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"Slowly". Read it for uself !

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

What ever solutions / suggestions have been offered so far - NOTHING can make up for the difference in zoom capability. I realized this twenty years ago, and nothing has changed. For me, a zoom lens with over over 3x will not give the sharpness that I sometimes need - although I have had up to 5x, I would not have considered shooting with anything longer.

MikeE99 Loc: Cumming, GA

Thank you for this question. I too am using an entry level Nikon D5200. When purchased, I also bought the Tamron 18-200mm lens. In all the years since, I never knew if it was the camera, the lense, or me, in that I couldn't take a sharp picture to save my life, even when using a tripod. I also have an AF-S Nikkor 35mm 1:1.8G lense, and it too, when I zoom in on my photo, isn't as sharp as I would expect. Maybe my expectations are a bit too high for how sharp a photo can be without professional equipment?

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

The zoom ratios are too different for this to conclude anything. In my opinion.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I suspect it is no accident that the "core zooms" are all less than 3:1, even with modern computer-aided design. And it is quite interesting that this has not changed even with the very latest R and Z designs.

When I bought my 5:1 24-120mm f/4 G a few years ago, it was initially intended only as a 'casual' lens. I have been pleasantly enough surprised that it gets used significantly beyond what my original intentions for it were, even though its output is identifiably different from that of either the 24-70 or 70-200 f/2.8 lenses. Most of that difference is in color transmussion and can be adjusted for, but that lens does have some shortcomings.

My point is a little different from the OP's. I don't say never to buy a less expensive lens. But at some point, there does need to be a recognition that doing so involves giving up some things. Sometimes those things can be compensated for, sometimes not. The 18-200mm zooms are old designs...introduced and discontinued a long time ago. They are not going to be a match for newer, better designs. Mine is now officially retired. I am no longer seeking repair for it. I'll see if my local store would like to have it for parts. $20 will buy the almost new hood I bought for it.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Even with a pro Prime lens - there are stumbling blocks to sharpness, e.g. A filter in front of the sensor, camera shake, bad focus, subject moving (breeze etc) atmospheric haze (very common), high ISO, exposure. Plenty to think about!

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Yes. All one can do is manage the individual links in the chain.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"The amateurish need to mimic "test analysis sites" is just theatre or fantasy. Its nowhere close to being legit knowledgeable testing that needs only a few minor flaws straightened out. Discussing said flaws is pretty pointless. Discussing such "reported results" is equally pointless.

Look at the example photos provided in this instance. Theyre just laffable. Clearly user error is way too obviously in the mix here. Theres nothing to pick apart and analyze. Its just trash "science" worthy to be ignored."

"What ever solutions / suggestions have been offered so far - NOTHING can make up for the difference in zoom capability. I realized this twenty years ago, and nothing has changed. For me, a zoom lens with over over 3x will not give the sharpness that I sometimes need - although I have had up to 5x, I would not have considered shooting with anything longer."

Rather compelling evidence of individuals who possibly suffers from a Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

What are the DSM 5 diagnostic criteria for narcissistic personality disorder?

"NPD in DSM-5. NPD is diagnostically defined in the DSM-5 (APA 2013; pages 669-672) as a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy, with interpersonal entitlement, exploitiveness, arrogance, and envy. Five out of nine of these criteria need to be present to meet the diagnosis of NPD."

How does a therapist identify a narcissist?

"Narcissists never want to be responsible unless everything goes their way. They often place all the blame and responsibility on someone else to maintain their own façade of perfection. Narcissists lack boundaries. They believe that everything belongs to them and everyone thinks and feels the same as they do."

Enough said...
Hope this may help others here on UHH better understand the blatant lack of social etiquette and want of compassion for other UHH members who may be somewhat naive in the theory of photographic art & science...

Sadly this emotional health affliction has become a pervasive malignancy on UHH...
I've watched if slowly become a dominate communicational paradigm over the past several years here.
Thus the reason I've migrated to flickr where members are above such a petty niggling mindset.

If you are seriously focused on photographic excellence then please consider joining me on flickr
Wishing all here much Joy and success in your photographic journey...

Informational Source: Narcissistic Personality Disorder from the NIH Library of Medicine

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

That camera is as capable of photos just as sharp as any camera out there. It could be a lens issue, although that 35mm prime should be sharp. It could be that the AF on your camera needs calibration or it could be technique. Try shooting on a tripod in Live View. You can also try focusing manually using the magnification button in Live View. That’ll show you how capable of sharp photos your equipment is.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

While there is always some compromise with a larger zoom range lens designs have come a long way since those early 18-200 lenses. Of course no problem with my Nikon Z 180-600, but that’s only slightly over the 3:1 ratio. I also have no sharpness issues with both my Nikon Z and Olympus 100-400 lenses and the Nikon 24-200 and Okympus 12-100 Pro.

ronpier Loc: Poland Ohio

I have many Nikkor lenses and four Tamrons for my Nikon APSC cameras. Have never seen any noticeable difference in image quality for any of them including my Tamron 18-200. My cameras and lenses are older but so am I. lol

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Repair parts for lenses not worth repairing if and when they break ? Really ?

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

If you are comparing your photos to a vast majority shown here, remember that they are heavily post processed with sharpening, noise reduction, pixel enhancing and 3 or 4 other programs designed to salvage photos.
Also pixel peeping is not productive as people outside of UHH don't look at a photo a pixel at a time, but rather the whole photo at once.
Your lens/camera combination is very good. Ken Rockwell considers it a superb lens.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I don't know...better than just throwing it in the trash. And who knows...what's worth repairing down the road might be totally different from what is judged so today. After all...folks are using all sorts of weird stuff on their mirrorless cameras.