Are kit lenses rubbish?

[momtoamiracle]

just wanted to add to get some books on using an SLR in general, such as the Digital Field Guide for your particular camera. Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson is also a great book. It takes a while to get used to your camera. Once you learn what THOSE particular lens can do, you will be pretty happy with them. Also, an external flash can also help, if you don't have one.

have fun!

[Jill H]

thanks everyone for your very detailed comments and the time you have taken to answer my question. I really appreciate your help. I guess that is one of the reasons I have joined Digital Photography School!. I know I have to learn. It is around 4 years since I picked up my latest SLR film camera (which was my second SLR) - I just loved the PowerShot so much it took over even though I was reluctant initially to go to digital. I know that I have to study, learn and practice to get the most out of my new camera.

Thanks everyone again! You have made me feel a lot better about my purchase and that I just need to learn and practice practice practice.

Thanks!

[memory hunter]

I have Nikon SLR D40x and I also used external flash to take this photo. Why is this happened?

[kencaleno]

Originally Posted by memory hunter

I have Nikon SLR D40x and I also used external flash to take this photo. Why is this happened?

Looks like you had your flash mode set to "slow synchro"

[kencaleno]

Kit lenses are only rubbish if that's what you believe they are. I can't answer for other brands, but my Nikon 18-55 and 70-300 kit lenses are earning me noney daily. Better to learn how to get the best out of what you have. Learn the "sweet-spot" (Where aperture and focal length combination give the best possible image) of each lens.

[Jill H]

thanks everyone for your great answers and help. I really appreciate it - I just need to fine ("make") more time to learn and practice. Less day job more photography time would be great!
Thanks again everyone.

[andrewdt]

great post inkista. that is why i am in this place everyday!

[dakwegmo]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

You mentionned that the problem may be the operator and, not to be insulting, that's likely at least a good part of the problem. dSLRs are a new breed and have a rather steep learning curve. It took me over 2 years to learn my camera font-to-back, and there are still the littlest of things that come up every so often. Take the time to practice, experiment and learn.

I have to agree with this. After I bought my first dSLR I thought I had made a huge mistake. I wasn't getting images as good as I had been with my P&S. It took several months to get to a point where I was really comfortable shooting with it and getting results that were comparable to my P&S. It took much longer to get to the point where I felt like I had mastered shooting with it.

[Brett Valentine]

Best advice I got was to just go ahead and use your kit lenses until you get to the point where you constantly run up against their limitations; and then it may be time to upgrade the lens to something better and/or faster.

[Danferno]

Another thing to note is that P&S automatically sharpen your images. dSLRs don't. You'd be surprised how much of a difference that makes to perceived quality.