weeks and I am very concerned about the durability of the Nikon lenses. I have been a Nikon shooter since 1972 and never had a lens die as this DX lens did. Nikon did replace the lens, but I won't take it out of the box.
If you feel the 18-200 VR is a better quality lens, I'll go for it.

[Marc]

The Nikon 18-200 is a wonderful lens.
evry thing that has wires and gears etc. can have a problem, maybe you dropped or something else you did unintentionally hurt your lens.

They are delictae.
If you have a problem , documenmt it and send to Nikon they will fix it.

If you need an 18-200 buy the nikon, when i get my d300, the 18-200 will marry it.

[David Hughes]

Charles, I suspect something must have gone wrong with your lens. The Nikon 18-200 is my normal walk around lens and I love its quality. It's been thrown around somewhat and is still doing absolutely fine (had it since it came out). Go for it - you won't regret it

Dave