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Nikon D40 + Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 AF DX lens.

The AFS-Nikkor 18-70 mm f/3.5 - 4.5 DX G ED-IF lens was Nikon's first midrange zoom designed for the shorter focal lengths required by digital cameras. It was the kit lens for the Nikon D70 introduced in 2004.

According to Bjørn Rørslett, it was an excellent optical performer at a bargain price. Contrast is high, colours are vividly saturated, and image sharpness is simply stunning. (Obviously not in fog, though).

18-70 mm corresponds to 28-105 mm on a full frame camera. What particularly distinguishes this lens is its fast (for a kit lens) speed where the telephoto end provides f/4.5 instead of the more usual f/5.6.

It weighs only 14 ounces and when teamed with a Nikon D40 the weight is just two pounds.

I used routinely to favour a Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f2.8 on the Nikon D2Xs. It gave good clarity and contrast, but I often found it lacking in the telephoto and I think the 18-70mm, although slower, is a better lens for my purposes.