I just got back from having a very quick look at the 16-85mm and the 70-300mm combo and have compared some shots I took with them in the store versus control shots of the same subject with the 18-200mm. I brought them into Camera RAW and applied sharpening there to all images as follows:
Amount: 125
Radius: 1.0
Detail: 50
Masking: 0
I then compared them in CS3 at 100%. The 18-200m actually looks slightly better than the others! Mind you, this was a very unscientific test, although real world in the sense that 90% of the time, I shoot handheld.
I'd be very interested to hear your comments on CS3 sharpening strategies for D300 files, and particularly the advantages of using Capture NX as it relates to image sharpness & overall quality versus the CS3 route.
Jono, Jay had "graduated" to RAW files before our workshop, but he is still a real curmudgeon when it comes to processing, taking a real minimalist approach. The workshop was indeed a real treat and Jay is brutal in his assessment and critique of your work. I learned a great deal about self criticism, which is crucial for a photographer to evolve.
Ciao,