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Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC lens review Gordon Laing, July 2006


 



 



 

Gallery, taken with Nikon D2X

The following images were taken with the Nikon D2X using the Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC lens. Each image was recorded using the Large Fine JPEG mode, optimised for quality rather than size. The D2X was set to Matrix metering with A for Image Sharpening and Tone Compensation. The individual file size, exposure mode, shutter speed, aperture, ISO and lens details are listed for each image.

The crops are taken from the original files, reproduced at 100% and saved in Adobe Photoshop CS2 as JPEGs with the default Very High quality preset, while the resized full images were made in Photoshop CS2 and saved with the default High quality preset. The three crops are typically taken from far left, central and far right portions of each image.



Festival: 6.04MB, Program, 1/90, f4.8, ISO 400, 18-200mm at 34mm (equivalent to 51mm)

Sigma 18-200mm lens at 34mm   Sigma 18-200mm at 34mm lens top left crop   The wide focal range of the Sigma 18-200mm allowed us to easily switch from tight portraits to wider scene-setting shots during this Chinese New Year parade.

Here we zoomed-out to 34mm to grab an opportunist shot of the Dragon carriers entering their bus.

The upper crop shows a little fringing, but nothing to worry about. Noise levels of the D2X at 400 ISO are also very clean.
     
  Sigma 18-200mm  lens at 34mm top middle crop  
     
  Sigma 18-200mm  lens at 34mm lower middle crop  


Decoration: 6.10MB, Program, 1/320, f9, ISO 200, 18-200mm at 31mm (equivalent to 47mm)

Sigma 18-200mm lens at 31mm  

This detail shot of lanterns was taken with the Sigma 18-200mm at 31mm.

Bathed in bright sunlight with a deep blue sky, these are conditions where any lens should perform well, and as you'd hope the Sigma crops are clean and show a high level of detail.

Sigma 18-200mm lens at 31mm middle left crop   Sigma 18-200mm lens at 31mm lower middle crop   Sigma 18-200mm lens at 31mm lower right crop  


Portrait: 5.50MB, Program, 1/100, f6.3, ISO 400, 18-200mm at 200mm (equivalent to 300mm)


Sigma 18-200mm lens at 200mm   Sigma 18-200mm lens at 200mm lower left crop   As explained in the first example, the beauty of having an 11.1x optical zoom is the ability to quickly switch from wide angle to a tight portrait without having to swap lenses.

Here we did just that, grabbing an opportunist portrait from a distance just moments after shooting wide-angle scenes.

The crops are again detailed with only slight evidence of camera shake as a result of the long focal length and modest exposure.
     
  Sigma 18-200mm lens at 200mm middle crop  
     
  Sigma 18-200mm lens at 200mm middle right crop  


City: 5.59MB, Program, 1/640, f12, ISO 400, 18-200mm at 200mm (equivalent to 300mm)

Sigma 18-200mm lens at 200mm  

This shot was again taken at the Sigma's longest focal length, but bathed in bright sunlight the faster exposure eliminated any concerns of camera-shake.

The crops are detailed but reveal a little fringing in areas of high contrast.

Sigma 18-200mm lens at 200mm lower left crop   Sigma 18-200mm lens at 200mm top middle crop   Sigma 18-200mm lens at 200mm lower right crop  

 
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All words, images, videos and layout, copyright 2005-2009 Gordon Laing. May not be used without permission.

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