Canon EF-S18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

• Specifications
• Reviews
• Sample Images
• Initial launch information.

Canon's 'All in one' zoom lens for crop sensor cameras. The ultrawide zoom range led to a number of compromises in image quality, although it's nowhere near as bad as some have claimed. This is a lens for convenience and travel.

Available from: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk / B&H | Adorama

Lens specifications

Focal Length & Maximum Aperture	18-200mm f/3.5-5.6
Lens Construction	16 elements in 12 groups, including UD-glass and aspherical lenses
Diagonal Angle of View	74° 20' - 7° 50' (with APS-C image sensors)
Focus Adjustment	Gear-driven by DC monitor
Closest Focusing Distance	1.48 ft./0.45m (maximum close-up magnification 0.24x)
Zoom System	5-groups helical zoom (rotational angle 80°)
Filter Size	72mm
Max. Diameter x Length, Weight	3.1 in. x 6.40 in./78.6 x 162.5mm (maximum lens length) Weight: 20.99 oz./595g

A quick guide to MTF charts (which only measure contrast and resolution. Canon's guide to their MTF charts) Black lines reflect lens performance at widest aperture. Blue lines show the performance at f/8 Thick lines indicate lens contrast Thin lines indicate lens resolution Dashed lines: Lens performance with meridional lines. Solid lines: Lens performance with sagittal lines Closer sagittal and meridional chart lines indicate more 'natural' out of focus areas. Remember that MTF charts are good for comparing similar lenses, so comparing ones from the 14mm f2.8L and 300mm 2.8L won't tell you much at all, whilst comparing the EF14 2.8L with the EF14 2.8L II will show meaningful differences. Note that other manufacturers may have different ways of displaying such information that may or may not match up with the Canon figures.

EF-S18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS reviews and articles

• Canon UK /US Information Page
• Amazon
• Northlight Images
• Canon CPN article
• Fred Miranda
• Lens Tip
• Digital Picture
• PhotoZone
• SLR Gear
• Lens Review
• ePhotozine

Written a review? Contact us and we'll add it to the list.

Sample images

Product launch

Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 26 August, 2008: Canon today strengthens its EF-S series of lenses with the launch of a versatile new model: the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS.

With an equivalent focal length of 29-320mm, the lens offers an 11x zoom range – making it a powerful, lightweight alternative to carrying multiple lenses. The EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is designed exclusively for use with EOS cameras featuring an EF-S lens mount – including the new EOS 50D, EOS 1000D, EOS 450D, and earlier models.

High quality optics
The EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS features a 16 element, 12 group construction. This includes UD and aspherical lens elements, which minimise chromatic aberration and ensure crisp, corner-to-corner detail across the zoom range. A close focusing distance of just 45cm offers photographers total framing flexibility.

4-stop Image Stabilizer
A Canon 4-stop optical Image Stabilizer – specially designed for the lens’ specific focal length range - works to counteract image blur that can occur when shooting handheld, or at slow shutter speeds. Automatic panning detection ensures effective performance when tracking moving subjects. Plus, because the IS system is based in the lens, results are visible through the viewfinder during framing.

No flare or ghosting
Reflection off a digital camera’s image sensor can cause flare and ghosting. To suppress this, the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS uses optics treated with Canon’s patented Super Spectra coatings – for crisp, undistorted images with natural colour balance.