I find that I get more consistent results doing Macro manually (even tho Nikon spells it Micro :hunf: ). Once I get set up it is much easier to adjust the camera, especially with one of the adapters they have that allow small adjustments at the tripod head.

Personally I believe that umbrellas do a better job, especially with the hotter flashes that are out there. Prices have come down on the umbrellas...

Norman,
Let me suggest you take a look at a light box for shooting jewelry. I shot over 200 pieces for my late wife's late aunt (that's a lot of lates) and it made it very simple. The kit is available from Adorama and is the Flashpoint VRDSB1616. I don't suggest that you use the tripod for your camera as it is a little flimsy for my taste, but the two lights and the rest of the kit is very good for small stuff. Oh, and the price is under $30.00. The legs for the lights are stored inside the vertical component. I use a small power strip to have everything on the same circuit. I use the battery replacement (AC) for my camera. When needed you can add your regular flash using a cable and holding it in your hand...

Are there any ring flashes that work with Nikon D7000?
I don't really want one I need to fight with nor do I want to pay a ton of cash (over $100--I'm retired military enlisted).

I shoot gun photographs to advertise and for collector purposes. Its a new experience and I'm sure that a ring flash will make it easier than handling everything. I have a defusing

Fuji makes some real good, super sharp shooting mirrorless cameras. Not knowing your budget I'll just refer you to fujifilm.com.
I had one of their cameras after my Kodak (first digital), difference in day and night! Fuji left Kodak out of the gate and never looked back. It had a couple of add-on lenses (screw on) and was a great little camera. Since then I haven't followed them but I understand from some who still use Fuji digitals that they are still a super product.

Winter is coming and this year I'm going to screw the IR Filter on the D7k and take a few heat loss photographs of the house.
PROBLEMs are: (1) white light on poll that across the street from my house, and (2) I have never done IR before.

EQUIPMENT is my D7k, an AF NIKKOR 18-105mm f:3.5-5.6 with a Hoya INFRARED (R72) filter. Yup, got a good tripod with a good head (Manfroto).

I'm wondering if anyone here has gone down that road before and would you like to put forth some guidance.

There will always be someone out there who will argue the other way where this is concerned. I've known people who would argue that by using various darkroom techniques, like doing touch ups, using a burn-in tool, etc, that it's no longer a "true photograph." To me, making adjustments to the exposure IS part of photography.
That said, using a computer to change the composition falls into the realm of digital art. The dividing line, to me, is if I could do it in the darkroom then it is photography--even if done on the computer. But, as soon as it requires a computer to go beyond simple manipulation it loses that claim to photography, I choose to err on the side of disclosure when I tomes to composition. And remember that if just one customer feels what you've done is a misrepresentation then your reputation could suffer.

I moved up from a D90, which I gave my son.
I like the D7000 a lot. The dual memory chips allows you to keep a backup in raw format (Slot 2) while using Slot 1 to transfer photographs to your storage device, computer, etc.
The MB-D11 Multi Power Battery Pack is better than the one for the D90 as it doesn't have that "tower" on one end--it's relatively flat. It stores easier than the one for the D90 did. It gives you a second battery or the ability to use AA batteries in an emergency.
I have been doing a lot on Macro shooting and using the battery eliminator is great.
Get a Remote, I like the ML-L3.
This will be my last non-full frame camera. That said I am really stoked with the improvements over the D90, not that there is anything wrong with the D90...