It uses a manual screw drive to focus. There is a little slot in the lens where on older film bodies used to have a rotating flat head that would control the auto focus.

It does not have an internal motor. Like most of the (DX series especially) lenses do these days
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Boo.

:-)
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I agree. You can still go old school and focus manually. :-) the 60mm micro (macro) is nice too.
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My buddy keeps insisting I get the 17-200 lens. I'm not sure why. He said it's the best "walk around lens".
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I wouldn't do it. There are compromises when you have zoom lenses of any length and with the super zooms, there is a lot of compromising you'll have to do in terms of image quality in exchange for the convenience of the lens. I shoot primarily primes, my kit contains 30mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.8 and 10-22mm zoom and my next lens will probably be a prime in the 135mm range. The IQ you get from primes is significantly better than most zooms, unless you shell out the dough for more expensive professional quality glass. I like having the wider apertures too which you would lose in the superzoom.
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what everyone else said, especially with the perspective. I NEVER use my 50mm 1.8, but you'll have to pry my 85mm 1.8 out of my cold, dead hands! 50mm on a crop body just doesnt feel right. Although oddly enough, even with my current 5D,s 50mm still doesnt feel right.....
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The 18-200mm is a walk around lens in the way that is covers most focal lengths. You wouldn't have co change lenses while on a hike or walk or something. But there while offering an excellent range you sacrifice details and the distortion of the lens becomes annoying at times. The variable aperture is what kills iit for me. You might as well spend that 700$ on the 85.

We've had this discussion before on this psrticular lens and it is a story of comprimises. It isn't as sharp at the 70-200 but you won't miss any shots changing lenses. Even so IMO you won't notice the unsharpness unless a. You are looking for it or b. You are printing very large. Everyone has their own thoughts.
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Couple of shots from this past weekend.

Image

Image

Image
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Nice!
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Is anyone up for shooting this weekend?

If so the topic for this weekend is:spheres
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Anyone else wondering when the 1 gigapixel camera is going to come out?
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I only care if they come out with the crystal clear optics to match it :-)
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actually the "lens" will be an artificial 100X Eagle eye that can see the fur on the belly of a snail.
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so what you are saying is that it will look something like this?

Image
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no it would be approximately the size of a MF 50mm lens
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will see if something doesn't come to mind...
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remember it should be work safe :-)
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Image
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Nice Steve. A little over saturated for my taste but a great picture none the less!
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love the perspective Steve
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