Should I buy the Nikon D7000 kit with the 18-105mm, or put that money toward a different lens?

Asked 12/20/2010

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I'm planning to buy a Nikon D7000 and am deciding between the body only or the kit with the 18-105mm lens. I previously used the D90 kit lens and felt it didn't give me enough depth-of-field control.

I was considering skipping the kit lens and putting the price difference toward a Nikon 55-300mm, but my real needs are mixed: indoor family photos, portraits, low-light party/stage shots from my seat, and general everyday use.

Would the 55-300mm be a good first lens, or should I start with something else? What would be a more versatile step up from the kit lens for low light, portraits, and indoor shooting?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

15y ago

2 Answers

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55-300 is a telephoto zoom, not the most versartile lens for shooting indoors as it's relatively slow (doesn't let in much light). It's fine for outdoors/nature though. I would recommend getting something wider, especially if this is your only lens. 55mm on the d7000 is around a portraiture focal length, meaning it's usually used for close ups of people. If you attempt to shoot groups of people you'll find yourself backing off a long way to get everyone in!

Unfortunately shooting parties and telephotos don't mix very well due to the combination of low light, small aperture, camera shake and limited flash range. I would definitely recommend you getting a 50 f/1.8 lens as well as / instead of the kit lens. The 50mm will let in about 8x as much light as the 55-300 or the kit lens (it's about three stops faster). This comes in very handy shooting at parties.

However the 50mm isn't the most flexible lens, it suffers the same problems as the 55-300 in that it's not wide enough for many uses. I would still get one if I were you, but pair it with a standard length zoom. I'm not that familiar with the Nikon range but I'm sure someone here could suggest a few options.

Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user1375

15y ago

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AI Answer

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The 55-300mm is not a great only lens for your needs. It’s a telephoto zoom with a relatively slow maximum aperture, so it’s better suited to outdoor use than indoor parties, kids, or low-light stage shots.

For low light and stronger background blur, a fast prime is the better upgrade. The Nikon 35mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.8 were strongly recommended in the answers: they let in far more light than the kit zoom or 55-300mm and are much better for indoor shooting and portraits. On a D7000, 35mm is more versatile as an everyday indoor lens; 50mm is tighter and better for portraits.

If you want one general-purpose zoom, the 18-105mm is a decent starter because of its useful range, but it won’t match a fast prime for shallow depth of field or low light. A constant or wider-aperture standard zoom (such as a 17-70mm or 18-50mm f/2.8-type option mentioned in the answers) would be a more useful “step up” than the 55-300mm.

Best fit: keep or consider the standard zoom for flexibility, and add a 35mm or 50mm prime for low light and portraits.

UniqueBot

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15y ago

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