Buying first DSLR Camera: Retired with a WANT to improve quality of photographs. Will be traveling in Europe this summer and will be taking a lot of scenes, buildings inside and out.

UTEP65 Loc: Lake Royale, NC

Retired with a WANT to improve quality of photographs. Will be traveling in Europe this summer and will be taking a lot of scenes, buildings inside and out. One of my friends is a recently retired professional photographer. He strongly recommends a Nikon D7200 with a 24-120mm lens. I just need a second opinion.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I'd recommend an FX Nikon. I just don't like crop sensor cameras.
--Bob

UTEP65 wrote:

Retired with a WANT to improve quality of photographs. Will be traveling in Europe this summer and will be taking a lot of scenes, buildings inside and out. One of my friends is a recently retired professional photographer. He strongly recommends a Nikon D7200 with a 24-120mm lens. I just need a second opinion.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

If you want to keep your costs down now and in the future stay with a crop sensor. Lenses will be less expensive and much lighter to carry and believe me you will get exceptional photographs. I have a d7200 and the kit lens that came with it is the 18-140mm. Outside of wildlife and bird photography it stays on my camera most of the time. I have a number of other lenses that work well with the system both Nikon and third party like Sigma and Rokinon. It is an exceptional, very versatile camera that can be purchased both used and refurbished at good prices right now.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

UTEP65 wrote:

Retired with a WANT to improve quality of photographs. Will be traveling in Europe this summer and will be taking a lot of scenes, buildings inside and out. One of my friends is a recently retired professional photographer. He strongly recommends a Nikon D7200 with a 24-120mm lens. I just need a second opinion.

That's a popular choice and lenses are typically more reasonable for DX cameras than full frame. It sounds appropriate for your intended uses.

rcdovala

I think that you will be disappointed in the 24 - 120mm lens. On a crop sensor camera, such as the D7200, this will give you an equivalent field of view (on a full frame camera) of 36 - 180 mm. I have been to Europe many times and I would find the 24 (36mm equivalent) field of view very limiting. If you are going to purchase a crop sensor camera, I would recommend that you pair it with a lens that is wider than what your friend suggested such as the Nikon 18-140mm.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

rcdovala wrote:

I think that you will be disappointed in the 24 - 120mm lens. On a crop sensor camera, such as the D7200, this will give you an equivalent field of view (on a full frame camera) of 36 - 180 mm. I have been to Europe many times and I would find the 24 (36mm equivalent) field of view very limiting. If you are going to purchase a crop sensor camera, I would recommend that you pair it with a lens that is wider than what your friend suggested such as the Nikon 18-140mm.

The 18-140 lens is a DX lens made for a crop sensor camera. I will give you an equivalent focal length of 27-210mm on the 7200. If you want more of a view I'll recommend the Tokina 11-20mm lens that I have and really like for landscapes.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Whatever your lens choices, the D7200 is a fine camera.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

The Tamron 16-300 is made for Nikon and would give you the angle of view of a 24-450. That covers wide angle for interiors and landscape to fairly long telephoto for birds, planes and wildlife.

Patrick9 Loc: Muncie, IN

You did not mention what you are using now but I don't think the majority would recommend stepping up to a full frame camera unless you have a need for it. I am still using my D7000 and see no need to change. It is still a better camera than I am a photographer.

DRG777 Loc: Metro Detroit

I have 2 cameras and one is a D7200. It is a fine camera. I have the Nikkor 18-200 lens though.

CO

The D7200 would be an excellent choice. There's no need to go with a full frame lens. It's just more weight and it makes the camera front heavy. I have the Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 DX VR lens. It's sharp, has excellent build quality, and has one-half the distortion of Nikon's superzoom lenses. It balances well on DX Nikon bodies.

GPS Phil Loc: Dayton Ohio

CO wrote:

The D7200 would be an excellent choice. There's no need to go with a full frame lens. It's just more weight and it makes the camera front heavy. I have the Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 DX VR lens. It's sharp, has excellent build quality, and has one-half the distortion of Nikon's superzoom lenses. It balances well on DX Nikon bodies.

I have had my 16-85 lens for years and would not part with it, for all the reasons you stated. Plus it gives beautiful contrast and is very light weight. Not sure how the 16-80 2.8 stacks up, but would love to try one!

Phil

JPL

UTEP65 wrote:

Retired with a WANT to improve quality of photographs. Will be traveling in Europe this summer and will be taking a lot of scenes, buildings inside and out. One of my friends is a recently retired professional photographer. He strongly recommends a Nikon D7200 with a 24-120mm lens. I just need a second opinion.

If your friend is a professional photographer, why do need a second opinion? A pro should know.

Bill_de Loc: US

JPL wrote:

If your friend is a professional photographer, why do need a second opinion? A pro should know.

Being a pro only means you get paid for what you do. They don't necessarily have all the answers.

--

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

Before you lay down your money, pick the camera up in your own hands.