D80 kit lens: 18-135 or 18-55 with VR?

[krye]

Since the D80 has come down in price, I have been wanting to get one. Amazon has some good prices but I'm hung up on the kit lens.

I would really like the 18-135, but the 18-55 has VR. What would you guys go with? Does the vibration reduction really make a big difference? I've never had a DSLR before. I am upgrading from a P&S.

Here are the prices:

D80 with 18-135mm AF-S DX Zoom for $799
D80 with 18-55 AF-S DX VR for $739

The thing is that the 18-135 is over $200 bucks by itself and I'm not looking to buy a lot of glass until I've "gotten the hang" of things. So I think the 18-135 would let me do more now. I can always pick up a 18-55 later since it's only like $100.

Just looking for some feedback into weather or not the 18-135 w/o VR is a deal breaker or not.

 

[kidkaprie]

I have the 18-135 kit lens and its a decent peice of glass. It has a good range of zoom and personally, i think the VR is better suited for longer zooms than the 18-55.

go for the 18-135. especially since you are just starting out, it will give you a broad range to start with. or you could always just get the body and a zoom lens with VR.

 

[taylorwilsdon]

For that type of kit, I'd say pick up a used D80 for around $400 and a new (split up from D90 kit) 18-105mm VR for $250. That way, you're only at $650 and you've got a better lens then either of those.

 

[Westside guy]

Here's the deal (in my opinion ). Over the range 18-55, VR isn't often needed. BUT when you get out towards 135, it can be very handy - and the 18-135 does NOT have VR.

So I'd say either get the 18-55 kit and plan on getting the 55-200 VR reasonably soon; or else just buy a body and then buy the 18-105 VR (even if it ends up costing you a little bit more).

 

[Piarco]

I'm in complete agreement with Westside Guy - 18-55mm just doesn't really need VR - and the suggestions about which lens to go for (both of them) are sound...

 

[krye]

Here's the deal (in my opinion ). Over the range 18-55, VR isn't often needed. BUT when you get out towards 135, it can be very handy - and the 18-135 does NOT have VR.

So I'd say either get the 18-55 kit and plan on getting the 55-200 VR reasonably soon; or else just buy a body and then buy the 18-105 VR (even if it ends up costing you a little bit more).

I think you're right. I'll stick with the 18-55 kit lens for now and save up for the 55-200 VR.

 

[ChrisA]

I don't think VR is useful on a 55mm lens. Using the 1/(focal length) rule you can hand hold a 55mm lens at 1/60 second. Shooting slower than that means you will likely just get motion blur due to subject motion and VR can't help with subject motion.

The 18-135 covers wide range the is all you may ever want. Maybe your next lens might be a faster prime like the 35mm or the 50mm f/1.4. If you had the 18-135 about the only reason to get another would be to have something faster, or maybe a macro lens

 

[krye]

I don't think VR is useful on a 55mm lens. Using the 1/(focal length) rule you can hand hold a 55mm lens at 1/60 second. Shooting slower than that means you will likely just get motion blur due to subject motion and VR can't help with subject motion.

The 18-135 covers wide range the is all you may ever want. Maybe your next lens might be a faster prime like the 35mm or the 50mm f/1.4. If you had the 18-135 about the only reason to get another would be to have something faster, or maybe a macro lens

OK, now I'm torn. So if VR on a 18-55 is a waste, does a 18-135 without VR suck? Honestly, I'd rather go with the 18-135, but not if not having vibration reduction is going to be a big deal. Remember, I've never had a DSLR before, so I don't know what to expect. Do you think VR is only necessary on something like a 55-200?

 

[gnd]

I don't think VR is useful on a 55mm lens.

I think if the subject is stationary then VR (or SR or whatever it's called by different companies) is still useful. I can hand hold down to 1/10s with my 24mm and in-body shake reduction on my camera (provided that the subject is stationary, like statues in a museum ...).