Nelson Tan
Established
Recently a noted photographer made an audacious claim that novice shutterbugs were making boring photos because the 18-55mm wasn't an exciting focal range, and recommended they purchase ultra-wide (11-14mm) or super telephoto (400mm) lenses to create that special look for their images.
It was either a troll bait or he was paid to drive lens sales. But I always felt the 18-55mm was an underdog and deserved more credit. So I wrote a small article as a tribute to this often maligned lens...
Tribute to the 18-55mm Kit Lens
Do share some of your favourite 18-55mm kit lens images, and I'll start the ball rolling with some of mine...
It was either a troll bait or he was paid to drive lens sales. But I always felt the 18-55mm was an underdog and deserved more credit. So I wrote a small article as a tribute to this often maligned lens...
Tribute to the 18-55mm Kit Lens
Do share some of your favourite 18-55mm kit lens images, and I'll start the ball rolling with some of mine...
Robin P
Well-known
You're right - despite the "stigma" of using something so mundane as a "kit zoom" you can't beat the convenience of that one camera, one lens package as an everyday carry around "just in case".
These 3 with the humble kit lens on the Canon EOS M.
These 3 with the humble kit lens on the Canon EOS M.
noimmunity
scratch my niche
I've never owned a kit lens, but have enjoyed both the images posted here and the ideas expressed on Nelson's blog.
In the end, working with limitations is what it's all about.
In the end, working with limitations is what it's all about.
azzurri
Member
It's laughable to say that the kit lens produces boring photographs. If that's the case, all the Magnum greats like HCB and Robert Capa produced boring pictures. In fact, anyone who uses 28mm, 35mm, 50mm primes all produces boring shots. The shots you guys posted here clearly debunks it. The way to produce better pictures, worry less about the gear and shoot more
Austintatious
Well-known
Nikon D50 and 18-55 kit lens.
Pick"n fer Supper by [url
Crepes by carlosyashinon, on Flickr=https://www.flickr.com/people/95159322@N00/]carlosyashinon[/url], on Flickr
Pick"n fer Supper by [url
Crepes by carlosyashinon, on Flickr=https://www.flickr.com/people/95159322@N00/]carlosyashinon[/url], on Flickr
DwF
Well-known
Art Park, Sunset Seattle
Art Park, Sunset Seattle
XE2 18-55
Art Park, Sunset Seattle
XE2 18-55
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
I always liked Nikon for colors, but went to Canon because of pricing. Great images above with D50.
Canon 500D with 18-55 F3.5-5.6 IS kit lens.
Canon 500D with 18-55 F3.5-5.6 IS kit lens.
gerikson
Established
I'm in two minds about this... I've used a kit lens back when I started out, and really never had any complaints about it. Sure it wasn't the best at low light but when I'm outside I usually shoot at f/5.6 anyway. This was before the Nikkor 35/1.8 DX arrived.
My problem is less the optics and the perceived "newbieness" of using a kit lens than the fact that they simply feel cheap and plasticky. I realize this is a shallow superficial view but I really liked using my Nikkor 18/3.5 on crop more than the equivalent 18-55, even though the kit lens was sharper, had AF, was lighter etc.
Now on FX I have a 28-105mm that's a cut above the real kit lenses of the era but is still in sturdy polycarbon. I love it for those family gatherings indoors in dimly lit spaces that's par for the course for my family... slap a 90s era flash on and go to town!
My problem is less the optics and the perceived "newbieness" of using a kit lens than the fact that they simply feel cheap and plasticky. I realize this is a shallow superficial view but I really liked using my Nikkor 18/3.5 on crop more than the equivalent 18-55, even though the kit lens was sharper, had AF, was lighter etc.
Now on FX I have a 28-105mm that's a cut above the real kit lenses of the era but is still in sturdy polycarbon. I love it for those family gatherings indoors in dimly lit spaces that's par for the course for my family... slap a 90s era flash on and go to town!
