Is this the right Question?
Hi, John,
There are so many fine shooters on this forum and they all have excellent takes on your question. I've owned the 18-70 and the 18-200 and found them both to be good lenses.
However, I'm wondering if you might not be asking the right question, i.e., which lens should I buy? When I first began DSLR shooting, I was coming from a point-and-shoot and I was a snap-shooter. I had very little understanding of photography. And, like you, if it held still long enough, I'd take its photo. And frankly, I got a great deal of enjoyment from this. I still cherish a few of those shots.
But a funny thing happened to me when I shifted to a DSLR... my contentment disappeared. After I took my first hundred shots I began to see the enormous improvement that DSLR shooting brought to my images. The images were far more crisp and sharp, more colorful, more interesting framing, and overall better image quality. I wanted to get better. So, I went nuts and bought about six lenses. The good that came out of that was two-fold... one, I was able to sell them for as much as I'd paid for them. Two, I kept a 50mm f/1.4 Nikkor.
As I began to shoot everything with the 50 (it was my only lens by then), I learned how to compose. I learned how to move closer and fill a frame. I learned about light and how it affected the image I wanted to make. I learned to think about what I wanted to capture before I even reached for my camera. I learned about the 50's strengths its weaknesses. And I began producing some really pretty nice images... not the quality of much you see on this forum, but some pretty good stuff for me and way better than my old p&s days. In short, one 50mm prime lens transformed me from a snap-shooter to a photographer.
Now, since then I have acquired some fast glass and some fairly expensive stuff, but you can guess which lens is always in my bag. It's not fancy and it's not expensive and it's not flashy. But it always gets the shot because I learned with it. And shooting the 50 also taught me which shots I simply couldn't get unless I had a long lens, or a macro lens, or a wide angle. I discovered what I needed to get the shots I wanted. So my next purchases were far more wise and well thought out than my first ones.
So, after all that baloney, I think the right question to ask is "which lens will help me learn to be a better photographer." And my response would be to suggest a prime, like, oh, I don't know, like maybe a 50/1.8 (at $110 perhaps the best deal in photography), or a 35/2 ($320). Either of those lenses will help you learn your new hobby and you will never be sorry you purchased them.
Oh, and one more thing... whatever you do, be sure to have lots of fun! After all, this pursuit is about fun, so do what makes you happy, whether it seems outrageous or not. And remember that as long as you buy good glass at reasonable prices, you will almost always be able to get most of your money back if you should decide to sell. No decision is irreversible. That is to say, you almost can't make a mistake!
Hope this helps.
God bless.
Doug
