Mirage 200mm f/3.5 Auto Reflex

Good value. I believe some tradeoffs were made to keep the price low. I rated this five stars because it is a very good lens for the price, not because it is the best possible lens. I believe it is designed to give the average (or even advanced) photographer a lens with a long zoom range and pretty good speed at a reasonable price. It is also rather light weight and, when not extended, reasonably compact. They market it for "travel" where you put this on your camera and your good for anything from 12 to 200 mm (24 to 400 mm 35mm equivalent). Of course, that range is enough for just about anything. And you don't have to change lenses or carry multiple lenses with you. It doesn't have image stabilization in the lens which is probably a concession to help keep the price reasonable. The zoom operation is quite non-linear at the telephoto end. You turn the zoom barrel and it smoothly goes from wide angle up to about 100 mm but that last movement to 200 mm is only a short further rotation of the zoom barrel. I think this is on purpose. I believe it is so that the majority of the range the lens is likely to be used has a very smooth zoom feel. And for the few times you may want the more extreme telephoto, you just put up with the more coarse feel. It is a tradeoff, and I think a reasonable one. This lens has pretty much what you really need, and not what you don't need. So it is more affordable than, for example, their 12 to 100 mm pro lens.Read full review

Wonderful lens, but a little heavy. Love this lens. It has a very good range. But, I am still getting used to the weight. This is the heaviest lens I have, so it takes some adjustment for me. I have been using it to take pictures of bees and wasps. Focus distance is very close, which is what I bought it for.

A very nice single lens for just about everything This lens realy serves as a great single lens works very well for about everything, Travelled with it on the D5MarkII and only needed too 8-17 mm wide angle once. Images are great the aurto focus quick and sharp. Found a little in/out focus hesitation when shooting through glass but otherwise very happy with the camera lens arrangement. I'm happy to travel with less lenses