In our first tests of SLR lenses, performance varied widely and bore no relation to price. The tests were conducted in partnership with International Consumer Research & Testing, a worldwide association of 37 consumer organizations of which Consumer Reports is a leading member. We tested wide-angle models similar to camera-kit lenses, plus ones with greater range. All cost less than $1,000.

Some considerations before you buy:

Assess your existing lens. If you already own an SLR, one of the rated wide-angle or full-range zooms might be a step up from your lens. Wide-angle models may offer better image quality, while full-range ones offer much greater range.

Consider a wider zoom range. Most SLRs are bundled with a wide-angle zoom similar to those in the Ratings. But you can buy the body alone or together with a different, more versatile lens. If you think you might someday need a greater range than the standard kit lens offers, and your budget permits, buy the camera body bundled with a full-range zoom instead. You’ll dramatically expand your shooting options and what you save on the kit lens will partly offset the bigger lens’s higher cost.

Investigate camera compatibility. Most lenses are available in different versions that mount to different brands of camera. Some utilize the four-thirds system, a universal mount used on some Olympus and Panasonic models, instead.

Look for non-zoom lenses. Those with a fixed focal length generally have higher image quality and light sensitivity than comparably priced zooms.