Nikon, beyond the kit

[Greg McCary]

So my boss is looking to buy a nice DSLR and he has ask me for advise. I told him I thought Nikon had a slight edge in IQ right now so he is interested in getting a Nikon. He told me a good camera that would last many years without having to upgrade. I am sure he will need a flash too, not off camera.
He is not into landscapes, sports or anything real serious but with that he likes nice things. He will mostly be taking pictures at family events and his kids ect. So I am thinking D7000 or D300. I am not so sure if he wants weather sealed or not but I will talk to him about size and weight. But that leaves me with what lens? I know little about Nikon lenses beyond the crop factor and VR which I am sure he will want. I also doubt he will be wanting to change lenses a lot so I am looking for advise on a nice all around lens.
I know Olympus has standard, high grade and super high grade. If he buys a kit I know he will want better than kit lens quality. But probably not top of the line either.
If he gets a kit which one should he be looking at and if he needs to get the body only and then a lens which one would be a good one and as important which should he avoid?
Your thoughts between the D7000 and D300s would also be appreciated.
I am certain he won't be shooting RAW or be doing any heavy editing either.

[Franglais]

Right now Nikon are due to replace most of their top-end models, including the D300s (my D300 is four years old already). Not a good idea to recommend a camera that is replaced just afterwards.

Fortunately there is the D7000. Everybody raves about it. It has the best sensor on the market. It's not quite as noble as the D300s but it's a lot lighter too.

There is no Nikon lens to avoid right now. The kit lens that comes with the D7000 (18-105 VR) might be made mostly of plastic, it's still an excellent performer. I've been trying to get one cheaply for months.

The lens that is going to interest him most is the 18-200 VR. This is very versatile and has very good performance (not quite as good as the 18-105 but that's the price to pay for such a wide zoom range). I was at a studio shoot yesterday, there were three of us shooting with Nikon DX format cameras and we all had the 18-200.

I have to mention the 16-85 VR. This is the low-end pro's choice, better than either than the others but kind of unexciting. It's what I use most of the time

[Grandpaw]

If he wants to keep it simple and cover most situations I would second the Nikon18-200VR it is a great lens foe all around use, Jeff

[armando_m]

I'll say D7000 with the kit lens and later buy other lenses when he feels what he is missing

a fast lens can be the cheap 35mm f1.8 around $200 or a rather expensive 24 m f1.4 for $2000
there is alos the 35mm f1.4, for almost the same price $2k

maybe a tele/zoom 70-300 VR for $500 or so, or something more exotic like a 300 f2.8 for $6500

[Greg McCary]

Charles, Jeff, Armando Thanks. I doubt he will want prime and I am sure if the lens hunts or chatters he won't be happy. I know all will given the right circumstances but again he wants a nice one. The 18-200VR covers a good focal length I was just unsure of performance and build. How heavy is it for all day carry like at a theme park? My boss is young so as long as it's not a monster. I also agree the D7000 has the best sensor it is one reason I picked it. I wasn't sure if the D300s sensor was as good as the D7000 or not. But if he wants weather sealed that's about the only option? Would he really see a huge difference if he got the D300s?

[Grandpaw]

I own and use both the Nikon D7000 and the Nikon 18-200VR lens and think he would be very happy with this combination. I am VERY impressed with the D7000, Jeff

[Greg McCary]

I own and use both the Nikon D7000 and the Nikon 18-200VR lens and think he would be very happy with this combination. I am VERY impressed with the D7000, Jeff

Thanks Jeff, thats the combo I will tell him t get.

[AgingEyes]

. He told me a good camera that would last many years without having to upgrade. I am sure he will need a flash too, not off camera.
He is not into landscapes, sports or anything real serious but with that he likes nice things. He will mostly be taking pictures at family events and his kids ect. So I am thinking D7000 or D300...

If he simply needs a camera to photo his family and friends, not really serious into photography, still willing to learn the basics of photography, not into making big prints, but still want good image quality and good lens, and have the money to pay for it, I'd suggest a D700 + 24-70 f2.8 and get a SB 600 flashlight or above.

Personally, I think he could just pick up a D5100 and a kit lens. There's no reason to upgrade and spend too much money if all he wants is just record shots and happy about them. I know people still shoot with a D70. A guy still shoots bird photos with his D2x and a 600mm. They did come out years ago but still are functional cameras. You know, people "upgrade" not because their cameras stop functioning or anything

[emoxley]

I got the D7000 w/18-105mm kit lens, and like it a lot. I also wanted more reach for some wildlife shooting, so I got the Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DI VC USD lens. I like it very much! It stays on my camera about 98% of the time.
Good luck!

