Travel Lens

[Poider]

G'day,I am going to the UK in a few months and I am taking my Nikon D3100, These are the lenese that come with the camera:

Nikon DX VR AF - S Nikkor 18 - 55mm 1:3.5 - 5.6 G
Nikon DX VR AF - S Nikkor 55 - 300mm 1:4.5 - 5.6 G ED

After taking quick trip to Mt gambier with my brother, (to whom I sold my Nikon P100)
I am quickly realizing the time and effort involved in selecting and changing lenses to suit each situation.
I am thinking of buying a lens with bigger range EG;
28 - 300mm, Am I being niave thinking that the quality at each end of this lens will as good as the Individual lenses that come with the camera?
One thing I have learned is that when I buy my next DLSR, (at least five years from now), I will buy Body only and then choose my own lenses.
Peter

[Photologyst]

I would recommend the AF-S 18-200mm Nikkor f/3.5-5.6G ED DX VR as an all around carry and especially travel lens. It is not too heavy for all day lugging.

Does not do macros, but for general photography and zooming it is great. That way I only change lenses once in a while for macros or portraits, although it takes decent portraits too.

Very good reviews as well.

[sk66]

I did an entire 2 week trip to China with an 18-200..well almost, there might have been a couple shots with a different lens.

[jml79]

After a few weeks in Disney and on a cruise with my DSLR, I have decided on a different approach. I want a fast normal zoom for indoors and night like a 17-50 f/2.8 and something like your 55-300 for outdoors. I use a 28-105 now as my walking lens and I find it sometimes cramped indoors, and a little slow at night. My 70-200 is nice outdoors but not long enough. I think that the 55-300 would be a great outdoor lens with less compromise than a 28-300.

All of the super zoom lenses are a big compromise, slow and really very pricey for a slow lens. In my books the money is better spent on the fast, sharp glass that you will likely get more use out of after your trip. Tamron and Sigma both make less expensive fast normal zooms with VR.

Just my thoughts. I have never shot with the Nikon 18-200. Maybe it is better than the super zooms I have shot with.