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Nikkor 18-200mm chromatic aberration and purple fringing, tested with Nikon D2X
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To measure purple fringing caused
by lens chromatic aberrations and sensor blooming, we photographed a test
chart, left, with areas of very high contrast. We tested each lens at its
widest and longest focal lengths with the aperture wide open using a Nikon
D2X in Aperture Priority mode. The crops are taken from the upper left corner
of the chart and presented here at 100%.
The three lenses performed roughly the same in this test throughout their
focal lengths, although the Nikkor 18-200mm zoomed-in to 200mm sports fractionally
less fringing. Note the Nikkor lens also has a faster maximum aperture at
200mm of f5.6 compared to the f6.3 of its rivals. |
Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-200mm 3.5-5.6G IF-ED |
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Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC |
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Tamron AF18-200mm F3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD IF |
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18-200mm at 18mm f3.5 |
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18-200mm at 18mm f3.5 |
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18-200mm at 18mm f3.5 |
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18-200mm at 200mm f5.6 |
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18-200mm at 200mm f6.3 |
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18-200mm at 200mm f6.3 |
Nikkor 18-200mm macro, tested with Nikon D2X
To measure macro performance we photographed a custom chart using settings
which delivered the maximum possible reproduction. The dark lines are 10mm
apart. Each lens was tested with the Nikon D2X at f8 in Aperture Priority
mode.
Interestingly each lens was able to focus closer to our target than the
manufacturer's specifications suggested. Nikon, Sigma and Tamron quoted
closest focusing distances of 50, 45 and 45cm respectively, but by experimenting
with different focal lengths and positions, we achieved the maximum reproductions
below at closer distances. As can be seen below, the Sigma and
Tamron lenses were able to deliver greater overall reproduction than the
Nikkor model. |
Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-200mm 3.5-5.6G IF-ED |
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Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC |
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Tamron AF18-200mm F3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD IF |
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18-200mm at 170mm f8
Max area of 104x70mm |
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18-200mm at 200mm f8
Max area of 78x52mm |
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18-200mm at 200mm f8
Max area of 78x52mm |
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