My friend is traveling to France and she asked me to recommend her the best lens to purchase for her new Nikon dSLR camera.
The answer is easy.
The Nikon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor
There are sharper and faster lens available but none of them offer the 18-200mm range. At that range, this is the best you can get.
Why would you want to choose a broader range over sharper and faster lens when you’re traveling?
You’re traveling, stupid. Do you like the carrying around extra weight? Do you really want to lug around two or three set of lens when you’re traveling? Do you want to risk losing them? Do you want to waste time and energy swapping lens? Want to worry about dust getting into your sensor and ruining all your pictures? If you answered yes to all of these questions, then go take your prime lenses and have fun. If you answered no, buy the Nikon 18-200mm VR lens.
Though I recommended the lens for travel, it is great for almost all occasions. In fact, this is the lens I have on my camera 90% of the time. I don’t recommend you using this camera for professional use but this lens should be more than sufficient for most casual dSLR users. Most of you probably won’t feel the need to buy another set of lens again. The price is also very reasonable at $700, especially when you consider it combines the ability of two or three lens into one.
If you want to do more research and interested in reading more reviews, go to Ken Rockwell, Thom Hogan, and Nikonian.
If you trust me and want to purchase it now, go here.
Everyone with a little experience says the Nikon 18-200 is a little soft.
My dream travel lens in not made: 18-125 2.8 with quality glass.