Hi and help!

[Henrinsooki]

Hi guys.

I'm buying my first DSLR, a Nikon D7000 and need opinions on which deal would be better value!

My choices are as follows:

Nikon D7000 Twin kit AF-S 18-55mm VR and 55-300mm VR lens : $1455.00

or

Nikon D7000 Kit AF-S 18-105mm VR Lens : $1307.00

I'm mainly going to be focusing on macro photography and will be saving my pennies once I have the camera for a dedicated macro lens but really need to know which kit I would be best choosing as I'm very confused!

The prices aren't really an issue as much as which lenses perform better.

Any advice and help is appreciated

 

[The_Traveler]

do a search on the web for nikon 18-55 review etc.

why not a body and an inexpensive but good Nikon macro like the 60 mm?
Have you done macro before?
aiming to do a specific niche before learning how to shoot is a problematic/difficult/wrong way to go about the skill, imo.

 

[Henrinsooki]

do a search on the web for nikon 18-55 review etc.

why not a body and an inexpensive but good Nikon macro like the 60 mm?
Have you done macro before?
aiming to do a specific niche before learning how to shoot is a problematic/difficult/wrong way to go about the skill, imo.

I've searched and read reviews on most of the lenses that are available and it has made me more confused than when I started!

The camera will be used for more than macro but I'm most interested in macro and will be saving for the 105 micro lens once I have purchased the camera. I have done some macro photography with my current camera, nothing fantastic just pictures of my reptiles.

I guess I'm asking for opinions on which lenses are better. I'm a beginner and need some words of advise from people who have used the lenses and know their capabilities.

 

[Dao]

It is hard to say which one is better when they are totally different lenses.

If you need a lens that can reach 300mm, of course, the 55-300mm VR lens is better. If you want one lens that cover a longer range of focal length from wide to telephoto, then the 18-105mm is better. If you want a lower cost lens to start with, just pick the kit lens.

If I have to pick one from your original post, I will take the camera with 18-105mm lens. However, if I want to pick a starting lens with the D7000, I may choose the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 first.

 

[The_Traveler]

from what I've read, the 18-105 is not a great lens. It is inexpensive and inexpensively made and this big a zoom ratio means some degree of sharpness is lost.

if you progress in photography, you will eventually want better glass I would go for the two lens package. Neither of those are terrific but they aren't terrible either.

 

[cameleon]

I'm with traveler. I haven't read too many good reviews about the 18-105. You sound super excited about the D7000. So no doubt, u will notice the limitations on the 18-105 pretty quickly.

 

[Henrinsooki]

I am extremely excited about getting this camera!

Thinking about taking a few photography courses as well, just to get the basics of the DSLR and technique if nothing else.

Thanks for the opinions and advice so far