Comments about Nikon Nikon 18mm - 55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX (VR) Vibration Reduction Wide Angle Autofocus Zoom Lens, U.S.A. Warranty:

Got this lens on a recommendation and it has lived up to all my expectations.

Comments about Nikon Nikon 18mm - 55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX (VR) Vibration Reduction Wide Angle Autofocus Zoom Lens, U.S.A. Warranty:

I purchased this lens thinking it was the lens I would use 90% of the time, I was wrong.

Here is a breakdown of the lenses I own with usage:
55-200mm VR (use 90% of time)
35mm f/1.8 (use 9% of time)
18-55mm VR (rarely use)

Here's what I should have purchased:
18-200mm VR
70-300mm VR

Zoom is important. The best shots for portraits are past 100mm in focal range.

Comments about Nikon Nikon 18mm - 55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX (VR) Vibration Reduction Wide Angle Autofocus Zoom Lens, U.S.A. Warranty:

Sharp, clear pictures. Easy to use. Good price [...] from Adorama.

Comments about Nikon Nikon 18mm - 55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX (VR) Vibration Reduction Wide Angle Autofocus Zoom Lens, U.S.A. Warranty:

I use this lens on a D90 and am very happy with it. It is currently my only lens and I don't run into many situations where I wish I had an additional lens. This one can do just about anything you need it to do.

Comments about Nikon Nikon 18mm - 55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX (VR) Vibration Reduction Wide Angle Autofocus Zoom Lens, U.S.A. Warranty:

Got this as the kit lens with a D60. I also use a 50mm/1.8 but the 18-55 is my choice for most situations, or when I only want to carry one lens.

It's sharp, does not cause noticeable chromatic aberration, does not distort more than any other zoom, does not cause AF errors and works correctly with metering, AF and manual range meter.

Going to manual requires flipping the switch (unlike some other AF-S type lenses that allow you to grab the focus ring while in AF mode). AF-S works on all current Nikon models. I've used it on a Nikon film camera (corners are missed at wide zooms because it's a DX lens).

It's not a fast lens but VR does work. Without VR I can shoot handheld very reliably at 1/60 and usually get good results at 1/30, and sometimes at 1/15. With VR I get very reliable results at 1/15, so unless the subject is fast moving or I want low depth of field this lens is functionally the same as one that's two stops faster (roughly 1.4-2.8).

Getting those results in this price range makes this lens a really excellent value. I'd recommend it very strongly to any beginner who does not need specialty lenses or for general use by anybody not shooting sports or working in very low light.

Comments about Nikon Nikon 18mm - 55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX (VR) Vibration Reduction Wide Angle Autofocus Zoom Lens, U.S.A. Warranty:

Should be the first lens you own. The 50mm 1.8 is another great choice (with higher image quality at a slightly lower price), but not so useful for shots requiring a wider angle. As far as I know, the optics are the same as the non-VR kit lens, so may not want to print photos with this lens too big.

I use this lens for landscape mostly, around the 18-20mm focal range. Most tout VR for hand-held purposes, and while it is great for that (I can shoot at 1/8 sec with this lens handheld), it has another role I've discovered. On a tripod, with long exposure, VR will pretty much cancel out any vibrations from wind or waves hitting the tripod feet.

Again, if you're looking to sell large prints, this isn't the lens for you. But you already know that.

Comments about Nikon Nikon 18mm - 55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX (VR) Vibration Reduction Wide Angle Autofocus Zoom Lens, U.S.A. Warranty:

(Incorrectly & originally under Grey Market Lense)
Read the professional reviews on all the D40 lenses available as kits to the D40. Liked this one the best. Not in Nikon USA kit though so I had to buy separately. So far very happy and satisfied, then again I don't know what I don't know so I might be missing a lot. Right now though I'm just a student of light, color and motion and wanted the most forgiving and least expensive Nikon outfit I could buy. I shopped and shopped and waited and bought. Glad I went this way. I'm already selling a few photos (CS2 didn't hurt either) and getting ready to move up to a more expensive, versatile and VR (I never leave home without it) Nikon lense. Thanks, Nikon, for making the beginning so simple