Robin P
Well-known
The kit zoom for the Canon EOS-M is really cheap to buy but feels and looks four times nicer than the average plastic zoom. It's plastic inside but small, smart and metal on the outside.
Swift1
Veteran
I made this photo in 2012, using a 9 year old Pentax *istD and 18-55 kit lens. Kit lenses are slow and maybe cheap feeling (actully the Pentax 18-55 feels quite good), but the kit lens is hardly to blame for photographers making boring photos.
Merced River and Half Dome in IR by Daiku_San, on Flickr
Merced River and Half Dome in IR by Daiku_San, on Flickr
brainwood
Registered Film User
Great shot Colton. I think you nicely make the point that the eye is greater than the lens
f16sunshine
Moderator
Not an SLR lens exactly...
The Fuji 18-55 f2.8/f4 IS is one of the nicest made and sharpest most pleasant lenses a person can find.
Hanna at Alki by Adnan W, on Flickr
The Fuji 18-55 f2.8/f4 IS is one of the nicest made and sharpest most pleasant lenses a person can find.
Hanna at Alki by Adnan W, on Flickr
Swift1
Veteran
Swift1
Veteran
Not an SLR lens exactly...
The Fuji 18-55 f2.8/f4 IS is one of the nicest made and sharpest most pleasant lenses a person can find.
To be fair, the Fuji 18-55 is easily the highest quality 18-55 available
You made great use of it.
John E Earley
Tuol Sleng S21-0174
This also isn't an SLR image but it was taken with the sometimes derided 16-50 Sony e-mount kit lens. In camera B&W with a6000.
Richmond VA by Earley Photography, on Flickr
Richmond VA by Earley Photography, on Flickr
Huss
Veteran
I gotta ask who made that claim. A "noted photographer", or a "noted blogger"?
Because no photographer would say that.
Spanik
Well-known
Great photo's and good points. But please stop the fallacy that the 50mm was provided "because it closely matches the human view". It is just the easiest and cheapest to make for 135 film size. It is so far of the human view it isn't even funny.
Taipei-metro
Veteran
18-55, pentax
tokyo, 東京, (means east capital)
tokyo
tokyo
shimbashi, 9pm, tokyo 新橋
taipeimetro
tokyo, 東京, (means east capital)
tokyo
tokyo
shimbashi, 9pm, tokyo 新橋
taipeimetro
fireblade
Vincenzo.
Kit lenses are designed quite well by their respective manufacturers. Prior to the internet kit lens were fine.
Internet photographers and kit lenses are explained easily...."In pseudoscience there is no healthy skepticism about fantastic claims, in fact there is an enthusiasm to accept untested personal testimony as a public truth. It is more about what someone feels then facts. The elevation of individual testimony or sensation over logic and verifiable fact is not only popular; it is often linked to religion, spirituality, popular psychology and cults. "
No different when discussing flawed business models of companies, those who have the companies products enter the discussion with emotional tantrums and how there is nothing wrong with the companies product.
The wheel barrow we push becomes burdensome and we cannot think straight nor understand that the discussion is about business modelling and not the product...no matter how good the product is.....yes, cultish
Irrationalism will prevail.
BTW...all great photos with the kit lenses
Internet photographers and kit lenses are explained easily...."In pseudoscience there is no healthy skepticism about fantastic claims, in fact there is an enthusiasm to accept untested personal testimony as a public truth. It is more about what someone feels then facts. The elevation of individual testimony or sensation over logic and verifiable fact is not only popular; it is often linked to religion, spirituality, popular psychology and cults. "
No different when discussing flawed business models of companies, those who have the companies products enter the discussion with emotional tantrums and how there is nothing wrong with the companies product.
The wheel barrow we push becomes burdensome and we cannot think straight nor understand that the discussion is about business modelling and not the product...no matter how good the product is.....yes, cultish
Irrationalism will prevail.
BTW...all great photos with the kit lenses
Taipei-metro
Veteran
18-55, canon
taiwan
taiwan
taiwan
taiwan
taipeimetro
taiwan
taiwan
taiwan
taiwan
taipeimetro