DSLR body + what lens?

[epicwelshman]

This is more of a hypothetical situation, but it'll be useful for the future. I want a DSLR. However, I know that many kit lenses are less than fantastic. I've read articles that advise the buyer to purchase the camera body only, and buy a better lens. Now, if I were to do this I'd only be able to afford 1 relatively inexpensive lens. What kind of lens should I get if it would be my primary lens? I use the zoom a fair bit on my prosumer point and shoot, so should I get a lens with a higher zoom, or should I buy a better lens with less zoom? Any advice is appreciated!

 

[tvguru]

It would help if you specified what is relatively inexpensive for you. Personally I would go with what's in my Signature, but with the D80 now if you can afford it.

http://www.nikon.ca/products/afs-dx-vr-zoom-18-200/ is that in your range?

 

[bearbo]

does anyone know where i can get my hand on the 18-200 lens?

 

[tvguru]

does anyone know where i can get my hand on the 18-200 lens?

Hey, get your own thread. LOL jjk. I'd read the www.nikonians.org forum. They usually have threads on exactly this topic. Personally I just walked into my local shop in Thunder Bay, Ont. and bought it. That was back in March even I think. Kinda feel bad for everyone that has been waiting. It really is a gem.

 

[ChrisA]

This is more of a hypothetical situation, but it'll be useful for the future. I want a DSLR. However, I know that many kit lenses are less than fantastic. I've read articles that advise the buyer to purchase the camera body only, and buy a better lens.

Some of the kit lenses are quite good but possably unsuited to some specialized type of photography. For example the Nikon 18-55 "kit" lens works well for many uses. Yes I can list a few reasons why I didn't buy it

If you don't intend to ever manually focus the lens or use a circular polarizing filter then my reasons don't aply to you. But maybe you are into bicycle racing (I'm not) so you'd want a different lens then the one I bought.

I think you should look at the "kit" lens as a starting place and if you can't say why it's unsuitable for your needs buy it. Once you get into specialized kinds of photography (Animals, Sports, Landscapes) then everyones needs are slightly different and there is no "Best".

There are plety of reasons why you'd want a different lens. One might be that there are some subjects you'd like to photograph that you can't get physically close to for whatever reason so you need a longer lens. Of maybe you want to shoot indoors with exsting light?