Costco has the combination I have -- the D7000 body and the AFS 18-200 on sale for $1500

I bought mine before Costco carried it - and already owned the lens... but this is a smokin' deal at $1500 !!!


Oh hell yes I'd buy it again! Love the camera -- and the lens (while not expensive per se) is great and extremely useful.

I have lens only that cost double this amount (camera and body) and they don't take any better photos that I can tell. The AF-S is stabilized and that really helps for hand holding this length of camera in zoom...

I took zillions of photos with this camera (using my far more expensive 70-200 - thus faster) and it just cranks 'em out.

So after doing more info searching I have a couple of more questions? First like Greg said these cameras are defenetly like horse power the more you have the more you want.

So after deciding on a brand (Nikon) I thought I had it down to two models, D3200 or D5100. Both are great cameras and in my price range. In kit form they are just under $600.

So my question is should I start with one of these entry level DSLR's kits? Or should I up my game and go with the D7000? If I went for the D7000 I can get a Nikon refurb w/lens for $900?

The D7000 is way more then I need at this point, but just like our cars it's easier to start with more then it is to rebuild later?? :willy:

The other thing that really stinks is I can't find a local camera shop :( You would think in the Chicago area there would lots but not so much. There are a few but none that are close enough to where I would go regularly to shop. So I guess it will be online for my purchase!

Thanks again for all your input!! :cheers:

Well -- I hate to spend your money... HA!


But seriously -- step up if you can and get the rebuilt D7000. Ken Rockwell says it's one of the best cameras EVER Nikon has done - and I'd agree with him. Not that I know anything - but using this camera for what I like to do - it's the best and easiest and takes the best photos of all the Nikons I've had.

The frames per second are faster - and you WILL use this feature because you like car stuff! If you have kids or dogs or anything that moves - you'll love this feature.

The video already has a built in microphone (you can add stereo). It's nice to have a great quality video camera - in your hand... that also takes fabulous pictures.

For $16 you can buy a wireless remote.


Features on cameras are complicated - most you'll never use... but the ones you WILL use are important! This stuff is expensive - you don't want to be trading in and buying a new body... save that money for lens or tripods or flashes.

Photography is one of those things you'll either be hooked on or you won't care. Easier to sell a nice rig if you end up not caring. :cheers:

Rick - If you haven't had a DSLR camera before you might want to start with the popular base model and use it for a while to see if the DSLR lifestyle works for you. Many people are not committed to the DSLR benefits enough to be willing pack that big of a camera and the associated gear. If you get hooked you can sell the base model or add a couple of lenses and as the learning curve improves buy a serious camera body. You could also keep the base model body for a backup. :thumbsup:

I agree and disagree with Siegs point.... You're not going to know if you like cameras at all -- and there's (like unfinished hot rods) zillions of dollars spent on equipment that is on someone's closet shelf...

The bad part is - like an unfinished hot rod - used stuff ain't worth diddly IF you do decide that you love it and want to use it more. So it's a damned if you do - damned if you don't sort of thing.

If you do love it -- and are any good at it - then your equipment will never be good enough and you'll be sorry you didn't step up. My earlier point was -- let's say you buy and find you don't do enough or care enough like you thought you were going to... then better equipment will be easier to sell and probably hold a % of it's cost better than the cheaper versions or it will also be worth more on trade should you move up.

Camera BODIES are like computers - as soon as you buy - they put out another model that does more, is better, and the one you just bought is now $100 cheaper... so you can never win that game. I'd rather buy a decent body -- and fuss with lenses and stuff - and Nikon is famous for their compatibility throughout their bodies. You just have to watch and get autofocus lenses etc but if you take a class or ask - you'll learn all that.

To me - it's like having a good tool box - it will make you happy for years... and you can always add tools as you go. A Snap-on box is an easy sale if you decide you don't want it. See what you get for a run of the mill Craftsman...

i purchased a Canon 50d several years ago and feel this was one of the best purchases i made. i love shooting motorsport events and i have got shots that i would have never captured if i didn't have this camera. if purchasing a dslr camera stick with Nikon or Canon.
i happened to run into a deal where amazon was selling the camera at a huge discount then was able to use a canon factory rebate. i ended up getting the body, 2 canon a/f lenses(28-135/55-250) and a factory carrying case for $900. this was $800 cheaper than best buy was running them for at the time.

Sieg, yes this is my first DSLR, and I get what you are saying, and that is where I thought I was going two days ago Nikon D3200. Great starter DSLR lots of features, takes great pictures (Ken Rockwell's words), 24.6 MP :wow: Which again according to Ken Rockwell (thanks Greg from his info :thumbsup: ) anything more than 10 MP is useless.

As aways the more info you read the harder the decision becomes, I'm sure the D3200 would meet all of my needs to start with, but have bought more car part two times over before ever getting them installed then I care to mention. Which is why I started to think that I may go one step further?

My starting budget was on the high end $800 so for $100 more I can start at the second level?? As Greg said with not trying to spend my money :lol: If I don't find I use it all that much or it's too big I can always recoupe more of my investment with D7000 then with the D3200 or D5100. Does any of this make sense to you guys??? If it does please explain it to me then :lol: J/K

Greg all very good points, And the tool box one is spot on. When I worked on cars everyday I had a big azz Snapon tool box at work and then bought another one for my home shop. My dad told me I should just buy a Craftsman for home but I didn't listen :rolleyes: Well after getting out of painting everyday for a living I had two setups at home :willy: It took a couple of weeks and I had the home Snapon box sold for what paid for it a few years earlier as I bought it used to start with.

I am going to go to the store and put all the different options in my hands and then will see where it all ends up. My daughters first basketball game is at the end of January so I won't o have some time to get used to it before hand.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ Happy Shopping. :D

PS~ Nikon = Ford, Canon + Chevy :unibrow:

Greg said horsepower, so quit dinking around and just get this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...gital_SLR.html

He's no Annie Liebowitz....



Yet!




:rofl: :woot: