Want your opinion on a kit,....

[faeriegodess612]

So, I've been doing my price comparison and online research so when I have the money saved up, I'll know exactly what Nikon kit I want. So, I've been looking around and Wal-Mart has the best prices that I've found so far. (Plus they have site to store shipping for free!) So I found this kit that includes; of course the camera body, a 18-55mm lens, a 55-200mm lens, with options to add a memory card and camera bag. The kit with just lenses is $599.00 USD. All together the sub-total would be $641.00 USD. The specs on the lenses are:


Standard Items
Nikon D3000 Black 10.2MP DSLR Camera Kit with AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens
Nikon Nikkor 55-200mm Zoom Lens f/4-5.6G, ED, AF-S, DX (#2156)
Optional SDHC Memory Card
SanDisk 4GB SDHC Memory Card (+$12.00)
Optional SLR Bag
Ape Case ACPRO1000 Digital SLR Camera Case (+$30.00)

(Hoping that this stays this price, or possibly goes on sale by the time I'm ready. Website does not say that this is a sale price. Even mentions that they offer this below the MSRP.) I've looked into the different Nikkor lenses and the AF-S sounds good, plus with the added bonus of VR. So, tell me what you think. Is it a good deal?

[Niresangwa]

Ditching Pentax for Nikon... heresy.

Especially with the K-x being what it is.

Le sigh.

[Jonbar18]

Ditching Pentax for Nikon... High five!

It's a good camera and a good kit, but i don't know about the price. I'm sure you could find something cheaper

[faeriegodess612]

lol,... I'm sorry but my lil Pentax was given to me by my ex-boyfriends sister. She used it for work (she's a geologist for the state) and didnt need it anymore. It does have some cool features to it that my lil Sony Cybershot didnt have. Like Super Macro Mode. ( My Cybershot died after it got dropped. Hence why she gave me this one.) So I'm rolling with what I got. And know the ins and outs of. (My Pentax I mean)

To be honest I've not done much research on the differences between brands of DSLR's. But I like the fact that Nikon and Nikon gear are available just about anywhere. And just because it's Nikon. lol

LOL @ Jonbar. I'm trying to find something from a store thats actually here in the town I live in or one of the near by towns. If I were lucky enough to find something like a Ritz, it would probably be an hour away in Austin. Even though I would go that far for the camera that I so desperately want, I'd prefer not to if I can help it. I afraid to do something like Ebay or Amazon or anything online that doesnt have actual stores, because you never know what your really buying. Anyone can post a picture from a website to those things.

If anyone has any suggestions for places that might be cheaper, please suggest away! I've checked Best Buy and they didnt have this combo, much less something that extensive for anything near that price. I really dont know where else to check.

[faeriegodess612]

Ok, nope. Closest Wolf Camera is an hour away and doesnt offer the same kit with lens specs at the same price. But, I've noticed that most of the 18-55mm lenses in these kits, have just the VR, not the AF-S,.. so I'm wondering how important that that feature might or might not be in a lens like that.

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by faeriegodess612

To be honest I've not done much research on the differences between brands of DSLR's. But I like the fact that Nikon and Nikon gear are available just about anywhere. And just because it's Nikon. lol

(snip)

If anyone has any suggestions for places that might be cheaper, please suggest away! I've checked Best Buy and they didnt have this combo, much less something that extensive for anything near that price. I really dont know where else to check.

Though you obviously have your heart set on Nikon...

...if money is a big deal why not take a little time to research your options? Bear in mind that you're not just looking at the cost right now, but also the cost of upgrading lenses and perhaps bodies.

Its very hard to switch platforms once you select one unless you're cool with reselling, often at a loss, and investing more money to get back to where you were with regard to gear list.

I'm not looking to start a brand flame war, but it would be really unfortunate to go lining Ashton Kutscher's pockets just because you didn;t take the 30 minutes to side-by-side compare entry level DSLR's, and then give a little thought to where you'll want to go and what you'll want to have in your bag in 1, 5 or 10 years from now...

[inkista]

My basic feeling on kits is only get them if you're absolutely certain you need everything in them. An 18-55 kit lens is a great starting point if you've never used an SLR before and have no existing lenses, because it adds very little cost and gives you something to shoot with and gain lens experience with right away. But additional lenses may or may not be what you want. Everybody's needs are different. A 55-200 is a good consumer-grade telephoto lens, but most folks, if they find they want a telephoto lens for regular use, end up upgrading to something better in a relatively short time. It might be better to save the money for the better lens.

And, as the previous poster has mentioned, make sure you're fine with the Nikon system's offerings as a whole, not just the SLR body features. Once you buy that first body, you are locked into the system mount. Also, with the Nikon D3000, you want to be sure that a) you wouldn't rather have the D3100, and that b) you know about the focus motor issue (i.e., only AF-S equipped lenses will autofocus. AF lenses will not).

I'd highly recommend reading through this basic guide to lenses so you'll know what the basic features of lenses are and what they mean in practical shooting terms, and then looking over the Nikon lens selection (keeping in mind the AF-S thing), and looking over the prices of lenses at B&H or Amazon.

