New Camera Day

MJ5150 · #1 09-06-2011, 12:25 PM

After a couple months of deliberating, researching, looking around, thinking, and pondering, my wife finally got her camera. We got it from Costco. This package: Costco - Nikon D7000 DSLR Camera with 18-200mm VR II lens. We decided on the single lens solution for now, since we're newbies and probably won't need to have a bagful of lenses to choose from.

We ran over to Best Buy right after this and picked up two 8GB SanDisk Extreme SD cards to take advantage of the 6fps this camera offers.

Question, the first of many I am sure, about lens filters. The guy at Best Buy sold us a BB brand (Rocketfish) lens filter for UV. He said it is a great filter and protects the lens. Is this true? If so, shouldn't we be buying Nikon or Nikkor lens filters? Do we need one anyway? By the way, the Rocketfish lens cover he assured us would work did not fit. My wife flew out to Boston this AM and will stop and get one at a camera shop there.

-Mike

**Horny Toad** · #2 09-06-2011, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

The guy at Best Buy sold us a BB brand (Rocketfish) lens filter for UV. He said it is a great filter and protects the lens. Is this true?

Congrats on a nice camera.

Never heard of Rocketfish. I'd stick to Tiffen, Nikon, or my personal favorite, Heliopan. Your lens takes a 72mm filter. Don't take an $800 lens and put a $10 piece of glass in front of it. Buy quality.

MJ5150 · #3 09-06-2011, 12:31 PM

Thank you sir. The guy at BB sold us a 67mm, and said he *knew* it would fit, he even said he looked it up.

-Mike

Kwesi · #4 09-06-2011, 12:31 PM

I'm not the smartest photog around here but you made a good choice

. I had a D7000 myself for about two weeks and the only reason I returned it is because something about the Canon 7D called out to me. As far as photo quality, function, and versatility the D7000 was just great. I'm sure you'll have fun with it.

**Horny Toad** · #5 09-06-2011, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Thank you sir. The guy at BB sold us a 67mm, and said he *knew* it would fit, he even said he looked it up.

-Mike

That's a nice hunk O' glass. If you click on the "tech specs" tab, you'll see the filter size near the bottom of the list.

AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II from Nikon

mkandolf · #6 09-06-2011, 12:54 PM

I'm jealous! I've been wanting a Nikon DSLR for some time now to replace my SLR and still have to put up with my wife's point and shoot. Just don't have the bucks for a camera right now. Want the D90 since it will work with my existing lenses.

Raven2k360 · #7 09-06-2011, 01:01 PM

Here's my input on filters -- as far as what size filter you need, if you look on your lens it'll tell you what the ring diameter is for filters and adapters right on the face (between the eye and the edge, like you're reading the sidewall of a tire). As for brand, I've never really noticed one way or another between stuff you can get at BB or Wal-Mart and the 'boutique' stuff you have to go to a high-end camera shop for or order online. the purpose of a UV filter is to protect your lens though, but also filters out UV light for better color contrast in your photos. Some UV filters also act as a 'haze' filter to filter out some light smoke/smog/fog from your photos. So when the guy told you it was to protect your lens, he actually got that part right...lol. Congrats on the purchase, can't wait to see any photos you decide to share.

MJ5150 · #8 09-06-2011, 02:32 PM

Thank you for the quick rundown Raven2k360. If the guy at BB had his way, he would have filled a cart with everything we "needed". Thanks to all of you here who post in the camera/photo threads, we escaped with only a useless $10 filter that I will return tonight.

So hey....how come none of these cameras have Bluetooth or internet access? That would make it WAY easier for transferring images to a website or computer. Now I need to buy a card reader or plug this thing into my PC to move files around.

-Mike

i_got_a_mohawk · #9 09-06-2011, 04:03 PM

Very nice!

Nothing wrong with cheap "UV filters" most of the time, you will sometimes get annoying reflections off them tho. I have one on each of my lenses, just to give a bit of scratch protection to the actual lens.

I don't know if Nikon support it, but you can get Eye-Fi cards. They are like regular memory cards, but you can also connect to a wireless network using them!

Eye-Fi memory cards: wireless photo & video uploads straight from your camera to your computer & the web.

Go out, shoot, have fun. I love having a DSLR, so glad I took that plunge!

Also, good call on sticking to the single lens. As you use your camera, you will notice what extra things you need to get, and can get them as you go!

And be sure to post in the Photography thread, I'm still a newb, but there are some mega talented photographers in there!

MJ5150 · #10 09-06-2011, 06:15 PM

How do I tell which lenses will fit and work on ours? I know we don't need a lens right now, but I'm still looking around to find the next best one to buy. Will older ones work? Can I only buy ones made since this camera came out? What should I watch out for on the used market?

-Mike

**Horny Toad** · #11 09-06-2011, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

How do I tell which lenses will fit and work on ours? I know we don't need a lens right now, but I'm still looking around to find the next best one to buy. Will older ones work? Can I only buy ones made since this camera came out? What should I watch out for on the used market?

-Mike

Can't comment on used, but use this as a guide: Nikon | Imaging Products | Lens Compatiblity - Nikon D7000

Ziltoid · #12 09-06-2011, 06:27 PM

Get yourself a prime 35mm or 50mm, they're very nice and fast.

mrpackerguy · #13 09-06-2011, 06:43 PM

Have fun. I have a Pentax K200d and I don't get to shoot nearly as much as I want.

mpdd · #14 09-06-2011, 07:58 PM

i believe that almost every single manual focus 35mm nikon or nikon equivalent lens will work with that camera, that is the way it is with my d300

MJ5150 · #15 09-06-2011, 09:15 PM

Thanks guys. I didn't even think to check the Nikon website. TBOT is usually my first choice for info, even before Google sometimes. I rely on everyone here so much, I don't know what I would do with my life if TB evaporated tomorrow.

So with these lenses, it is a matter of them just not fitting right that makes them incompatible? Like will I know right away if it won't work if it doesn't fit type of thing? Or is it they won't work right on my camera?

-Mike

gttim · #16 09-06-2011, 09:48 PM

I run that exact setup! I have been shooting for 32 years, and finally jumped from Olympus to Nikon. It is a bce camera, but spend some time learning about it. The 3D focus is nice as is the active lighting. However, for low light and sports, there are different settings to make it work well. You can push the ISO to ridiculous heights ans still get decent shots.

The 18-200 lens is great for a walk around lens. I advise you to put some kind of lens filter on it- for protection. There is a bit of difference from a filter getting hit and a lens element getting hit. I usually buy a mid priced filter on sale. Well worth the price as insurance. Also think about a circular polarizer at some point.

Enjoy it! I do!