Kit lens

A kit lens is a "starter" lens which can be sold with an interchangeable-lens camera such as a single-lens reflex camera. It is generally an inexpensive lens priced at the lowest end of the manufacturer's range so as to not add much to a camera kit's price. The kit consists of the camera body, the lens, and various accessories usually necessary to get started in SLR photography. A kit lens can be sold by itself outside of a kit, particularly the ones that are moderately expensive; for instance a kit lens included in a prosumer SLR kit is often marketed as an upgrade lens for a consumer SLR. In addition, retailers often have promotions of standalone low-end SLR bodies without the lens, or a package that bundles the SLR body with one or two more expensive lenses.

Originally kit lenses were of normal focal length; more recently kit lenses tend to be inexpensive zoom lenses that range from medium wide angle to mid telephoto for added versatility. Prime lenses are generally faster (smaller f-number) than comparably priced zoom lenses, so the change to zoom lenses means that recent kit lenses are usually also slower (higher f-number). However, in most cases the inclusion of an inexpensive zoom lens is to maintain a low entry price and maximize usability for the beginner photographer. More expensive camera bodies are often paired with a likewise more expensive, thus possibly faster, lens.

Originally high end SLRs were always sold body-only without a lens as most buyers were experienced users who already had lenses. Today however this is not always the case and even high end SLRs can be purchased with a lens, albeit an appropriately higher-quality lens. In these cases the typically uncomplimentary term "kit lens' is somewhat of a misnomer. Sometimes the lens is added by the retailer at a reduced price over separate body+lens pricing.

Analog single-lens reflex cameras

Olympus

Digital single-lens reflex cameras

Because of the crop factor, kit lenses for APS-C format cameras (like Canon EF-S and Nikon DX) have shorter focal lengths, to get the same field of view.

Canon

Canon have also marketed twin lens kits, typically with the non IS version of the Canon EF-S 18-55mm lenses and

Nikon

SLRs and DSLRs

MILCs

Nikon offers three kit lenses with its 1 series cameras. One lens is included in all Nikon 1 kits:

Nikon also sells so-called "twin kits" or "double kits" with the Nikon 1. These combine a second lens with the 10–30mm:

Micro Four-Third MILCs

Panasonic offers three kit lenses with its Micro Four Thirds cameras.

Pentax

Sony

Four Thirds

Olympus bundles camera with short kit lens alone or with both kit lenses, the latter bundle is known as doublekit.

Mirrorless system cameras

Fujifilm

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ Nikon 18-55mm
  4. ↑ Nikon 18-55mm II
  5. ↑ Nikkor updates 18-55 kit lens with VR: Digital Photography Review
  6. ↑
  7. ↑
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