What can I say, It came with the D200...

What can I say about the Nikon 18-70mm f3.5-4.5G ED-IF-S DX lens, it came packaged with the D200. If you're reading this review, you may be a D200 kit owner like myself. I won't get into the technical description too much on this as the earlier reviewers and the NikonUSA site pretty much describe it, however as a long time Nikon shooter with all prime or fixed focal length lenses from 20mm to 400mm f2.8. It is quite remarkable that Nikkor has put their top of the line proprietary glass lens components (ED)and manufacturing technology into this internally focused barrel, auto-focus zoom lens for the masses.
With this said, I also need to voice my disappointment in the method of attachment of the "flower" style lens hood. The 1/8th turn bayonnet never really secures the hood to the lens barrel. I've had the hood bounce around on the pavement each time I have had this lens on the camera. For these couple of times that I have used this lens, the resulting photographs have been pretty good as they were taken pretty much outdoors with decent amounts of natural light. The variable F3.5-4.5 would certainly preclude using this lens for any subjects in low lighting which is where my prime lenses excel. Most owners of this lens will be quite pleased with its performance as optically this Nikkor lens is better than most competitor and aftermarket lenses out there. I won't think many D200 owners would subject this lens to the rigors of daily use. For my own application, this lens will certainly stay in my vacation camera bag for use in sunny Mexico or Hawaii if I can just find a way to keep the lens hood secured to the lens.