Ken Rockwell's opinion is confirmed by the reviews I've read on this lens. As usual, Nikon has come up with a lens that will delight the casual snapshooter that the D50 is aimed at.

But you aren't a casual snapshooter. You are intending to use your system more intensively. It's a tool that you will have often in your hands in the coming months and years.

And there's the problem. Plastic lenses just don't feel good and they get worse as time goes on. You may find that you become frustrated with the 18-55 and you regret that you didn't go for the 18-70 which is a really nice piece of work. Still not as nice as the f2.8 constant zooms but they cost 8 times more..

Charles