The Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS offers an equivalent focal length of 29-320mm on Canon D-SLRs with a 1.6x crop factor, like the 1000D, 7D and recent 550D. As you’d expect for this amount of money, it feels well-built and solid in the hand, weighing in at 595g.
The large zoom ring is easy to get hold of when you’re behind the camera but does require marginally more effort to zoom through the range compared with other comparable lenses. The focus ring is one-third the size of the zoom ring, and on our test lens it was very lightly weighted in Manual Focus mode, meaning the slightest of touches could easily disrupt the focus.
This lens features optical image stabilisation to reduce camera shake, and this is effective to four stops. It’s easy to switch on and off with the IS switch, which sits beneath the AF/MF switch.
Constructed with 2 aspherical and 2 ultra low-dispersion (UD) lens elements, the minimum focus distance is 45cm; not great for close work, but equal to most other similar zooms. Canon has opted to use a micro motor system for autofocus over its Ultra Silent Motor (USM) design. The result – an AF system that isn’t silent, but a performance that is respectable. It managed to lock-on to moving subjects quickly in low contrast light with minimal signs of hunting. The lens has a 72mm thread for filters but if you want Canon’s EW-78D lens hood, you’ll have to fork out an extra £25.
AT A GLANCEPrice: £480
Mount: EF-S
Construction: 16 elements in 12 groups
Aperture blades: 6
Max aperture: Wide f/3.5, tele f/5.6
Min aperture: f/22-36
Minimum focus: 45cm
Filter size: 72mm
Dimensions (DxL): 78.6x102mm
Weight: 595g
www.canon.co.uk