Not sure where to go on a new lens

[uh60]

I'm thinking of buying a new lens but not sure which. I like to photograph landscapes with my kit lens 18-55mm VR (Nikon) and I also have the 55-200mm.

I've been thinking of buying better optics, don't get me wrong I love the 18-55mm but I want a lens thats sharp and gives better results. I've read somewhere online that these kit lenses are cheaply built and are of less quality of more expensive lenses. I vary rarely use 18mm so does it really warrant me to buy a wide angle lens, which I could love or I could buy and it just sit in my bag or should I buy a better optic lens that has roughly the same range as the 18-55mm VR?

[ap4a]

You like to shoot landscapes, but don't use the 18mm end of your wide angle? What sort of focal length are you using for landscapes? And what else do you shoot?

Until I read that comment I was going to recommend an ultrawide angle lens such as the Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 but now I'm not so sure what to suggest.

[chris-p]

Well, if you don't really do wideangle landscapes (and don't want to) you do have upgrade options open to you. However, it's difficult to recommend anything specifically as you haven't said what camera (other than it's Nikon) and how much money you have/want to spend.

However, you could consider any of the following:
Nikon 16-35mm f/4
Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8
Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8

They're all optically much better than your 18-55mm kit lens but cover similar ranges. They aren't cheap though, especially the Nikon ones but the 16-35mm and 17-50mm are phenomenal lenses with top spec optics and professional build. The Sigma is part of their EX range (their top range) and is also a big step forwards from your kit lens.

[uh60]

I've currently got a nikon d60 so the lenses need to be af-s and it doesn't really matter how much

[chris-p]

Wow. Cost doesn't matter?

Then the best landscape setup you can have for your current camera is the Nikon 14-24mm f/4 G AF-S IF ED DX and the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8 G DX AF-S IF ED.

Together they'll set you back the best part of £2,000 but they're the best wideangle and "normal" zooms for your camera.

Unless you want to be full frame compatible should you ever decide to go that way. Then you'll need the phenomenal Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 G AF-S ED and the Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 G AF-S ED. Obviously not as wide on your DX sensor but these are FX lenses. They'll set you back closer to £2,500.