That's actually one of the best, if not the best kit lens on the market. It's far better made then either of the 18-55mm's from Canon or Nikon. Pentax's 18-55mm is the only entry level kit lens built as well as Olympus's. Canon and Nikon's cheapo 18-55mm's feel like plastic toys in comparison.
And as much as I love the classic fast 50mm; a 28-80mm eqv is far more useful for most users. Plus, in 4/3's land a 50mm lens = 100mm field of view. Hardly a standard walk around lens.
@Eric. People talk about a 'walk-around' lens, and sure, for trips to italy or wherever the 28-80 is great (i have the 17-84 canon for this on an XTi body). But (maybe it is just my age) most people i know want a dSLR for pictures of their kids and family. and for that the kit lens (or even an upgraded zoom f4.5 lens) is pretty crap.
I tell my friends to get a fast lens (like the $100 f1.8 50mm canon) and most of them (who don't understand optics) are so amazed that they can talk amazing indoor shots that they can't thank me enough. And once i got the 28mm f1.8 i used that more than my zoom lens for a 'walk around' lens.
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What a completely junky kit lens...you can get a tack-sharp 50mm 1.8 prime lens for the $100.
That's actually one of the best, if not the best kit lens on the market. It's far better made then either of the 18-55mm's from Canon or Nikon. Pentax's 18-55mm is the only entry level kit lens built as well as Olympus's. Canon and Nikon's cheapo 18-55mm's feel like plastic toys in comparison.
And as much as I love the classic fast 50mm; a 28-80mm eqv is far more useful for most users. Plus, in 4/3's land a 50mm lens = 100mm field of view. Hardly a standard walk around lens.
@Eric.
People talk about a 'walk-around' lens, and sure, for trips to italy or wherever the 28-80 is great (i have the 17-84 canon for this on an XTi body). But (maybe it is just my age) most people i know want a dSLR for pictures of their kids and family. and for that the kit lens (or even an upgraded zoom f4.5 lens) is pretty crap.
I tell my friends to get a fast lens (like the $100 f1.8 50mm canon) and most of them (who don't understand optics) are so amazed that they can talk amazing indoor shots that they can't thank me enough. And once i got the 28mm f1.8 i used that more than my zoom lens for a 'walk around' lens.