DSLR Lens?

I think it’s more of a personal preference as far as 1 lens or 2 lenses that do the same job. I feel that the 2 lenses is what I would go for. That is what I have as a matter of fact. That way I keep the 18mm to 55mm on all the time. It’s less clumsy and not as heavy. Then when I know I’m going to be doing long distance shots I put on the 200mm lens.
Then again the 18mm to 200mm will get you pictures of subjects that are very close to you as well as being very stealthy (is that a word?) from a long distance. Those surprise pictures are always nice ones to get.
Just remember the larger the lens the longer it is and the heavier it is. If you take the camera pretty much every where like I do then you don’t want the weight. You can always zoom in and crop in photoshop later.

I’m going to have to agree with cooksalot. The more range the lens has, the longer the lens (typically). You’ll get really sick of lugging around a giant camera with a giant lens attached to it. People will already look at you funny because your camera is about five times the size of every other digital camera.
But seriously, I bought my D50 a year ago, and I only got the one lens (18–55 mm). I have an old Nikkormat 35mm SLR, and I have three lenses for that, including a telephoto, which I rarely use. On my DSLR I really have never had the need for the big zoom lens. I think you would be happier with one or two small lenses to start. Most of the time, you will probably use the 18–55, only using the other lens for special projects.

Remember that lens with big focal length difference are also not as good at extreme focal length, chromatic aberration, distortion etc ..

My opinion is if carrying two objectives is not a burden for you, take them.

18–200 VR is a sweet lens, it just amazes me that you can get something from that wide to that much zoom with so little fringing or anything, I slightly understand glass… but not that much!

55–200 vr is what I have and love it, along with my 18–55 it makes for a perfect package.

Here is where most people go wrong, Ken Rockwell has what he has for the 18–200 VR, but there is one problem with that lens… it isn’t very sharp, I took pictures with a D300 with that lens and the sharpness didn’t even compare to my D40 with my 55–200, even stopping down the 18–200 @200mm it didn’t even come close to my 55–200 wide open.

Same goes at the 18–55mm range, those dinky 18–55 lenses are insanely sharp if you stop them down a few stops it becomes rediculous.

The question is what are you going for, a do it all lens, or do you have the time to switch lenses and do all that mess and have to worry about getting your sensor dirty?

I clean my sensor once every two months or so just from dust coming up onto it (yes i know all the tricks, i hold my camera down etc.) anyways, if you plan on taking ultra sharp pictures of say nature, then deffinitely go for the 18–55 and 55–200 which together are cheaper anyways, but if you need a do it all then get the 18–200 it’s just fine for taking family pictures.

Here’s a good way of putting it, if you take pictures in Auto or P mode.. get the 18–200, if you don’t then get the 18–55 and 55–200