Nikon D5100 with Kit Lens any good?

So I'm thinking about buying the Nikon D5100 with the AF-S VR 18-55mm kit lens. I'm wondering how good does this lens auto focus compared to a standard Point And Shoot camera.

You can't compare a point and shoot/ bridge camera to the quality of any DSLR if you know how to use it

No DSLR is bad, but look at what Pentax, Sony and Canon have to offer as well, the best camera is the one that feels right in your hands.

Autofocus is faster, but more importantly, the shutter lag on a DSLR is so short as to be virtually irrelevant. Of course, if you want spectacular results, you'll have to put in the time and effort to learn how to get the best out of your DSLR - you can buy any camera you like, but not the skill to use it properly.

Nikon doesn't make a bad dslr.

Autofocus systems in most DSLRs are far better than compact cameras. The typical compact camera uses contrast detection for focus while DSLRs typically use phase detection - which coupled with sophisticated multi-point focusing systems often results in more accurate focusing.

And some DSLRs, such as the Nikon D7000 and above - you can apply fine tune focus for any lens inaccuracies (however, I have found that is only necessary for fast f/1.8 lenses and above).

A DSLR certainly has the potential for taking much better photos. But a camera is a tool, and can't take photos by itself any better than any other camera.

There's a huge misconception that buying a better camera will result in better photos. This is not true. Buying a better camera in the hands of a skilled photographer will generally result in better photos as the better camera has more flexibility and can do what the photographer wants, while the lower quality camera may not be able to.

I actually play with a D5100 that has the 18-105mm lens and it is just about all the camera you could need…

The quality is very impressive, and although I personally prefer Pentax cameras… I don't have anything bad to report about this camera… For someone just starting their photography journey it's one of the best out there, at the current prices it's an absolute steal too…

Don't be fooled by the low price… Honestly, i've shot sporting events with this camera and the results were just as good as the 'competition' surrounding me… Competition that cost between 5 and 10 times more.

Your request to compare a DSLR with a P&S camera is an easy question with a hard answer. This article is almost two years old, but does address your question, quite well, IMHO.
http://www.dpreview.com/...slr-vs-slt

Actually, your question is about autofocus of the lens compared to P&S. The quick answer is that the DSLR system will more often and more accurately autofocus than the P&S. Both will almost instantly autofocus under ideal conditions - good light and good contrast. Neither will autofocus in poor light with no contrast. Between those two, the DSLR system will do better. Now, the real advantage of that lens is that you can put it in manual focus mode, but you didn't ask that.

I've had photos published in local newspapers using this lens. I shot a friend's wedding reception dinner party with it.
You can't compare a D-SLR with a point & shoot camera.

It is an excellent lens. And as far as weight is concern, this lens is preferred over the 18-135mm. A dslr does not compare to a point & shoot or even a bridge camera, it is in a class of it's own. If you are looking for a DSLR take contributor "Andrews" advice, I personally like the Pentax line, it seems less buky and fits my hands and eyesight (viewfinder) to a "T".