The Jack-of-All-Trades Lens

I've been on something of a camera-related spending spree lately. This is the final purchase of that spree - a AF-S DX Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II Lens. It's a Jack-of-All-Trades kind of lens - it can shoot fairly close up as well as from a pretty far distance.

This is not the perfect lens - when I want to get really close up it won't be as good as my new macro lens, when I want to shoot from a distance it won't be as good as my 70-300mm lens, and when I want to shoot in low light it won't be as good as my 35mm lens.

So why did I buy this? Quite simply, there are times that I would like to shoot with my D60 but I don't want to deal with changing lenses. Not only is changing lenses awkward at times, but in situations where there is dust it could also be harmful to my camera. This lens will allow me to shoot with my SLR camera under circumstances when I would otherwise have opted to leave the good camera home?

Does this mean that I will never shoot with my P90 point-and-shoot again? No - there will still be times when I will want to travel very lightly, or where security prohibits SLR cameras, and it will be helpful to have a quality point-and-shoot available. However, it does mean that I will opt to use my D60 now under circumstances when I would previously have left the SLR at home. The trade-off in quality is worth it to me if it means that I'll be shooting with the better camera more often than in the past.

[Bill Dodsworth]

I completely understand the dilemma! Long range zoom then stop and put on the macro or wide angle. Later, back to the zoom and so on! So my solution will be to buy a second body. I just need to save, save, save. Enjoy the new lens!!

[Sharonlc]

Eventually a second body will be in the picture. But even then, there will be times that I will need to travel lightly. Sometimes being prepared for the best image takes a backseat to being a mom ;)