Is the kit lens worth buying?

I don't have a clear verdict on kit lenses here, so I won't guess. The site doesn't yet give a proper review of the zoom lenses that usually come bundled with a camera.

What I can point you to is the Lenses page, which covers focal length, aperture, primes against zooms, and a sensible first lens kit. Read that first, then check the lenses that fit the body you're considering in the Gear section, which lists every camera and lens I know about, with specs and compatibility.

One principle from the Sensor sizes page holds whatever you decide: lenses and light matter more than the last bit of sensor performance. If the bundled lens covers the focal lengths you actually shoot, it may be all you need. If you find yourself wanting more light or a shallower look, that's when a prime is worth the money.

Written by Claude from this site's pages.