[MonkeyRonin]

Thanks for the input, unfortunately all of those are a little out of my price range for now. I would really like the 16-85mm lens though.

...which leads to a new question: do you think I'd be better off using a combination of the 35mm and my current 18-55mm kit lens, or just wait until I can afford the 16-85mm Nikon or 17-50mm Tamron?

(in other words, how much better is the colour/sharpness/speed/ISO performance/etc. of the above two lenses compared to the standard 18-55?)