Looking for Inspiration, Part 1 - "Just" the 18-55 IS Kit

[Loupey]

Lots of new photographers are getting this lens as part of a kit with their new cameras. The price differential for getting this lens instead of a "body only" camera is about $100 - the same as the Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens.

Perhaps we can all post some examples of what can be done with this lens. People need not necessarily start looking for another lens before the seal on the camera box is even broken.

This is not a project, so even if you have some older images taken with this lens, please post them.

Inspire the new photographers (and perhaps some old ones too)

[mjs1973]

I'll play, sort of. My first DSLR came with the 18-55mm kit lens, but it's not the IS version. This waterfall shot was taken with that lens back in 2004. This was the first photo I ever took that I was really happy with.

[ksbryan0]

Taken with my XSi and the kit 18-55 lens.

[Grandpaw]

The way I read Loupey's post was to show how much better off you would be spending the extra $100.00 on the 50mm instead of buying the kit lens with the body, Jeff

[Loupey]

Great images, Mike and Ken. Hope to see more from you guys. Thanks for sharing.

The way I read Loupey's post was to show how much better off you would be spending the extra $100.00 on the 50mm instead of buying the kit lens with the body, Jeff

Perhaps I wrote it misleadingly, Jeff, but I only brought up the 50mm because it is so often the lens people talk/write about as the unsung "cheap but good" lens. But they are both in the same league in terms of cost, construction, and AF.

Hope I didn't mislead anyone else into thinking that I was implying to get the 50mm over the kit lens. Quite the opposite, I wanted to demonstrate the versatility of even a "kit" lens if used creatively.

[CaraRose]

18-55mm IS on my XSi

[Loupey]

Two black and white conversions using this lens on the XS...

This one is uncropped with a slight artificial vignetting added





EXIF info should be intact. EDIT: OK, I guess not

[armando_m]

Lens 18-55 f3.5-5.6 (Nikon d40 kit lens, not VR)
Shot at 55 mm F8 1/2000 iso 400 (don't know why I used a slightly high ISO)
focus distance 0.33m
nikon D300

[armando_m]

double post

[mjs1973]

Here is another one from the archives. This is not a photo that I ever considered great, or even good, for many reasons. That being said, I'm adding it to this thread because an art director did think it was a good photo and purchased it to use on a catalog cover back in 2005. This was taken in 2004 with the 18-55mm kit lens. You can see the catalog cover here if you would like.

[Loupey]

Mike - very nice! I hadn't seen that one (image or magazine) as it was before I signed on here so thanks for sharing!

[Loupey]

This one shot at 18mm on the XS

[Loupey]

At the other extreme (55mm)

[Loupey]

More with the XS. This shot at 53mm, ISO 400, 1/90s, f/5.6 handheld.

[Loupey]

Is there no one else who has shot anything with this lens?

[mjs1973]

I'm sure I have lots more, just haven't had the time to sift through old images.

From 2004.



From 2005.

[CaraRose]

I have more...

[mjs1973]

One more.

[emiles]

I've got some. and I have to ask, Loupey what is your last picture of?

[Loupey]

Mike & Cara - beautiful landscapes! Mike, that tree-in-a-canyon shot is super!

I've got some. and I have to ask, Loupey what is your last picture of?

That is a Dale Chihuly glass display.

[mjs1973]

Mike, that tree-in-a-canyon shot is super!

Thanks Loupey. That was taken on a hike in Bryce Canyon. When we got to the park, it was so foggy we couldn't see anything but decided to stick around and see if it would clear up. It did, and the hiking was great. The red rock with snow was beautiful.

[Loupey]

Took the 18-55mm and the XS (1000D) to the Independence Day fireworks in downtown Columbus, Ohio.

Didn't take a tripod because I knew there would be no room to set one up (let alone carrying it through those crowds) so I had to just hand-hold these.

All three in manual mode, ISO1600, 1/20s, f/5.6.

At 25mm (cropped slightly)


At 36mm (uncropped)


At 43mm (uncropped)

[95PGTTech]