My standard general purpose lens is the Nikkor DX AF-S 18-200 mm 1:3.5-5.6 GII ED VR. It's a great lens and can handle almost all situations.
Before my big European holiday I decided to try a new general purpose lens with a bit of extra zoom. I purchased the Nikkor DX AF-S 18-300 mm 1:3.5-5.6 ED VR. Although I bought it online with plenty of time to spare the lens did not arrive in time. Unfortunately I struck a shop that was "selling apples from an empty cart" ie pretending to have the item in stock, taking your money, and then purchasing it afterwards (probably from Asia). I was very pissed off. In any event, the 18-200 performed fine on my holiday.
I never got around to trying the 18-300 until my early morning walk this week. Probably not a good testing time because I leave in the dark, walk while dawn breaks, and it's still not fully light when I get back home. So apologies in advance - all of the shots are going to be very grey.
The 18-300 was only slightly longer than the 18-200. It's zoom was quick and it focused fast. I did some test shots standing on the shore of Canada Bay and taking a photograph of the Bushell's coffee factory on the other side of the bay, approximately 1 km away.
The 18-300 at 18 mm:
The 18-300 at 28 mm:
The 18-300 at 56 mm:
The 18-300 at 105 mm:
The 18-300 at 200 mm:
The 18-300 at 300 mm:
All shots were handheld, and I haven't done any processing on them. The blue tarpaulin on the boat in the shots at 56 mm and especially at 105 mm show that my kit is recording colour ok - it's just very early in the morning and the dawn is grey.
My favourite photo of the morning was the following one of some rowers. Shot at full zoom at 300 mm. I think this shot captures the action of the four rowers, and behind them a single rower going in the opposite direction, and behind him the coach in a speed boat. Nicely framed between two larger boats (if I say so myself). The fluro jackets add a splash of colour in the middle of the photograph:
Here is a straight comparison between the extreme ranges of the lens.
Two men in a boat about 900 metres away. At 18 mm:
The men in a boat at 300 mm:
I cropped the men in the boat straight out of the shot at 300 mm just using microsoft paint on my work computer. Not bad detail for something 900 metres away. There is also a lady rower sitting on the shore behind which I didn't notice in the other two shots:
My all time favourite lens in the Nikkor AF-S 70-300 mm 1:4.5-5.6 G ED VR. This lens is just so sharp at all ranges. The 18-300 is not quite as sharp but it's a great lens, and of course covers the 18-70 mm spectrum as well.
I need to test the 18-300 in proper light, and do a comparison with the 18-200 in the same conditions.
Thanks I'll try that
Posted by: Paul | Sunday, 15 April 2018 at 10:43 AM
You like long willies :-)
Looks like a very nice travel lens.
Are you shooting in Auto? You may still be able to set Picture Control - Standard/Neutral/Vivid/Landscape - if you choose Vivid or Landscape you will probably get a little more 'pop' even in the grey light.
Posted by: Thygocanberra | Sunday, 15 April 2018 at 08:57 AM