DSLR camera

[koiman]

I am going to purchase a Sony A350 DSLR camera.
There is a choice of lens available.....either 18-55 or 18-70. as a beginner Im not sure which to go for. any advice would be good.

[ChuckFickens]

I'd go for the 18-70

the numbers relate to the focal lengths the lens will cover, normal is generally regarded as 50mm, anything lower than that is wide angle, anything higher is zoom.

so both your lenses start at 18mm focal length which is wide angle (for landscapes etc) but the one that goes upto 70mm has slight zoom capabilities whereas the one that only goes to 55 doesn't really (though 70mm isn't a huge zoom!)

[ChuckFickens]

Have to say I would go for a canon EOS DSLR myself.

[Richard1966]

Frankly the difference between 55 and 70 will be so slight id go with the one with the widest Fstop and then you need to start saving for a reasonable telephoto or log zoom. I have a 18 - 55 and a 70 - 300

[dundurn]

I have a Canon 450 and have the 18-55 "kit" lens that came with the body and a 70-300 for sports/wildlife photography. I find this a very acceptable combination but I would agree that having an 18-70 to bridge the gap might be better.

Please remember though, that however handy zoom lenses may be, "prime" lenses (i.e. non-zoom lenses with a fixed focal length e.g. 50mm) will always give you better quality photographs. My ambition, the bank manager, my wife and my newly pregnant daughter permitting, is to get a couple of prime lenses, probably a 50mm and a 300 mm.