Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC Review

Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC Handling and Features

The use of high quality plastics in the construction, including the mount, gives us a lens that weighs only 400g. This balances well with the Canon EOS 600D body used for this review. The fairly wide zoom ratio means the lens extends some way forwards when moving to full zoom and a lock is provided to ensure the lens does not extend during carrying. The only other controls are an AF/MF selector and an on/off switch for the VC system. The provided lens hood clicks securely into place via a bayonet mount that surrounds the 62mm filter thread. The lens is described as “moisture resistant” which is a wonderfully vague phrase that I take to mean it will survive light rain if used with due care.

The 18-200mm range is equivalent to 28.8-320mm on the Canon body, 27-300mm on a Nikon body, in 35mm format terms. Maximum magnification is a useful 1:4 so close focusing is not a problem. The lens has internal focus, so does not extend, but the front focusing ring does rotate so needs to be kept free to move. The front element does not rotate, making use of polarising filters much easier.

Focusing is via a DC motor, which is fast and silent in operation. Focus is acquired efficiently and swiftly with little or no hunting. The diaphragm has 7 blades.

The VC system is interesting, using the movement of a group of lens elements to control the effects of camera shake. Here the instructions are quite clear that when used on a tripod, VC should be switched off. I would add that when shooting fast moving subjects at fast shutter speeds it could be better switched off anyway, as the one second acquisition time could mean missing the moment. When switched off, the lens groups are held electromagnetically, which has the side effect of making the viewfinder image jump slightly into position as the camera is activated. If a careful composition has been made on a tripod, for example, this means that slight re-composition may be needed when a half press on the shutter release is made.

The optical construction is 16 elements in 14 groups, including one LD (Low Dispersion) element.

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