Nikkor Micro 40mm for landscapes and everyday photos?

I wanted the D5100 kit lens for landscapes and the 40mm for macro. I just don't have enough money. So is it a good choice to skip the kit lens and use the 40mm for macro, landscapes, and even evryday stuff? And is the fact that the lens is prime a big disadvantage, or is cropping going to make up for that.

It's a great lens, but you probably won't find the 40mm lens wide enough for landscapes. On the other hand, the kit lens (18-55mm) does focus exceptionally close for a lens of its type-close enough that plenty of people are satisfied with it without purchasing a dedicated macro lens. Think hard about whether the kit lens will really be inadequate for your needs.

The prime will be of better optical quality than the kit lens & will (obviously) focus closer.It'll also be a good portrait lens. You will have to 'zoom' with your feet! Try not to crop excessively, unless you have to, as you are just losing data.

As for landscapes, you won't get the 'wide angle vistas' that landscapes often are, but that doesn't mean you can't use it. It depends on what you want to focus on in the landscape (in terms of subject matter). Even telephoto lenses can be used for landscapes if you want to 'isolate' something in a landscape & bring it to prominence in the frame.

You might find the 18-55mm more useful as a general 'all purpose' lens though.

You have bought into an interchangeable lens 'system' - understand that it will cost money to get specific lenses for specific uses! ;^

I'm surprised that the camera body is offered without kit lens, usually you have no choice or only a very minimal difference in price if you do not include the kit lens.

A 40mm lens is slighly 'long' for a D5100, thus would give a slighly concentrated view of life. Try to find a friend with any DSLR that has a lens that can be set to 40mm, and see if that view would suit you. Certainly a macro lens focuses very close, thus would be good for insects, flowers etc.

I have the 18-55mm kits lens and also the 40mm Macro.

The kit lens is convenient because it has the ability to zoom, while the 40mm you have to be on your feet and walking to and fro to get closer. However, that being said, I had my kit lens for over a year before finally investing in the 40mm and now I rarely find myself using the 18-55mm. The 40mm gives crisper photos in my experience and just overall has been a better lens to me. I use the 40mm on landscape to portraits and have gotten great results. I don't think you'll be disappointed in either really.

Have you thought of renting the lenses and using them to see which you prefer? That always helps me.