Zoom creep is when a zoom lens extends or retracts on its own because gravity pulls the zoom mechanism. On the Nikon 18-200mm, users report it most often when the camera is hanging vertically with the lens pointing straight down, where the lens may slowly extend toward 200mm. It can also happen pointing upward, but it’s usually not an issue when shooting normally with the camera held horizontally.

One user noted the lens tends to stay put at 18mm, but may creep if left around mid-zoom, such as 50mm. Extra front weight, like a lens cap or a heavier polarizing filter, can make creep more noticeable.

In practice, this is usually more of a carrying annoyance than a shooting problem. The lens includes a zoom lock at 18mm, which helps prevent it from extending while walking around. So if you’re trying to identify zoom creep, watch whether the lens barrel slowly slides out by itself when the lens is pointed up or down.