[Franglais]

Charles, Jeff, Armando Thanks. I doubt he will want prime and I am sure if the lens hunts or chatters he won't be happy. I know all will given the right circumstances but again he wants a nice one. The 18-200VR covers a good focal length I was just unsure of performance and build. How heavy is it for all day carry like at a theme park? My boss is young so as long as it's not a monster. I also agree the D7000 has the best sensor it is one reason I picked it. I wasn't sure if the D300s sensor was as good as the D7000 or not. But if he wants weather sealed that's about the only option? Would he really see a huge difference if he got the D300s?

The 18-200 is fairly small and light, no problem about walking around with it all day, especially as it's all you need to carry. It feels reasonably solid, except at 200mm where the front element has extended a long way. The first version tended to creep out when you tilted the lens forward but they fixed that in the second version. It isn't weather-sealed - pointless to have a weather-sealed body if the lens isn't weather-sealed as well.

The sensor on the D300/D300s is the previous generation of Sony sensors - 12Mpix (rather than 16Mpix on the D7000). It goes up to 6400 ISO (12800 ISO on the D7000). It was already remarkably good in its day - but Sony pushed the limits back further with the D7000 sensor.

[Greg McCary]

Thanks AE, emoxley, and again Charles. Well the D7000 is right in the price range along with the 18-200mm. Him hearing the best current sensor on the market will make him feel better about the purchase. He told me to call and order him one of what ever I though he needed.
I hope he lets me break it in for him.lol
All your help is very much appreciated. The only last thing would maybe macro.

[Franglais]

Nikon announced the 40mm f2.8 Macro lens (specially for DX) a month ago. The first test results are excellent - it fully uses the resolution of the sensor - and it's really affordable. I don't very often do macro but I'm going to get one as soon as I see it in the shops.

One extra for the D7000 - if you want to do video then it's better adapted than most DSLR's (including the D300s).

[n8]

I figure I'd chime in for the hell of it...
d7000+18-200+35mm1.8+sb700+sling strap. done.

Charles - what lenses are weather sealed? I always figured that if they keep light out they'd keep other elements out.

[Greg McCary]

Thanks again all he ordered then D7000 kit with the 18-200mm. I will mention the macro, 40 mm lens to him. Man I'm jealous even though I have an a77 pre ordered. I am sure he will let me babysit on weekends.lol
Thanks for all the help. I knew I came to the right place.

[Franglais]

..

Charles - what lenses are weather sealed? I always figured that if they keep light out they'd keep other elements out.

Good question. There is no official answer or definition of what "weather sealing" really means for lenses.

Most or all of the recent Nikon lenses have a rubber gasket around the lens mount, including the 18-200. However if you think that means "rainproof"..

I remember doing pictures in rain on a windy beach in Spain with the 18-200 and sand flying. Zoom back from 200mm and watch all that water and sand on the barrel go gloop back into the lens. Just afterwards I discovered that the autofocus wasn't working properly. Sudden moment of regret.. But finally the lens is now fine. However nowadays I don't take any of my gear out in rain.

[emoxley]

They make rain gear for DSLR cameras. Some here, of many pages:
Page 5: rain gear

[n8]

Good question. There is no official answer or definition of what "weather sealing" really means for lenses.

Most or all of the recent Nikon lenses have a rubber gasket around the lens mount, including the 18-200. However if you think that means "rainproof"..

I remember doing pictures in rain on a windy beach in Spain with the 18-200 and sand flying. Zoom back from 200mm and watch all that water and sand on the barrel go gloop back into the lens. Just afterwards I discovered that the autofocus wasn't working properly. Sudden moment of regret.. But finally the lens is now fine. However nowadays I don't take any of my gear out in rain.

perhaps primes are a better bet then

[wedding photographer]

Wait a little bit. Nikon is going to announce the D4 and will change announce a new camera in every category. Your boss should buy the new one...

[Franglais]

Let's leave out stuff that isn't announced, will take ages to become available and that you can't buy right now (exit D4, D800)

Let's leave out things that are likely to be replaced in the next 9 months (D300s, D700).

In the category of camera that we interests us (above consumer level) that leaves us with - the D7000. Which is why we recommended it.

About primes being more weatherproofed than zooms -
- sure they have no zoom ring but they have a focussing ring. The internal mechanism is simpler than a zoom so perhaps less vulnerable to water.
- looking at my lenses it looks like the rubber ring around the lens mount to protect the camera body from water was introduced in about 2004. All my DX primes have the rubber gasket but the older primes designed for film don't (50mm f1.8, 85mm f1.8, 35mm f2..)