Best lens for a d-60 on a budget

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As an "all round" lens, I like Canon's EF 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM.

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I would second that though be aware that the actual focal range is 45-215 so it not all that wide at its widest. It is also quite large but balances well with the D60.

Agreed - both the 'cropping' factor and the balance. I prefer the longer 'effective' length, so the 28-135 is very useful to me!

I agree that the 28-135 is a nice lens for the money. I have made razor sharp 16x20's with my D60 and this lens. I would also consider the 20-35 USM. This is a fine lens and gets more wide angle than the 28-135. I use both at weddings. Neither are fast but both are sharp and relatively cheap.Good luck...get a 50 1.8 too...they are sharp and dirt cheap...good available light lens.

I started with the 28-135IS and thoroughly recommend it. This lens give the equivalent of 216 at full zoom and it will focus down to .5M (1.6ft) so I use it as a Macro for reasonable results (not as good as a proper macro lens of course). The IS is really useful for "available light" shots.

Based on advice here and on newsgroups I also bought a 50 f1.8, I don't use it a lot because it doesn't have the flexability of a zoom. However it was cheap, it IS sharp and it makes a nice portrait lens. It is also fairly good in low light, the f1.8 is around a stop better then the f3.5 I get at the wide end on my 28-135.

I found myself needing a longer zoom so I added a Canon 75-300 III USM lens. This lens is quite good for the price, but in poor light it is only usable from a tripod. Usually I stick to the 28-135 unless I am outside in the sun.

I like my selection of lenses and the range of zoom I have available. Of course I can still add more, once I pay of the credit card (10D + lenses) but I can have a lot of fun now with what I have.

I would never recommend L series lenses to someone with a low budget, but remember they are available if you want to take a step up later. If I had unlimited funds then I would get:
17-40L
24-70L
70-200L IS
100-400L
1.4x Extender
2x Extender
180L Macro

But you have to just select what you can afford and get out and have fun with the camera.

On a budget 24-85 usm and get a second hand one in good condition. If you buy a new one the minute you hand over the cash it's second hand, but it will probably be as good as new : )