The D7000 is still one of my favorite cameras and that's the one I recommend if you are on a budget. Excellent IQ, good ISO performance, nice set of possibilities (does meter with AIS lenses for instance). I am still using the D7000 a lot, even for assignments, next to a D4 or D800. I also used a D200 and occasionally a D300, and the D7000 is the best DX option, as far as I am concerned.
Since the D600 is out, your choices are really the D7000 (for DX) or D600 (D7k-like FX body).
But with the savings from the D7K vs the D600, I'd put towards some great glass. But that's just me.
OTOH a D600 with a 28/1.8 and 85/1.8 combo sound like a great light and (relatively) inexpensive DX kit with excellent IQ and resolution (though I personally prefer the 35 FL the 28/1.8 is much cheaper than the 35/1.4).
Okay, decided to go d7000, just couldn't justify full frame over quality glass in the end. So, with around 1k for lenses, with a primary focus on people, AND knowing that if a full frame around 1600 comes out in the next couple years I will buy it...what lenses should I start with? Was thinking used 24-70? And thanks again for all the recommendations and advice!
1fstwrx wrote:
Okay, decided to go d7000, just couldn't justify full frame over quality glass in the end. So, with around 1k for lenses, with a primary focus on people, AND knowing that if a full frame around 1600 comes out in the next couple years I will buy it...what lenses should I start with? Was thinking used 24-70? And thanks again for all the recommendations and advice!
eh, you can get used D700 for $1400 and a brand new D600 for $2000...
1fstwrx wrote:
Okay, decided to go d7000, just couldn't justify full frame over quality glass in the end. So, with around 1k for lenses, with a primary focus on people, AND knowing that if a full frame around 1600 comes out in the next couple years I will buy it...what lenses should I start with? Was thinking used 24-70? And thanks again for all the recommendations and advice!
IMO, you done good. I've always thought glass was more important than the body. Lots of great, mid-range glass available. The trilogy of Nikon's mid-range zooms are good, 35-70, 28-70 and 24-70, with the 24-70 being the best. But, not real sure that anyone could pick out any differences in a blind print contest in a majority of cases. Of course, the 17-55 is the DX standard. If your shooting style tends toward wide, you might be better off getting a used 17-55 and then selling it later. I tend to the long end and use the 24-70 on both DX and FX.
My buddy has a D7000 and has the Nikon 16-35mm that he loves. He is going to be selling his 7000 and picking up a D600. His D7000 has been in some foul weather, and I am impressed with its' durability.
Just out of curiosity, did you buy a new body or used?
1fstwrx wrote:
Okay, decided to go d7000, just couldn't justify full frame over quality glass in the end. So, with around 1k for lenses, with a primary focus on people, AND knowing that if a full frame around 1600 comes out in the next couple years I will buy it...what lenses should I start with? Was thinking used 24-70? And thanks again for all the recommendations and advice!
Depends which FLs you like to shoot and whether you have a preference towards primes or zooms. If primes, some combination of the 1.8Gs (28,35,50,85) is a cheap way of getting great image quality, and they can be used on FX if you ever make the switch (the 35 would vignette a fair bit, unless you get the 35/2 instead of the 1.8).
If zooms, I suppose the 24-70 or 24-120. The 16-85 seems nice, but is very DX only.
Alright, I for some reason assumed I could acquire a 24-70 for around 1k, obviously I was a bit wrong seein that they are 1800 on BH...so assuming I have 1k for glass, and the 24-70 is the range I want to be in, what route would you all recommend? Not adverse to the 17-55, was hopin to buy non DX but could always sell it when/if I upgrade. Thanks so much for all the help so far!!
