Tamron Auto Focus 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (Model A14E)

Works great

I have had this lens for about a year. I was not too happy with this when I first got it. Many pictures not finely focused and right side was softer than left--not obvious unless cropping the image. I finally decided to send it back to Tamron. They tweaked this lens so it focused as accurately as kit lens. They also tightened up the zoom so lens no longer creeps when pointed up or down. There was no charge and I was delighted with the result. I see little difference in image quality between this and 18-55 kit lens, but it is much more versatile. Here are some comments that apply to my "tweaked" lens:1. Has distance scale not on kit lens.2. Much heavier, but allows for steadier shooting. With care and steadying arm on fixed object I can take sharp picture at 1/8 sec at 200 mm maybe 50% of time.3. Focusing is accurate, but somewhat slower with more hunting than kit lens. I have taken good pictures of birds in flight at 200 mm, so this is not a problem in good light.4. Focusing in live view using contrast autofocus is "very" slow, but very accurate. It's useful on a tripod, but slower than 18-55 kit lens using kx camera.5. No in-camera lens correction as with Pentax lenses. Of course you can do this in post processing. The in-camera processing is slow anyhow.6. Does not support "catch in focus" where you can take a picture automatically when moving object comes in set prefocus distance. Can't do this with kit lens either. Lens needs auto/manual focus switch for this to work.7. Very noisy manual focus. This is quite evident when taking movies where manual focus is only choice. Kit lens has little noise when manually focusing. If you take movies and change distance (must refocus) mid-movie, you will not be happy with this lens for that purpose.8. Focus does not change appreciably when zooming, so you can manually focus at 200 mm, then zoom out while maintaining focus. This might be important when taking movies.I gave perfect rating not because lens is perfect, but because it is nearly so for its intended use. It's not for professionals, not particular good for movies (focus noise), but is a much better choice for amateurs than having an 18-55 and a 55-200 and having to switch from one to the other. Picture quality is just as good, it is far more convenient, and it appears as well or better made, and it does not cost that much more. If you buy one and do not find this so, send it to Tamron and in around 3 weeks you will get it back better than new.

Lens worked perfectly and was in great shape, like new condition.

I've used and owned this Tamron lens for three plus years and has earned its place as a "go-to" lens for me. Due to the cheaper price point, it has become my favorite travel lens. This is because the wide focal range of 80 to 200. I can shoot little tiny birds far away, or people and objects relatively closer.Price is worth it:So you want a wide range of focals but you don't want to buy an 85mm 100mm, and 200mm and lug them around? Maybe it isn't in the budget. This lens is a great solution, and very versatile telephoto zoom lens.Big help with Ghosting and Flaring:Ghosting and flaring are a nightmare to any photographer. The reason ghosting and flaring occur can be directly linked to the lens. To counter this, buying a filter may be the most reasonable thing to do. This unnecessary cost doesn't assure you that ghosting and flaring won't occur because there are filters that have been known to aggravate the situation.It looks like a hopeless situation but there is an awesome solution by the name of Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro zoom lens. It is mainly for the Canon Digital SLR cameras (model A14E). It can also work with any EOS digital cameras. Tamron's macro zoom lens has internal coating that reduces ghosting and flaring. It rocks the highly recommended flowered shaped lens hood. This external design has been known to bear elevated presentation and high precision images. The extra refractive index glass that makes this lens also reduces aberration by winding light rays at sharper angles thus reducing the physical lens without compromising on the speed of the lens. You have to give it to Tamron for having core features in-built.Good Internal Filter & Optics:The IF (Internal Focus) has a static anterior filter ring that aids in effective handling by ensuring that the lens does not change during focusing. This IF also provides minimum focusing distance (MFD) during the focusing period. The zoom lock in the lens thwarts unnecessary leeway of the lens tub when carrying the camera around the neck. Tamron's macro zoom lens allows you to take excellent images with switching lens from close range to far away by zooming the shots. This walk with lens allows one to take wide angle shots (around 18mm-20mm) and if you want to get a great telephoto lens of around 200mm, then all you have to do is twist the zoom ring. The only shortcoming is that this lens does not have an inbuilt image stabilizer so a tripod would come in handy if you need the lens to be steady.Slight Blur:There can blurriness and deficiency of sharpness at lengths over 100mm and a tripod would compensate for this. Auto focusing is also slow if you are focusing on a slow moving object. With so many pros you would expect Tamron Macro zoom lens to cost a leg and an arm. This lens goes for $199.00. Nikon's 18-200mm VR lens goes for $700 yet it does the same task as the Tamron's lens. With Tamron, you get value for money and their 6 year US warranty is a reassurance that their product delivers on what it promises.Focus Can be Slow:Auto focusing is also slow if you are focusing on a slow moving object. If you are trying to focus on a dog playing in a yard, forget about it. It just will not do the job. It will frusterate you to no end. Also for sports, or shooting your children playing in the yard, it is not a great tool for that.