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.

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

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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[a] Aperture OIS PZ[b] Weight Length Release
year
Availability
Wide Tele Wide Tele
1.0-type ("1-inch")
Nikon 10-30mm F3.5-5.6 PD 1 27mm 81mm f/3.5 f/5.6 Yes Yes 85g 28mm 2014 Discontinued
Samsung 9-27mm F3.5-5.6 NX-M 24mm 73mm f/3.5 f/5.6 Yes No 73g 30mm 2014 Discontinued
Olympus 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ MFT 28mm 84mm f/3.5 f/5.6 No Yes 93g 23mm 2014 Current
Panasonic 12-32mm F3.5-5.6 MFT 24mm 64mm f/3.5 f/5.6 Yes No 70g 24mm 2013 Current
Sony 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 E 24mm 75mm f/3.5 f/5.6 Yes Yes 116g 30mm 2012 Current
Samsung 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 NX 24mm 75mm f/3.5 f/5.6 Yes Yes 111g 31mm 2014 Discontinued
Nikon 16-50mm F3.5-6.3 Z 24mm 75mm f/3.5 f/6.3 Yes No 135g 32mm 2019 Current
Panasonic 18-40mm F4.5-6.3 L 27mm 60mm f/4.5 f/6.3 No No 155g 41mm 2024 Current
Fujifilm 15-45mm F3.5-5.6 X 23mm 68mm f/3.5 f/5.6 Yes Yes 135g 44mm 2018 Current
Canon 18-45mm F4.5-6.3 RF 29mm 72mm f/4.5 f/6.3 Yes No 130g 44mm 2022 Current
Canon 15-45mm F3.5-6.3 EF-M 24mm 72mm f/3.5 f/5.6 Yes No 130g 45mm 2015 Discontinued
Panasonic 18-40mm F4.5-6.3 L 18mm 40mm f/4.5 f/6.3 No No 155g 41mm 2024 Current
Sony 28-60mm F4-5.6 E 28mm 60mm f/4.0 f/5.6 No No 167g 45mm 2020 Current
Nikon 24-50mm F4-6.3 Z 24mm 50mm f/4.0 f/6.3 No No 195g 51mm 2020 Current
Canon 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 RF 24mm 50mm f/4.5 f/6.3 Yes No 210g 58mm 2023 Current
Fujifilm 35-70mm F4.5-5.6 G 28mm 55mm f/4.5 f/5.6 No No 390g 74mm 2021 Current

Digital single-lens reflex cameras

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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

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

  • Canon EF 55-200mm lens: A now discontinued lens supplied with earlier cameras such as the 350D.
  • Canon EF 75-300mm lens: Supplied with later cameras such as the 500D.

Nikon

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  • AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G SWM IF-ED VR (as of August 2008, Nikon D90)[1]
  • AF-S DX Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G SWM IF-ED (as of September 2006, Nikon D80)[2]
  • Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR (with Nikon D5300, D5500)
  • Nikkor 18-55mm DX f/3.5-5.6G, various versions:
    • AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G (as of April 2005, Nikon D50)[3]
    • AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G II (as of November 2006, Nikon D40 and D40x)[4]
    • AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR (as of November 2007, low end entry level DSLRs)[5]
    • AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II (as of January, 2014, low end entry-level DSLRs)[6]
    • AF-P DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR (as of January, 2014, low end entry-level DSLRs)[7]
  • Nikon Nikkor AF-S 55-200mm f/4-5.6 ED VR (with Nikon D5000, D3100)
  • Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR (with Nikon D500)
  • Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED AF-S VR (with Nikon D600)
  • Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR (with Nikon D750, D780)
  • Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR (with Nikon D610)
  • Nikon AF-S 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF DX Zoom-Nikkor (Nikon D70)[8]
  • AF Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6G (late 90s film SLRs and early 2000s, such as the Nikon F75 and Nikon N80)
  • Nikon 50mm F1.8 Series E (older 70s and 80s film cameras, such as the Nikon EM)
  • Nikon 50mm F1.8G SE (with Nikon Df body)
  • Nikon 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 AF (early AF cameras such as the N4004)

Pentax

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  • SMC DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL: bundled with Pentax K10D, K100D, K110D, and K100D Super.
  • SMC DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II: updated version, bundled with K20D and K200D.
  • SMC DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL: plastic mount version, bundled with K-x and K-r.
  • SMC DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR: weather-resistant version, bundled with K-7, K-5.
  • SMC DA L 18-50mm F4-5.6 DC WR RE; plastic mount version of HD Pentax-DA 18-50mm F4-5.6 DC WR RE, bundled with K-S2
  • SMC DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR: weather-resistant version, bundled with K-5 and K-30 and K-r.
  • SMC DA 40mm f/2.8 XS: pancake, bundled with K-01.
  • SMC DA L 50-200mm f/4.0-5.6 ED: plastic mount version, bundled with K-r and K-x.
  • SMC DA 50-200mm f/4.0-5.6 ED WR: weather-resistant version, bundled with K-5 and K-30.

Sony

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Olympus

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  • Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 (a.k.a. short kit)
  • Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 (a.k.a. long kit)

Analog single-lens reflex cameras

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Olympus

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  • Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 for all manual focus Olympus OMs
  • Zuiko 50mm f/2.0 PF for Olympus OM-101

Notes

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  1. ^ 35mm equivalent.
  2. ^ Power zoom.

See also

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References

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  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.