What is Kit Lens? Is It Worth It? | Bergen County Photographer
Have you ever heard the expression “kit lens” before? What is it? Kit lens is any lens that is bundled with a camera; however, people usually refer to kit lens the 18-55 mm lens that usually comes bundled with the camera.
The 18-55 mm lens is usually cheaply made with plastic, and for this reason the price of a camera bundle is more budget friendly for consumers. This lens is not likely to withstand much wear and tear, however it is lighter and more compact than other lens types, which makes it ideal for beginners.
Kit lenses are not usually sharp, your shot will not be very crisp and clean, on the other hand the moderately wide angle is great for landscapes and architecture and the 55 mm focal length is awesome for portraits.
These lenses also have a variable aperture. For example, you are zoomed out and the aperture is set to f/3.5 but when you zoom in, your aperture changes to f/5.6. This variable aperture can be confusing for beginners, so you need to make sure you understand your lens from the beginning.
These characteristics do not mean your kit kens is bad, it is actually a very good lens for beginners, while you are learning how to use your equipment. Nevertheless, you will likely outgrow your kit lens and would like to upgrade your gear at some point.
