I saw the D7100 at Costco. Comes with wi-fi adapter, but they bundled it with the 18-200, which I don't have any real interest in. 16-85 would have been a much better choice, IMO.
just by careful, i've heard that costco likes to deal in grey market, parallel import merchandise.....so if something happens you maybe be taking it up with them, rather than nikon....which may not be TERRIBLE, b/c costco is pretty reputable when it comes to returns, etc...
i saw one at my local store, played around with it, handled nice...i'm gonna take an SD card next time i go in and take some raw sample shots....
Because we are all different we have different photographic priorities. If I was given a choice between the 18-200 and the 16-85, I would not hesitate taking the 18-200.
I have not used the 18-85, I use the 18-70 and the real big differences among both focal lengths are resolved by stepping forward or backward 1 step.
On regard to the 18-200 it is a general purpose zoom with an extended focal length to 200mm, ideal when traveling. I have used it and I have been pleased with the results.
Keep in mind none of these are professional lenses and because they are zooms some optical sacrifices have to be done for their versatility.
If you never enlarge to 24x30 I guarantee you will never see the differences in the middle of the aperture range.
Back when I bought my D300, it came with the 18-200. I shot with it and shot with it and thought it to be utter junk. I bought a 16-85 and the pictures where so much crisper, clearer and just overall better. We are all different thats true but my photographic friends and I must be cut from the same cloth cause they didn't care much for the 18-200 either.
There is a market for it though, I sold my copy right quick back then. Sold the 16-85 even quicker. One mans floor is another man's ceiling.
Most people start out with an 18-55 / 55-200, then steps up to the 18-200, before finally discovering "pro glass". By the time they discover "pro glass", their skills are much more refined and they credit that to...surprise! - the "pro glass"!. When they look at their 18-200 photos, they say 'wow that lens sucked' without realizing that it's not the lens... it's the shooter. And the reason that it sucked is because most people buy the 18-200 at the point when they just graduated from the basic 18-55 kit lens phase of their photographic journey, when their skills are still not refined. I know, because I am one of them.
It might not have the bokeh of the 200 f/2, or the speed of the 85 1.4, but if you understand its limitations and have the creative eye, you can make the 18-200 sing. It's a great lens for what it's supposed to do.
Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't hesitate to pick one up.
As for Costco returns, I found out the local warehouse where they dump the returned stuff (but still working) for cheap. I think I'll visit it again and score a D7000
I've gone through at least 5 18-200VR lenses over the years and maybe more and used them on different bodies. I do agree that it is generally not a good lens. It is actually decent in 18-105 range, but toward the long end it is not useful in my opinion. with that in mind, the old 18-135 lens that came bundled with D80 I believe is much sharper throughout the 18-135 range. NO Vr though. The cost is less than half of 18-200VR.
If it's gray market it's in the most official looking English language Nikon box I have ever seen.
NathanHamler wrote:
just by careful, i've heard that costco likes to deal in grey market, parallel import merchandise.....so if something happens you maybe be taking it up with them, rather than nikon....which may not be TERRIBLE, b/c costco is pretty reputable when it comes to returns, etc...
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NathanHamler wrote:
just by careful, i've heard that costco likes to deal in grey market, parallel import merchandise.....so if something happens you maybe be taking it up with them, rather than nikon....which may not be TERRIBLE, b/c costco is pretty reputable when it comes to returns, etc...
i saw one at my local store, played around with it, handled nice...i'm gonna take an SD card next time i go in and take some raw sample shots....
I've bought cameras from Costco, they all had USA warranty cards in the box.
