D7100 two lens deal

pitykitty

pitykitty

New member
Hello,

I am relatively new to photography. I used to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it back in high school (I always had my camera with me), but somewhere along the way, I stopped. I am
interested in getting back in again. From what i've read, the D7100 is the way to go. I saw this deal at Costco. It includes two lens, the 18-55mm and 55-300 for $1299.

Nikon D7100 DSLR Camera 2 Lens Bundle

From everything i've been reading, people say to ditch the kit lens and get the 18-140mm, but I never hear much about the 55-300mm. This will mostly be used for myself
and I plan to do things like portraits (of my son & us as a family) and sports, if he's into sports later in life and just basically general stuff. Maybe take some good shots of
clothes I make to sell. Anyhow, i'm allowing myself to spend up to about $1500, so any input is greatly appreciated. I know it may be a little too much camera for me right
now, but I can see myself getting back into enjoying photography as much as I did when I was younger, so i'd like to spend a little bit more now.

Thank you all!
Kim
 
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cbay

Senior Member
Just a thought, but much like you describe i enjoyed photography years ago and recently decided to get back into it. The decision process over the 7000, 7100 or wait for the 7200 was stressful. I ended up getting the D7000 with 18-140 kit from Best Buy and i couldn't be happier. I knew that i may get the 7200 later on and if i bought the 7100 it would be a good while before i could afford it. This way i got a pretty good zoom and a much better camera than i anticipated for far less than it would have cost for the 7100 with the same lens. Just something to think about. :)
 
pitykitty

pitykitty

New member
thank you! i will totally think about that. i started out wanting the 5300, but then after researching, alot of people suggested the 7100. i BARELY found this forum yesterday (and it's exactly what i had been looking for!)it IS really stressful! lol...i keep telling myself to wait til the 7200 is announced, but i'm so excited i want to pull the trigger NOW...must. have. self. control.

thank you for the suggestion! off to do some research on the 7000. i haven't looked at any of those specs at all, yet.
 
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SteveL54

Senior Member
I just picked up a D7100 refurbished by Nikon from Adorama for $700.
Added the 18-140 refurb for another $300.
Nikon 90 day warranty on both.
It was a great deal, and I couldn't be happier. The D7100 only had 279 clicks on it, and it works like a charm.
Just something to consider.
 
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Pretzel

Senior Member
I think with a little online shopping, you might find a slightly better deal, but it's not a bad price at all, per my understanding.

OF COURSE, having said that, once you pull the trigger, you'll find a MUCH better deal. Happens every time. That's why I didn't look at any other deals for a couple of months after buying my D7100. ;) I can honestly say I've never regretted the purchase though, as it's an amazing camera and has taken away my desire for a new camera body for quite some time. I'd definitely nab the 7100 over the 7000 if the budget allows.

Personally, if I were in the market for a first camera but with the knowledge I have now, I'd lean toward an 18-140 bundle instead, then look at a 70-300 vr down the road if you need/desire the reach. However, I can attest to the 18-55 VR being a very capable lens. (kit lens just means it came in a bundle with the camera, btw. The 18-140 would also be considered a kit lens.) The 18-55 can lock in a focus while being much closer to the subject (roughly 1 foot) than the other lenses, so it's almost like a budget macro without really being a true macro. It's drawback, with most folks, is that it's much smaller, so isn't really all that impressive looking. ;)

ALSO, don't be afraid to look at B&H, Adorama or Cameta for a Factory Refurb. There have been some amazing prices out there.
 
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Pretzel

Senior Member
SteveL54 said:
I just picked up a D7100 refurbished by Nikon from Adorama for $700.
Added the 18-140 refurb for another $300.
Nikon 90 day warranty on both.
It was a great deal, and I couldn't be happier. The D7100 only had 279 clicks on it, and it works like a charm.
Just something to consider.
Click to expand...

Figures, someone would mention the refurbs while I was still typing. GREAT EXAMPLE, with $500 left to maybe add a refurb 70-300 VR as well, per the budget you listed, and get a slightly better zoom than the 55-300.
 
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SteveL54

Senior Member
Pretzel said:
Figures, someone would mention the refurbs while I was still typing. GREAT EXAMPLE, with $500 left to maybe add a refurb 70-300 VR as well, per the budget you listed, and get a slightly better zoom than the 55-300.
Click to expand...

Sorry for stepping over you there, my friend.
Next time let me know when you're typing a response. I'll wait..... ;)
 
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sonicbuffalo_RIP

Senior Member
@pitykitty....welcome to Nikonites. I'd say to try your best to find the D7100 with the 18-140 mm lens. It's a great all around lens and you can't beat the D7100 with the crazy prices out there. I bought a D7100 and I love it. Save some money for post processing/editing your images. After this week, I highly recommend Nik Tools. That and the $9.99 a month the Creative Cloud will give you a great start. Good luck!
 
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hrstrat57

Senior Member
Ditch the kit lens? Don't know anything about the 55-300 VR but my 18-55 VR is a super sharp keeper. Like you I expected it to be junk....

on D300 = wrong.

I can vouch for the 70-300 AF S VR = my copy is excellent!!

looks like a nice D7100 kit package to me! IMHO that gear will keep you busy for a while. Add more bits as you see what focal lengths your eye likes!

Your next step will likely be a fast prime!

good luck and let us all know what you decide!
 
hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
pitykitty

pitykitty

New member
thank you for that link, sonicbuffalo. I wanted to get "sick" so I could go home and do more research!

and whiskeyman, I'm not too positive on what sports yet. my son is only 2.5 now so who knows what he'll be interested in. I'm guessing soccer (hopefully) since that's what his dad and I watch a lot of.

anyhow, I can't wait to place an order and learn from this forum and you all! you all are pretty funny.

on a sidenote, has anyone ever used greentoe.com? I placed a "bid" for a 7100 and an 18-140mm lens for $899 (I know that's low, but I wanted to see what would happen) and I received a counter offer of $1159. supposedly these items come from reputable sellers (like adorama or bh photo, etc) and are brand new with warranty. I had never heard of them before, but I googled and saw some good reviews about them.
 
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