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On my Canon kit lens, I could completely zoom in, focus on the object and then zoom out to take the picture with the object still in focus.

Now I have a Sigma 18-200mm (with a Canon 600D) and that doesn't work. After zooming out, focus is lost and I need to refocus.

Is this lens broken or is not every lens the same with focussing combined with zooming?

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The lens is a varifocal lens. Basically, it's a lens that changes focus as the focal length changes and it's quite common. Parfocal lenses, ones that maintain focus on zoom change, exist but are typically more expensive as a result.

Long story short, it's normal for a large number of consumer zoom lenses.

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    \$\begingroup\$ is 100% correct. Interesting story on lensrental about a 70-200 lens that is Parfocal, its only $20K lensrentals.com/blog/2013/04/… \$\endgroup\$
    – Pat Farrell
    Apr 19, 2013 at 17:15
  • \$\begingroup\$ Really? I always thought cheap lenses would do that. I've mostly found it on kit lenses, as the asker has stated. \$\endgroup\$
    – BBking
    Apr 19, 2013 at 21:55
  • \$\begingroup\$ @BBking - most consumer lenses are cheap lenses... \$\endgroup\$
    – Joanne C
    Apr 19, 2013 at 22:05
  • \$\begingroup\$ The Nikkor 10-105 DX is a parfocal kit zoom, although not exactly one of the pits :) \$\endgroup\$
    – Ryccardo
    Apr 21, 2013 at 12:56

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