Canon 18-200mm F3.5-5.6 IS – quick review

I’ve just sold my old EFS 18-55mm & EF 55-200mm and bought this EFS 18-200mm from a friend.

The first thing I like about this lens is the large zoom range. This is very convenient for travel photography since there’s no need to waste time on changing lenses any more. The large zoom range is also good for amateurs who are practicing compositions. The 18-200mm comes with Canon’s new compact IS (Image Stabilization) technology with auto panning-detection. Cool

However, just like any superzoom, this lens also has its limitations.

For example, the distortion rate at widest angle (18mm) is quite significant. As you can see in these samples below, straight lines are turned into curves:

Although this is not good for capturing precise architectural photos, it can create some artistic effects when used properly. As you can see on the second sample above, the buildings look not bad when they are distorted

At telephoto, the lens performs much better.

In my opinion, the EFS 18-200mm is one of the best lens for travel photography and amateur photographers who are still practicing composition.