Originally posted by Parallax For a zoom lens, i have the Sigma 18-250 OS HSM. I took 591 photos on a recent cruise to Alaska using it and my FA 31. PhotoMe shows that for that group of pictures, 71% of my shots were at 50mm or less.
As I've said elsewhere, on a recent long (2-month) drive around the SouthWest USA, my DA18-250 did about 80% of the work at a wide distribution of focal lengths. Many of those were in the 35-70 range, which is why I don't use an 18-55 & 60-300 kit much -- I'd be swapping them too much. My next busiest lens was the Zenitar 16/2.8 (especially indoors), then the FA50/1.4 and Nikkor 85/2. I took 25 lenses but those were what I actually used.
@OP:
You have a fine camera, and the kit 18-55 is no slouch, as attested by zillions of brilliant images posted in galleries and the Kit Lens Club here. Get comfortable with those. To shoot longer, consider an inexpensive manual tele, like almost any 135/2.8. There are also many decent-to-great manual zooms in the 60-300 or 70-210 range, CHEAP! Feel free to ask for recommendations.
I'm among those who happen to think that an 18-250 AF is the most flexible single-lens solution, but I supplement it with a good selection of manual primes. Of my 110+ lenses, only 6 are AF. Well, #7 should arrive in a few days. But manual glass sure is fun and cheap. I like cheap.