This will probably boil down to "it's your call" in the end, but here goes anyway:
I shoot a D300/grip with Nikon pro-grade lenses for my everyday system. I will, however, be taking two trips next Spring to a third world European country to do humanitarian work for about 10 days each trip. Can't take the D300 and lenses due to potential for loss, size, weight, other restrictions, etc.
I do not want to take a p&s camera, as I feel the tradeoffs are not worth it vs one of the smaller dslr offerings available now.
With that in mind, I recently bought a used D40 body, which IMO produces amazing image quality for the price and will be a perfect compromise between D300 and p&s.
The choice now involves the lens selection. I will be taking one lens only. Shots will be all over the board, from some inside to general outdoor landscape/work project shots.
My narrowed choices are:
18-200 VR
18-105 VR
18-55
18-135
I have the 18-200 already, but it seems larger than the D40 and doesn't really make a nice, compact solution. It's also a relatively higher value lens, and I'm looking for a lower dollar total system. Advantage is I don't have to spend any additional funds right now.
The 18-105 seems like a good compromise, but I'm not sure it's that much smaller than the 18-200 (although with careful shopping I've seen them for only around $200).
The 18-55 seems like a no-brainer at around $60-$65 used, and makes for an extremely compact, low cost system with the D40. Just worried about the lack of reach on the long end.
18-135 may be a great compromise, as VR isn't that big a concern to me and their only running about $125 used.
Whatever I end up with will be back up for sale after the last trip, so I should recover most of the funds spent.
Thoughts? Especially those who have used the various options listed above with a D40 (balance, handling, portabilty, performance, etc).
Buy travel insurance and take anything you like. I wouldn't want to compromise on getting some great pictures. Take a small P&S in case something happens. Plenty of journalists manage to keep their cameras in similar places. Have a great time.
Out of those choices I'd say either the 18-55 or the 18-200. both the 18-105 and 18-135 are close enough in size to the 18-200 that the space-saving wouldn't really justify the reduction in versatility. The 18-55 is genuinely compact though.
Personally I'd go with the 18-200, it's just so versatile.
My versatile light kit has been the D70 with 18-200VR and now is the D40x with the 18-200VR. The lens is indeed big compared to the body, but it is by far the best combo for traveling...
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