[faeriegodess612]

Niresangwa: I appreciate the concern for making sure I get the right brand for me. And I mean that honestly, I'm not trying to be sarcastic. But I really do have my heart set on a Nikon. That, and like I said, Nikon is kinda one of those brands that I can find anywhere. (I'm a military wife, and I have no idea if we'll stay where we are after my husband comes back from deployment.) I've never seen a Pentax at Best Buy or Wal-Mart unless its in a P&S. It's always Nikon or Canon.

Inkista: I did do a little research on the different types of Nikkor lenses. I know that I want lenses that are both AF-S for the auto focus feature, but also VR for the vibration reduction. Or at the very least are AF-S.
I looked into the D3100, its a bit more expensive and I dont see much difference other than the MP. Is there any particular reason you suggested the D3100? Did I maybe miss some new feature about it?You got me wondering about the 55-200mm lens now though. Would a 28-105 be better? What would you suggest instead of a 55-200? Adorama has this kit for about $800 USD.

Nikon D3000 10.2 MP DSLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX VR Lens - & 55 - 300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX VR II (Vibration Reduction) Autofocus Zoom Lens USA Warranty.

But that means no bag and no memory card, so add in those two and were talking about $900. Plus I need a sturdier tripod than the one I've got, because I'm afraid it wont hold up to the weight of a DLSR. It has a hook for a weight, but I'd still be skeptical of using it. I wasnt looking to spend that much just yet.
And I'm kind of afraid to buy something from somewhere like Amazon. Spending that much money, I want to MAKE SURE that I get exactly what I ordered. Not some refurb that their passing off as new that screws up 2 weeks after I get it.


Also, I was looking into home printers like an HP Photosmart printer. (My laptop would love it cuz its in the same family ) Does anyone print their photos from a home printer or does everyone send them out? Do you get better quality photos from a lab opposed to a home printer?

Again, any and all suggestions and/or comments would be certainly welcomed.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by faeriegodess612

Inkista: I did do a little research on the different types of Nikkor lenses. I know that I want lenses that are both AF-S for the auto focus feature, but also VR for the vibration reduction. Or at the very least are AF-S.

Just note that most of the fast primes for portrait work are not AF-S. Only the 50/1.4 and the 35/1.8 are AF-S and under $500.

On the Canon side, you'd have the choice of the 35/2, 50/1.8, 50/1.4, 85/1.8, 100/2, and 135/2.8 soft focus for fast primes under $500, and they'll all autofocus on all bodies. As I linked up above, you really really want to know the effect max. aperture has on what a lens can do. It's as important as focal length. That's why every lens is described by those two numbers: focal length and max. aperture. I'd take more maximum aperture over VR any day.

I looked into the D3100, its a bit more expensive and I dont see much difference other than the MP. Is there any particular reason you suggested the D3100? Did I maybe miss some new feature about it?

HD video would be one big one. The dpreview preview of the D3100 lays out the differences between it and the D3000.

You got me wondering about the 55-200mm lens now though. Would a 28-105 be better? What would you suggest instead of a 55-200? Adorama has this kit for about $800 USD.

Look, the thing is you don't know what lenses you want yet. I'd actually recommend simply waiting until you do know what you need and what you're willing to spend. You're not even looking at the max. apertures of the lenses--this is something you seriously need to learn about before plunking down cash on more glass. And the "better" alternative to the 55-200 would be a 70-200 f/2.8 (very expensive) or a 70-300 VR.

A 28-105 could be a good fit, but it won't give you any wide angle on a crop body, and it's a walkaround zoom, like the 18-55, not so much a telephoto zoom, like the 55-200.

...But that means no bag and no memory card, so add in those two and were talking about $900.

Bags are again a personal-fit thing. Waiting until you know what you need may actually get you something better than a cheap generic bag.

Plus I need a sturdier tripod than the one I've got, because I'm afraid it wont hold up to the weight of a DLSR. It has a hook for a weight, but I'd still be skeptical of using it. I wasnt looking to spend that much just yet.

A good tripod tends to cost in three figures. Don't go looking for a $40 cheapie. That's my advice.

And I'm kind of afraid to buy something from somewhere like Amazon. Spending that much money, I want to MAKE SURE that I get exactly what I ordered. Not some refurb that their passing off as new that screws up 2 weeks after I get it.

I've never had an issue ordering from them, B&H, or Adorama. But I stick to things that are specifically offered by Amazon or Adorama--not other 3rd party sellers. They all have good reputations, and it's not like the 'bay where pirate stuff abounds.

[faeriegodess612]

Hmm,... well you've certainly got me thinking now. Looking into the different models. From what I gather, basically your telling me I should start out with the kit lens that comes with the camera. Get used to it, then decide which lens(es) I would need after that?

The HD video on the D3100 doesnt mean much to me, but I do like the option of live view. You know, sometimes you just cant have your face down/out/up there where your camera is. I'll look into Adorama and maybe Amazon. I'm so confused now on which lens(es) to get. All I know is that I need something that can do close range, as in a foot , as well as something like for landscapes that can be a mile or more away. I understand that for something closer than say about a foot I'd need a macro lens, and that can simply wait.