"Kit Lens" - Bad Terminology (Page 3): The Nikon AF-P 18-55mm lens with VR, designed for DX cameras, is one very good kit lens. Even though it is lower in price compared to others.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

The Nikon AF-P 18-55mm lens with VR, designed for DX cameras, is one very good kit lens. Even though it is lower in price compared to others.

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

Larrymc wrote:

OK, I vehemently disagree!!!

Larry

Oh Larry, are you just being a party pooper ???

armymsg

I totally agree. I have the 18-55 and the 18-140 and they serve me well. The 140 is my walkabout lens.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Resqu2 wrote:

My Canon 6D came with a kit les as it was called, 24-105 f/4 L and I think it does a great job for a kit lens. I think the kit lens get a bad name for the crappy 75-300 that Canon throws in with a lot of Rebel cameras.

An interesting point. I agree with your assemment of 'most' of the Canon EF 75-300 lenses, not the EF 70-300 lenses, but is it Canon that offers those bundles or the retailers?

The issue here is that there are mediocre kits through to excellent kits depending on what is in the kit.

Clearly there are good lenses and mediocre lenses, but how does inclusion in a bundle define quality?

It's a bit like meeting someone at a dinner party, and prior to deciding whether to converse with them or not, asking to inspect their package.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

jerryc41 wrote:

Many people have a negative opinion of kit lenses. They think they're cheap plastic lenses that the manufacturer includes just to get the buyer started shooting. In many cases, kit lenses are very good, like the little Nikon 18-55mm. Camera makers could have avoided this situation by listing the camera as "With Lens." Ordinarily, buying a kit is preferable to buying the basic item, but "kit lens" seems to imply it's not very good quality.

Comments?

Sorry, I do not feel that way. I have bought many KITS, not just camera's. Or course, as my name implies, I am very aware of Nikon lenses. SOOOOOOOOOOOO, when Nikon kits their bodies with lenses such as 24-120 and the 16-80 I already know the quality of these lenses. Sony Kits with their 16-50 2.8 all the time and that's also a good one. So, for the knowledgeable among us we know what is a quality Kit and what is not. And, common sense has to take over at some point, if it is an inexpensive lens common sense tells you that it is not TOP quality. Of course, there is also the phrase, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR, and THEIR IS A SUCKER BORN EVERY MINUTE. If I am not aware of all that is included in a kit I do some research and find out more about it before parting with my cash. And even inexpensive kit lenses usually turn out good results, after all, camera manufactures do not want new folks to their line of equipment to be unsatisfied.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

Jim Bob wrote:

You're exactly right. Several years ago when I purchased a D7100 it came with a bundle that included the excellent 18-140 as a "kit" lens. That is still one of my favorites.

Exactly. I got an 18-105 on my D90. The lens was very good. It did have a plastic mount and when the camera was knocked to the sidewalk, that broke. But otherwise, the pix were excellent. Then later an 18-140, also a very good lens.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

jerryc41 wrote:

Many people have a negative opinion of kit lenses. They think they're cheap plastic lenses that the manufacturer includes just to get the buyer started shooting. In many cases, kit lenses are very good, like the little Nikon 18-55mm. Camera makers could have avoided this situation by listing the camera as "With Lens." Ordinarily, buying a kit is preferable to buying the basic item, but "kit lens" seems to imply it's not very good quality.

Comments?

markmmmm

OUTSTANDING POINT on kit lenses. They work and they work well.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Well Jerry I am entirely with you on this one. Although kit lenses could have a bad reputation different manufacturers have introduced excellent optics with those lenses. Nikon 18-55 as you said is one of those good lenses along with Olympus 14-42 and Panasonic 14-45 just to mention the few I know. The 18-70 f3.5-4.5 that Nikon introduced with the D70 was well known for its quality.
I am convinced, by the way that if it is possible we should try the lens we are going to buy also I agree with your previous statement that renting a lens could be expensive. How many reviews I have read talking about the poor qualities of a specific lens and when I tried the lens I was so pleased that many times I bought it, at times at ridiculous prices because due to the poor review the owner sold it to get a "better" lens.
Larry, I cannot remember a lens, kit or not, that did not do its part when I did mine. Some of my best shots from the smoky mountains came from using the Nikon 18-55 lens with a D70s if I remember correctly. The 18-70 Nikon kit lens has given me excellent files over the years and now I am using a Nikon 18-200 VR and could not be more pleased with the images.
Many times we blame a lens or a camera for its "poor" performance when the poor performance came from us.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

jerryc41 wrote:

Many people have a negative opinion of kit lenses. They think they're cheap plastic lenses that the manufacturer includes just to get the buyer started shooting. In many cases, kit lenses are very good, like the little Nikon 18-55mm. Camera makers could have avoided this situation by listing the camera as "With Lens." Ordinarily, buying a kit is preferable to buying the basic item, but "kit lens" seems to imply it's not very good quality.

Comments?

Jerry, you are correct. However I think that the term "kit lens" probably started years ago when photo companies and/or photo shops were putting together packages to meet certain price points.

billt1970 Loc: Gambrills, Maryland

jerryc41 wrote:

Many people have a negative opinion of kit lenses. They think they're cheap plastic lenses that the manufacturer includes just to get the buyer started shooting. In many cases, kit lenses are very good, like the little Nikon 18-55mm. Camera makers could have avoided this situation by listing the camera as "With Lens." Ordinarily, buying a kit is preferable to buying the basic item, but "kit lens" seems to imply it's not very good quality.

Comments?

Very good point, Jerry. I am also very happy with the Nikon 18-55mm lens that came with my D5000 a few years back; now I use it on the D5300 upgrade body.

Best Regards,

BT

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

jerryc41 wrote:

Many people have a negative opinion of kit lenses. They think they're cheap plastic lenses that the manufacturer includes just to get the buyer started shooting. In many cases, kit lenses are very good, like the little Nikon 18-55mm. Camera makers could have avoided this situation by listing the camera as "With Lens." Ordinarily, buying a kit is preferable to buying the basic item, but "kit lens" seems to imply it's not very good quality.

Comments?

It's all relative. While most kit lens are quite good, those that want to take their game up a notch(or found there weakness) will obviously look for better glass. Overly simplistic, there is good, better and best and most kits are just good. Let's not forget that a lens like the the 18-55mm is limited in scope. Some times it's not wide enough, especially on a crop sensor, and then it is often not long enough. We all want the 9-600mm lens that has no flaws.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

Thanks for bringing this up. I have seen them listed as I shop but never thought about them good or bad. I at least feel better about them now.

ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

AMEN....I feel the same way!

Jim Bob wrote:

You're exactly right. Several years ago when I purchased a D7100 it came with a bundle that included the excellent 18-140 as a "kit" lens. That is still one of my favorites.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

Agree 100%

jerryc41 wrote:

Many people have a negative opinion of kit lenses. They think they're cheap plastic lenses that the manufacturer includes just to get the buyer started shooting. In many cases, kit lenses are very good, like the little Nikon 18-55mm. Camera makers could have avoided this situation by listing the camera as "With Lens." Ordinarily, buying a kit is preferable to buying the basic item, but "kit lens" seems to imply it's not very good quality.

Comments?