Beginner looking to buy Nikon D3400: I'm a beginner looking to buy the Nikon D3400 camera bundle with Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens. Should I spend an extra $150.00 and buy the...

artie53

I'm a beginner looking to buy the Nikon D3400 camera bundle with Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens. Should I spend an extra $150.00 and buy the AF-S DX Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II lens. My made interest is wildlife in the outdoors. Would a different lens be better. Should I get the VR lenses from Nikon? My budget is around $650-$750.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

artie53 wrote:

I'm a beginner looking to buy the Nikon D3400 camera bundle with Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens. Should I spend an extra $150.00 and buy the AF-S DX Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II lens. My made interest is wildlife in the outdoors. Would a different lens be better. Should I get the VR lenses from Nikon? My budget is around $650-$750.

Costco has the kit with both lenses for <$600. That's the best I've seen. At that price it's a steal.
That is a great camera. You can start out with full automatic and gradually take over the decision-making as you learn new things. Costco has a great return policy if anything is wrong. But they also provide their own trained support people on an 800 number. This is one someone got right.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Looks like Reinaldo found you a very good deal. Just remember that the D3400 does not have an internal focus motor. To get lens to auto focus you must purchase AF-S lens.

Don

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Reinaldokool wrote:

Costco has the kit with both lenses for <$600. That's the best I've seen. At that price it's a steal.
That is a great camera. You can start out with full automatic and gradually take over the decision-making as you learn new things. Costco has a great return policy if anything is wrong. But they also provide their own trained support people on an 800 number. This is one someone got right.

Excellent advice.

For birds and wildlife, you will most definitely need a longer zoom than the 18-55. When I bought my first DSLR in 2013 (a D5200 from Costco), it came with the 18-55 and a 55-300. Still have everything and use them as back-up for my new D7200.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

artie53 wrote:

I'm a beginner looking to buy the Nikon D3400 camera bundle with Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens. Should I spend an extra $150.00 and buy the AF-S DX Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II lens. My made interest is wildlife in the outdoors. Would a different lens be better. Should I get the VR lenses from Nikon? My budget is around $650-$750.

Skip the 55-200mm kit deal. Get the latest kit with the new style AF-P 18-55mm DX and the AF-P 70-300mm DX lenses, its the best kit and only $599

Jim Bob

PAR4DCR wrote:

Looks like Reinaldo found you a very good deal. Just remember that the D3400 does not have an internal focus motor. To get lens to auto focus you must purchase AF-S lens.

Don

And it doesn't have a built in sensor cleaning feature. Dumb.

artie53

Can I purchase a Nikon camera with a built in sensor cleaning feature along with an internal focus motor or auto focus (AF-S) lens for less than $1,000. The D3400 bundle has AF-P lenses. Are these lenses auto focus? Sorry for the dumb question.....I'm just beginning. I want to be happy with my purchase with no regrets in a few months, but would like to keep cost under $1,000.

BebuLamar

artie53 wrote:

Can I purchase a Nikon camera with a built in sensor cleaning feature along with an internal focus motor or auto focus (AF-S) lens for less than $1,000. The D3400 bundle has AF-P lenses. Are these lenses auto focus? Sorry for the dumb question.....I'm just beginning. I want to be happy with my purchase with no regrets in a few months, but would like to keep cost under $1,000.

Yes the AF-P lenses will auto focus on the D3400.

BebuLamar

Jim Bob wrote:

And it doesn't have a built in sensor cleaning feature. Dumb.

Dumb camera or are you dumb? Don't get offended because I am stupid.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

You can get that same Costco deal from B&H for $597. But it has the same lenses mentioned by MT Shooter. It doesn't have a self sensor cleaning system, so I advice you to buy a rocket blower, to use to free the sensor of dust periodically. Good luck on your new purchase.

74images Loc: Los Angeles, California

I Wouldn't buy it... It Lacks some Features

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Reinaldokool wrote:

Costco has the kit with both lenses for <$600. That's the best I've seen. At that price it's a steal.
That is a great camera. You can start out with full automatic and gradually take over the decision-making as you learn new things. Costco has a great return policy if anything is wrong. But they also provide their own trained support people on an 800 number. This is one someone got right.

Even if you are not a Costco member, you can still buy from them, at a slightly higher price.

Amazon has a good deal -

https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Camera-18-55mm-70-300mm-Filters/dp/B01LK2PTIE

Target, too -

http://www.target.com/p/nikon-d3400-2-lens-kit-black-1573/-/A-51524163

BebuLamar

74images wrote:

I Wouldn't buy it... It Lacks some Features

Is there a camera that doesn't lack some feature?

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

The 3400 is a good camera but I'd be careful of buying a "bundle" with those lenses. I did the same thing, buying a D5500 with the 18-55mm and 55-300mm lenses and I find I'm constantly changing lenses which is a pain and momentarily leaves the camera's innards exposed to dirt and dust. Better to buy a good all-around lens like an 18 to 200mm that you can leave on the camera and use for 99% of your shots. I'll add that I was considering the D3300 but moved up to the D5500 because for very little more money, you get a much better camera with many features found on Nikon's higher end products.

Momma_dont_take_my_chodachrome Loc: South Central Kentucky, USA

A decent camera to get started with. But you might also consider good used options, although you may not be able to bundle quite as easy. I would consider stepping up to a model with the sensor cleaning as you will find yourself changing lenses often. But this is part of the game in obtaining "the shot".
Those lenses will do perfectly for your wildlife shots, although being able to step up to the 70-300 would increase your opportunities greatly.
And the low investment is perfect, from experience as I started with the D5000 some years back. Get used to the camera, read alot, and take lots and lots of shots......on manual settings. Save the auto for birthday parties and events of the kids or grandkids that you dont need to experiement on and miss a shot.
Learn aperature, white balance, shutter speed rules and take the same shot with variances in all of your settings for comparison on your computer.
You'll literally teach yourself alot about these settings by visually seeing what each setting changes.
Good luck and enjoy!