The D5100/18-55mm KIT...... an excellent camera/lens combination.

When I bought my D800 and several FX lenses, I thought my D5100 would be come a second-class example of an "entry" camera.

A lot of people look down their noses at the "KIT". As it turns out, I use my D5100 quite a bit. Of course, I use my D800 quite a bit also. But... I don't feel "under-gunned" when I use my D5100.

Spending over $2500 for an FX camera/lens combination isn't necessary to get quality photos........ unless you do gallery work enlarged to 20X30+. The D5100 and any of the DX lenses produces sharp photos with fine color as long as you do your part.

So, if you're thinking that you have to sell your D5100 and buy an FX "professional" set-up, you may want to think twice.

The photos I'll post in this thread are straight out of the camera. As RAW originals, they have been converted to smaller JPEG files for posting. There is no post-processing. I didn't even straighten the horizons or crop the edges.

D5100 with Nikon 18-55mm lens and UV filter. These photos were taken on 1/26-2014,

I think the kit lenses get a bad wrap, as well as non-professional cameras, because the people using them assume it must be the item and not themselves when they get started.

I'll add to this: The D3100, even ranked below the 5100, is capable of stunning shots int he right hands, and the kit lens (18-55) is pretty durn sharp and capable. Sure, it's not a great lens for indoor shooting or extreme bokeh when compared to a prime, but I still think it does phenomenally well!

I use my "old" 5100 all the time with a Sigma 10-20mm wide angle, so I don't have to "break the seal" on my 7100 and its' 18-300mm.

Good comments Ted! When I went to my D7100 (still DX) I kept my D5100, still use it and it never fails to impress me!

Pat in NH

When I bought my D7000 I kept the D5100 because it is still a great camera. I am thinking of upgrading to the D7100 soon but will sell the D7000 and keep the D5100.

I think people often forget that the humble 18-55mm is still Nikon glass, and also that it represents Nikon as a lens maker a foot into people's budgets as far as upgrades are concerned.
If you were Nikon would you put an inferior lens on a camera body that you are selling? No, because what you don't want to do is give people that buy that combination a bad taste of what is actually a vast open shop of possible upgrades.
So what do you do - you 'bundle' the body with something that can still hold it's own, yet not at a price that deters people from buying your product, and as they learn more, soon get to realise, that the 'kit' lens is in fact more of a starter lens.

I still use my 18-55mm lens when I don't want the weight/length of my 18-105mm to carry around, though it's primary function is to sit in my bag waiting to be attached to my D5100 when I eventually upgrade to a D7100

TedG954 said:

So, if you're thinking that you have to sell your D5100 and buy an FX "professional" set-up, you may want to think twice.

Click to expand...

I thought twice and I still have my D5100. For me as a hobby-photographer the D5100 is the right DSLR.

In my opinion, it's not that there's anything *wrong* with the 18-55mm "kit" lens (it sports a respectable overall score of 15 at DXO Mark Labs when paired with a D7100), it's just that there are so many other lenses that are so much BETTER than the 18-55mm "kit" lens.

.....

I don't use the 18-55 as much as i used to. I don't under estimate it at all. I did most of my postcards with the 18-55 and 3100. I use it's bigger brother 55-200 quite a bit. On a bright day the lenses are pretty sharp.

TedG954 said:

Spending over $2500 for an FX camera/lens combination isn't necessary to get quality photos........ unless you do gallery work enlarged to 20X30+. The D5100 and any of the DX lenses produces sharp photos with fine color as long as you do your part.

So, if you're thinking that you have to sell your D5100 and buy an FX "professional" set-up, you may want to think twice.

Click to expand...

Being a "Old New Novice", I would look at the newer models and wonder if I made the right decision when I purchased the D5100 !!!!!
But after reading this , I am very happy that I did purchase it. Especially since it was written by a seasoned Photographer who has the experience and knowledge to put things in the proper prospective ....Sometimes I do not see the forest because of the trees in front !!!

Big Thanks
Ron

My journey with the D5100 is pretty well documented here on the forum in my D5100 thread.

http://nikonites.com/project-365-daily-photos/11298-dons-d5100-daily-dabblings.html#axzz2hLd8L9JO

From the day I bought it till I got my D7000 is all there.

I just ordered my d5100 with kit lens and can't wait to get it i seem to of gotten a good deal as its new in box for $399.00.

Besides rez and some detail, the only REAL difference is ease. The better it can shoot at higher ISO, the less you'd have to PP, thus easier to get a great pic. That translates directly to low light the same way. I squeezed very decent shots out of mine, but most were quite painstaking and I mostly got tired of that for every shot rather than its raw quality capability.