Konica Minolta 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3D AF DT Lens

I purchased this lens just before embarking on a jet boat trip into Idaho's Hell's Canyon. I wanted to avoid having to change lenses from wide to telephoto so as not to miss the big horned sheep that can suddenly and unexpectedly appear. I was prepared to give up some quality in order to have the range that this lens provides. I was pleasantly surprised that the optical quality of this lens was much better than I anticipated. The wide 27mm view (at the 1.5x lens factor) did a great job of capturing the canyon vistas popping up around each bend in the Snake River. This lens and my Konica-Minolta 7D worked very well to capture sheep near the waters edge as well as high up the almost vertical slopes of the canyon walls. Hand holding in a moving 42 foot boat at a 35mm equivalent of 300mm was approached with much trepidation, but the anti-shake built into the camera body and an iso set at 200 took care of this concern.
Highs:
The lens is sharp and seems moderately well constructed. A full stainless steel lens mount would be much preferred over the steel/plastic mount. I think a lens costing over $400 should be a little more beefed as far as construction is concerned, but most all brands have suffered in that area so manufacturers could keep costs down and competitive with one another. I have made prints up to 11 x 14 that are very sharp with vibrant colors. The range of 18mm-200mm (27mm to 300mm when considering the 1.5x lens factor) is wonderful for travel. The speed of the glass is really not a factor when considering that the Konica-minolta/sony bodies have anti-shake built in and iso's can be adjusted upwards if necessary.
Lows:
The focus is SLOOOOOW. Once you have achieved focus and stay within that range focusing speed is adequate, but going from near to far focus or vice versa takes considerable time. Forementioned lens mount could be better (If for no other reason than peace of mind).
Conclusion:
If something happened to my current 18-200mm I would replace it without question. It is essential for one lens travel, and, until something far superior comes to market as a replacement option, is the best choice for a "do most everything" kind of lens. I have the Konica-Minolta 11-18mm lens for ultra wide work, and the combination of the two lenses covers most anything not requiring a specialty or high speed lens.