Hmmm i somehow think the 18-200mm is slowly being a little overated as a starter lens. The standard kit lens 18-70 is good enough to star out as a "learning lens" Unless you find the need to zoom in a whole lot more most of the time. Why dun you just go for the ceaper option first and start with the kit lens, then in future if you require the extra lenght. can get the 70-200 or sth?
18-200mm VR lens is not a starter lens. It is a lens with a wide range FOV, that would allow photographers to not need to change lenses for the whole wide angle to telephoto. Quite useful to bring it on trips and walkabouts.
