Well, I have decided to part ways with my 18-200 f3.5-5.6 VR in hopes of getting some more f2.8 glass. I am putting it up on NS before Ebay in hopes that it ends up in the hands of a fellow skier. I got this lens last year and it has served me very well. I love having the flexibility of being able to switch from wide angle to telephoto without changing lenses (great in sports when players are running towards you- you can get them in the frame no matter how close/far they are from you). Its an awesome walk around/everyday lens and is great for beginner/intermediate photographers. I have taken excellent care of this and there are no visible (at least I cant find any) scratches on the body of the lens OR the glass. Everything works perfectly on the lens.
So, just as an FYI, this lens is the version 1. The second version is optically identical. The only difference it is that it has a zoom lock switch on it so that you can ensure the lens stays at one focal length. IMO, this is not a very important addition but if it is a deal breaker for you, look elsewhere. Otherwise, this is the exact same lens. The VR systems are also the same. If you don't know about VR, its pretty sweet. It cuts down on vibrations, letting you use a slower shutter speed in low light conditions without getting motion blur in your photos.
Comes with front and rear lens caps, lens hood, and if you want, the box as well (which may have a lens case in it BUT I AM NOT SURE) (note that the box is at home and I am at school so it will take a bit of time to get the box up here, but not too long). Asking price is $475 (look around, you most likely wont find it for less)
Anways, below are some photos of the lens followed by some photos I have taken with the lens.
