How far will an18-55mm lens focus?

[faeriegodess612]

Basically what I want to know is how far, in distance, will an 18-55mm lens focus? If I point my camera at a lighthouse across the bay, say 2 miles away, will it focus on it, or will it be blurry? Can it focus on something that far away? I'm not talking getting up close and personal with the layout of the bricks, but make it the main subject in a photo if I wanted?

I'm looking into DSLR's and inkista has made me realize that I need to first learn how to use the basic lens, before I look into more than that one.

Sorry for kinda short post, i'll give more info later if needed. BIG storm here, and i live in Texas. so i need to be watching the tv and unplug my computer. thanks for any answers or advice.

[RichardTaylor]

It should focus on infinity, ie as far away as the moon, at least.
How good the pic looks depends a lot on atmospheric conditions & lighting.

Example
The bridge (and it is a big one) in the distance is about 2 miles away. This as taken at 58mm on a full frame camera. With a "consumer" camera it will look closer by about 1/2 a mile. A lighthouse will still look pretty small.

[nickbedford]

Practically every lens you get will be have no more than a limitation on the minimum focus distance. You'll always be able to zoom to infinity, at least in most normal lenses. Even macro lenses which are designed to focus very close (mm away from the glass) can zoom to infinity most of the time.

[faeriegodess612]

Ok,... I'm wanting to upgrade to a DSLR now. And yes, I've read inkista's Standard "a dSLR is not a P&S upgrade" lecture 101. in the Digital Cameras section. I'm up for that challenge and realize that it will change everything that I thought I knew about photography. (Kinda why I want a new Nikon that has guide mode, so my camera can help me learn how to use it a lil bit) Inkista has also made me realize that of course its all about the glass. She also suggested a camera that was a lil bit above what I was shooting for in price range, but it has Live View, and I like the idea of that. ( Cuz you know, your face cant always be down/over/up where your camera is.) I was looking at a kit that had both the 18-55 lens, and a 55-200 lens. But thru her recommendations and not wanting to get too far in over my head money wise right now, I think I'll learn how to use the camera and that lens, then move on to deciding what lenses I need/want after that.

This sounds like inkista has influenced my decision a lot, ands he kinda has, but I think its a good thing. More making me realize what a HUGE transition it is to go from P&S to DSLR and that I really would need to learn how to use the camera before I start delving into more lenses.

So thank you inky,..at first I thought your words were a lil harsh, but I appreciate the bluntness because it really made me look at it thru regular sunglasses and not rose colored ones.

[RichardTaylor]

Good idea. I use my kit lens for 90% of my general purpose/vacation photography. After a while you will know which lenses you may need to buy to cover those situations where the kit lens may not do the job.

[OsmosisStudios]

Lenses can always focus to a LONG distance, it's SHORT distances that are trouble.