Which wide zoom lens to get for nikon d3000?

A fellow photographer suggested that I get a wide zoom lens for my camera. I have a nikon d3000 and currently shoot with a 50mm f1.8. I'm just a beginner in the bizz, so I'm not really sure which one, specifically, that I should get. Also, what more does a wide zoom lens do in comparison to my 50mm?

If you're just starting out, and have a limited budget, I'd recommend Nikon's 18-55mm f 3.5-5.6 zoom lens. Please note that there are at least two versions of this lens, one which sells for about $100 new, and the other, the VR (Vibration Reduction) version, which sells for about $200 new. If you're adventuresome and cheap (I'm both, sometimes), either can be bought used, for almost half those prices. Whether or not the VR version will be useful to you depends on the type of photos you take, in what kind of light levels. Here's a link to learn more about the lens, see an example of the zoom range, etc.:

http://www.dpreview.com/...5p6_vr_n15

You can also go to www.bphoto.com, then do a search for Nikon 18-55, to see an example of prices for new lenses.eBay or craigslist will give you an idea of used prices.

If you don't know what you need it for - you don't need it!

The 'fellow photographer' might be into landscapes - are you? If not, not much point in having one.

However, if you do want to go wider, (than the 18mm of the kit lens), then the Sigma 10-20mm is good IF you are looking for something wider for portraits, then the 17-55mm f2.8 would be good (better than the kit lens).

To put it simply:

Raise your hands in front of your face. Touch indexfinger-to-indexfinger, and thumb-to-thumb to form roughly a rectangular box. Hold the "box" about 6 inches in front of your eyes. This is about what you'll see with a 50mm lens on your d3000.

A wide angle lens gives you a wider perspective, as if you're expanding that "box" in front of your face. Useful for interiors, landscapes, very large groups of people, or showing more of something that's close to you when you're in a tight space and a 50mm crops it out too much.

Wide angle lenses widen the perspective by literally warping the light via lens elements, and so they will have distortion you won't see in the 50mm.

If you're a beginner, I would suggest starting with the 18-55mm kit lens - an inexpensive lens that'll introduce you to wide angle without breaking the bank.