Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens Review

The-Digital-Picture.com gives the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens an overall 4.0 rating

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by Bryan Carnathan
Review Date: 2008-10-29
Manufacturer ID: 2752B002

Canon-Mount Super Zoom Lens Flare Comparison

This flare comparison is part of the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens Review, but it is also useful for the following reviews:

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS Lens Review
Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Lens Review
Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II Lens Review
Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC Lens Review

The following samples were shot with a Canon EOS 50D using the Standard Picture Style and AV mode with -2/3 EV dialed in. The sun is the ultimate flare source, but I haven't figured out how to stop it from moving yet. So, the camera was repositioned for each lens/focal length combination tested - to catch the sun in the top left corner of the frame.

Lens hoods were installed for all shots. The tiny bright spots in the sky seen in some longer focal length pictures are insects.

Please be patient - there are about 5MB of images required to load the comparisons below. When they are loaded, the mouseover bars will function properly.

18mm

Canon Super Zoom Flare Comparison - 18mm

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens f/3.5 | f/4.0 | f/5.6 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC Lens f/3.5 | f/4.0 | f/5.6 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Lens f/3.5 | f/4.0 | f/5.6 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II Lens f/3.5 | f/4.0 | f/5.6 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS Lens f/3.5 | f/4.0 | f/5.6 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

50mm

Canon Super Zoom Flare Comparison - 50mm

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens f/5.0 | f/5.6 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC Lens f/4.5 | f/5.6 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Lens f/5.0 | f/5.6 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II Lens f/4.5 | f/5.6 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS Lens f/5.0 | f/5.6 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

100mm

Canon Super Zoom Flare Comparison - 100mm

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens f/5.6 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC Lens f/5.6 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Lens f/5.6 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II Lens f/5.6 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS Lens f/5.6 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

200mm

Canon Super Zoom Flare Comparison - 200mm

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens f/5.6 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC Lens f/5.6 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Lens f/6.3 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II Lens f/6.3 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS Lens f/6.3 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

250/270mm

Canon Super Zoom Flare Comparison - 250/270mm

Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC Lens f/6.3 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Lens f/6.3 | f/8.0 | f/11.0

To my eyes, the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens is the clear winner in this comparison. It is the most resistant to flare.

Taking second and third position are the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II Lens and Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC Lens. Both show a reasonable resistance to flaring.

The Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS Lens and Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Lens trail this pack in regards to flare. Particularly interesting is the 18-250's 200mm f/11 flare dot in the lower right area of the frame.

Sample Pictures