Kit lens

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A kit lens is a "starter" lens which can be sold with an interchangeable-lens camera such as a mirrorless camera or DSLR. 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. 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 camera kit is often marketed as an upgrade lens for a consumer camera. In addition, retailers often have promotions of standalone low-end camera bodies without the lens, or a package that bundles a body with one or two more expensive lenses.

Contents

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 cameras 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 cameras 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 compared to separate body and lens pricing.

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras

This is a list of the smallest mirrorless camera kit zoom lenses — limit one per brand, lens mount, and sensor size combination. Note that cameras are sometimes kitted with prime lenses, which are not shown here.

Model Lens
mounts 		Focal length [lower-alpha 1] Aperture OIS PZ [lower-alpha 2] WeightLengthRelease
year		Availability
WideTeleWideTele
1.0-type ("1-inch")
Nikon 10-30mm F3.5-5.6 PD 1 27mm81mmf/3.5f/5.6YesYes85g28mm2014Discontinued
Samsung 9-27mm F3.5-5.6 NX-M 24mm73mmf/3.5f/5.6YesNo73g30mm2014Discontinued
Olympus 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ MFT 28mm84mmf/3.5f/5.6NoYes93g23mm2014Current
Panasonic 12-32mm F3.5-5.6 MFT 24mm64mmf/3.5f/5.6YesNo70g24mm2013Current
Sony 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 E 24mm75mmf/3.5f/5.6YesYes116g30mm2012Current
Samsung 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 NX 24mm75mmf/3.5f/5.6YesYes111g31mm2014Discontinued
Nikon 16-50mm F3.5-6.3 Z 24mm75mmf/3.5f/6.3YesNo135g32mm2019Current
Fujifilm 15-45mm F3.5-5.6 X 23mm68mmf/3.5f/5.6YesYes135g44mm2018Current
Canon 18-45mm F4.5-6.3 RF 29mm72mmf/4.5f/6.3YesNo130g44mm2022Current
Canon 15-45mm F3.5-6.3 EF-M 24mm72mmf/3.5f/5.6YesNo130g45mm2015Discontinued
Leica 18-56mm F3.5-5.6 L 27mm84mmf/3.5f/5.6NoNo256g60mm2014Discontinued
Sony 28-60mm F4-5.6 E 28mm60mmf/4.0f/5.6NoNo167g45mm2020Current
Nikon 24-50mm F4-6.3 Z 24mm50mmf/4.0f/6.3NoNo195g51mm2020Current
Canon 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 RF 24mm50mmf/4.5f/6.3YesNo210g58mm2023Current
Panasonic 20-60mm F3.5-5.6 L 20mm60mmf/3.5f/5.6NoNo350g87mm2020Current
Fujifilm 35-70mm F4.5-5.6 G 28mm55mmf/4.5f/5.6NoNo390g74mm2021Current

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

Pentax

Sony

Olympus

Analog single-lens reflex cameras

Olympus

Notes

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Nikon launches AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105MM F/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens".
  2. ↑ "Nikon AF-S DX 18-135 mm lens".
  3. ↑ Nikon 18-55mm
  4. ↑ Nikon 18-55mm II
  5. ↑ Nikkor updates 18-55 kit lens with VR: Digital Photography Review
  6. ↑ "Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II".
  7. ↑ "Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR AF-P Review".
  8. ↑ "Nikon D70 and D70s Review by Thom Hogan". Archived from the original on 2010-01-02. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
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