18-55mm kit lens. It's a helluva lens.

Here are a few shots.

Almost all the kit lenses don't seem to get the recognition they deserve. Nice shots.

Thanks. Went to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens today. Shot about a 150 pics, kept a 137.
Took this lens, and the 50mm 1.8 prime.
The prime did a little better, but not by much.

Nice shots, yep the 18-55 is a great value considering its quality.

I have not had a single instance to belittle it. It's just a very good lens, end to end.

I'm a very big fan. :applouse:

To me, it would be a marketing disaster to provide a lens with a camera that wasn't capable of producing really excellent photos.

If someone bought a D5100, with the 18-55, and it turned out mediocre pictures, why would they ever buy another Nikon product?

The word "kit" seems to be interpreted to mean "less than excellent".

I believe that is wrong.

Agreed, it is a good lens. It tends to be bad mouthed by people that haven't developed their technique so they assume it's the lens or camera.

I have seen some verrrrrry poor pictures taken with $5+k rigs (no one here, of course).

I think you just explained something to me which I haven't been able to explain myself.
I took some awesome photos with my 18-55 but felt i wanted a bit more reach so bought an 18-105mm and now use that as my walkabout lens.
The intention was to sell the "kit" lens and use the funds for some other gear but I have never taken the very little trouble to try and sell it. Subconsciously I think I want to keep it because it is that good!
Great shots my friend with a great lens.

Lawrence said:

.......but felt i wanted a bit more reach so bought an 18-105mm and now use that as my walkabout lens...........

Click to expand...

That's the route I went. I also sold the 55-200 and got a 70-300 in it's stead. I still have it.

The "kit" lens derived its name from the fact that the camera was bundled with a lens, therefor providing a workable kit to get started in photography for new photographers. All the so called "kit" lenses are very underrated and do not deserve the derogatory stigma that has accompanied them.

The 18-55, 18-105 and the 18-140 are all considered "Kit" lenses. I have all three and love them. My only problem with the 18-55 is the reach. I really don't like to carry more than 1 lens with me most days. The 18-140 is staying on my D7100 along with the 70-300 VRII, The D7000 is probably going to be kept by my wife with the 18-105 on it. The D5100 my be sold with the 18-55 and 55-200 with it.

Even I found that the 18-55VR-II supplied with my D3300 is an excellent lense. As you have pointed out the 50mm F1.8 is slightly sharper, but the VR helps a lot with handheld shots.

At the wide end it is excellent, but at the long end it is a bit softer, and of course f5.6.

Here is a shot at 55mm


and one at 18mm