Originally posted by Lowell Goudge Adam
If you go back fully for digital kit lenses, the *istD when it was first released, came with the FA-J 18-35. optically I think it was better than the first DA 18-55 and, for film fans it was a full frame lens. In stores today, the first & second generation Da18-55 lenses (metal and plastic mount) go for $40 used, while the FA-J 18-35 sells for about $150 used in the same condition, plastic mount and all
I had the FAJ18-35 - it came as the kit lens with the *istD. It was extremely lightweight - good from that point of view. But I don't think it was much better optically than the 18-55, if at all - at the time there was a lot of complaining on forums about the softness of it. People like me went out and bought the cheapo Sigma 18-50 - now that really was a mistake!! From bad to worse.
I gave the FAJ18-35 away with a different older body (*istDS, I think), so I have never really done a comparison in an organised way.
Tim