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To compare real-life sharpness when zoomed-out, we shot this scene with the Nikkor DX 16-85mm VR, DX 18-105mm VR and DX 18-200mm VR II, using a Nikon D90 body at all apertures. The D90 was set to RAW to avoid in-camera JPEG corrections; all files were processed in Nikon's Capture NX 2.2.3 with lens corrections disabled and the default sharpness of 3. VR was disabled on each lens, and magnified assistance in Live View used to confirm the focusing.

The areas may not show the same subject area as a consequence, but they do allow us to compare overall sharpness and correction from the same portion of the frame. Below this table you'll see crops taken from close to the centre of each image and again the variations in focal length have resulted in slightly different areas being captured.

Zoomed-out, the DX 18-200mm VR II performs pretty well in the corners with noticeably sharper results than the DX 18-105mm VR kit lens. Both lenses exhibit similar degrees of fringing and vignetting (the latter greatly reducing by f8), but the super-zoom remains sharper in the extreme corners.

In the meantime, the DX 16-85mm VR justifies its premium status here with pretty sharp corner results at all apertures, which are also bereft of fringing. Like the other lenses though, there's noticeable darkening in the corners due to vignetting at larger apertures, although again this has pretty much been resolved between f5.6 and f8.

Scrolling down to the results from the centre of each image, and the three lenses become much closer in performance, even with their apertures wide open. Look closely on a decent monitor and you'll see the DX 18-200mm VR II enjoys slightly greater sharpening and contrast than the DX 18-105mm VR kit lens, and the DX 16-85mm VR a little more still, but these are pretty minor differences.

So a good start for the DX 18-200mm VR II, which despite its much longer range, performs pretty respectably when fully zoomed-out. But this is only the first of five focal lengths we've tested it on, so click through to our other pages to see how it compares as it zooms-in. Next-up, the Nikkor DX 18-200mm VR II at 55mm. Why 55mm and not 50mm? To match that of the DX 55-200mm VR lens which joins the comparisons on the next page!