2 replies to this topic

[GerryZ]

Hi,

I owe a Nikon D80 and would like to upgrade my kit lens Nikkor 18-135mm for a better all around lens. I've been looking at the Nikon AF-S DX VR II Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED but not sure it fits my 10 year older camera.

Can somebody confirm it does or recommend another good quality all around lens for my D80. I mostly shoot urban and nature.

Thanks

[Russ]

In general the higher the zoom ratio, the poorer the image quality. So  18-200 is likely to be worse than your 18-135.

I've read glowing reports about the 16-80/f2.8-4 for image quality.

[Merco_61]

If you absolutely want a superzoom, the 18-300 f/3.5-6.3 is the best of them. It has even bigger zoom range, but it is a 5 years newer design than the latest version of the 18-200, which more than compensates for the inherent lower quality that comes with greater range. 

If you can run a two-lens set, the 16-80 that Russ mentioned is currently the best DX normal zoom and if you get a 70-200/4 to go with it, you will have the same coverage at the tele end, but 2 mm wider at the wide end compared to the 18-200.