Digital_Camera_World_Issue_192_July_2017

Kit Zone
SUPERZOOM LEnSES
Mount option:
Canon EF-S
canon eF-s 18-135mm
f/3.5-5.6 is Usm
£430/$600
Modest in terms of zoom range
Mount option: Nikon DX
nikon aF-s dX 18-300mm
f/3.5-6.3g ed Vr
£630/$700
The latest, lightest Nikon superzoom
C
anon’s veteran
EF-S 18-200mm
superzoom with its
basic autofocus system
remains unchanged, but the
smaller 18-135mm lens has
undergone two updates. The
first ushered in a stepping-motor
autofocus system; this edition has
a Nano USM actuator that aims to
combine quick stills performance
with smooth and silent transitions
when shooting movies.
It’s the least impressive lens
on test for outright zoom range,
falling short at the telephoto end,
equivalent to 216mm in full-frame
terms. It’s barely any more
compact or light than the other
DSLR lenses in the group either,
but handling is refined and the
image stabiliser works well. You
need to buy the hood separately.
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
sharPness higher is Better
f/4.5
readingS taken
from centre
f/5.6
f/8 f/11 f/16 f/22 f/25
18mm 50mm 85mm 135mm
It’s good at mid to long zoom settings, but
could be better at short focal lengths.
Fringing (at F/8) lower iS better
Wide 2.42 Mid 1 Tele 2.27
The Canon keeps colour fringing well
under control throughout the zoom range.
distortion nearer 0 iS better
T
he revamped Mk II
edition of Nikon’s
18-200mm superzoom
lost out in zoom range to the
newer but comparatively
bulky 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6
lens. This latest lens in Nikon’s
superzoom line-up seeks to go
large on zoom range in a downsized
build, at the expense of a slight
reduction in long-zoom aperture.
Despite the reduced size, a
ring-type ultrasonic autofocus
system is retained, rather than
switching to an ultrasonic motor
with driveshafts and gearwheels,
favoured for compactness in
most Sigma and Tamron DSLR
superzooms. However, unlike the
company’s other superzooms,
there’s no focus distance scale
and the lens hood is sold as an
optional extra.
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
sharPness higher is Better
f/4.5
readingS taken
from centre
f/6.7
f/8 f/11 f/16 f/22 f/25
18mm 105mm 200mm
Sharpness is disappointing in the
longer section of the zoom range.
Fringing (at F/8) lower iS better
Wide 3.17 Mid 1.01 Tele 4.42
It’s not bad at mid-zoom settings, but
poor at both ends of the range.
distortion nearer 0 iS better
300mm
Performance
The STM edition of the lens is
no slouch for autofocus, but AF
in the new edition is super-fast,
practically snapping into place.
An upside of the relatively meagre
zoom range is that sharpness only
drops off marginally at the long
end, and distortions are less
pronounced than with most
competing lenses.
Wide -2.98 Mid 1.69 Tele 1.62
Barrel and pincushion distortions are less
severe than in most DSLR superzooms.
Verdict
FeatUres
BUild & handling
PerFormance
ValUe
oVerall
Performance
In an evident case of swings and
roundabouts, the Nikon is sharper
than the competing Canon lens for
wide-angle shooting, but much
softer at the long end. In fairness,
though, sharpness only really
drops off in the 200-300mm zoom
sector, which is unobtainable from
the Canon. The Nikon’s autofocus
speed is also much slower.
Wide -4.36 Mid 2.25 Tele 1.58
Barrel distortion is pronounced at 18mm,
and there’s a lot of mid-zoom pincushion.
Verdict
FeatUres
BUild & handling
PerFormance
ValUe
oVerall
114 digital camera JULY 2017 www.digitalcameraworld.com