I want to buy a Nikon D80 DSLR. Which lens sould I chose? The nikon 18 -70 or the Nikon 18 -135?

Answer 1

It depends. These lenses are both nice and both have a useful range of focal lengths. They are also similar in price. The 18-135mm has more zoom while the 18-70 has a wider angle.

So. Which type of picture do you take more of? Do you like to take pictures of stuff that is far away? Or do you like to get shots up close but get more area into the shot?

Answer 2

The better question is what quality and which f stop do you think you will need. Why buy a camera with the D80 capability only to throw a lens on it that limits the quality?

The lower quality (called prosumer) zoom lens have variable f stops - usually starting around 3.5 for the wide angle end and ending up around 5.5 to 6.3 at the zoom end. That means you will have to use a low shutter speed or not be able to take shots during lower light conditions. The best Nikon zoom lens are fixed f2.8 and it makes no difference where you are in the zoom range. They are also better quality.

The second thing you need to ask is how much weight am I willing to carry. The better lens weigh more than the variable f stop zooms. I have three - a 17-35mm, a 28-70, and a 80-200mm. Have several fixed focal length lens also - ranging from 50mm to 300mm.

The third thing to remember is the digital muliply factor of 1.5x. In other words, if the lens maximum reach is 100, the effect will be that you are getting a 150mm lens. Shake can then become a problem. Your 18-135 is actually a 27-202mm.

Fourth, if you want a really big range, Nikon has a new lens that is just being released - a18-200mm and still not heavy because of the variable f stop. But, talk about range! And, it is VR (Vibration Reduction - the same thing is IS (image stabilization), which will take care of camera shake.

I think I would advise buying the D80 body and picking up a used lens or two from ebay. Get the better qualtiy Nikon lens and you'll be a lot happier.

Norm

Answer 3

A shameless, point-whoring copy & paste of the answer I just composed for your second question:
---
The 18-70 is the better lens... if you can live without the extra range.
I don't have personal experience with either, but I do know my way around the web (did tons of research before buying a D200 & 17-55mm)
Here's some threads comparing the two:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1030&message=19992415&q=18+135&qf=m
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1030&message=19998006&q=18+135&qf=m
Here's Bjørn Rørslett's review of the 18-70mm (unfortunately, he doesn't have a review for the 18-135mm yet):
http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_zoom_01.html#AFS18-70G
And finally, Ken Rockwell has reviewed both. I don't consider Ken Rockwell to be a great authority, but whenever you discuss Nikon lenses, somebody's bound to bring him up. So here's his take, anyway:
18-70: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/1870.htm
18-135: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18-135.htm

Answer 4

It depends on what you want to do with it. If you are a beginner then maybe you should consider buying the cheap 18-55 or 18-70 until you decide you are ready for more expensive lenses.

Or maybe put the D80 on hold, get a D50 with the two kit lenses (< $800) then after you learn the system enough, trade your D50 for your D80 and keep your lenses and memory cards.