Which D90 kit to buy?

[lindseybp]

I have been looking at buying the D90 for some time now and have finally decided to take the plunge. I see many places carry the standard kit with the 18-105 lens. My local Costco carries a D90 kit with two lenses, I believe one is 18-55 and the other is 55-200. Both have VR. Cost difference seems to be negligible as I have found the 18-105 kit for around 1250 and the Costco with the two lenses, bag and 2gb card is 1299. Which one would be my best bet to buy? I know very little about which kit would be a better deal than another so any guidance is much appreciated. Thanks!

[r3g]

I'm not sure how the 18-105mm is in terms of quality but the 18-55 VR and 55-200 VR are both quite decenlt lenses.

[chingy-vang]

I have the same question too, which kit? anyways, can someone tell me how to start a new thread/post?

[r3g]

I have the same question too, which kit? anyways, can someone tell me how to start a new thread/post?

Click the New Thread button on the top left under the User CP

[mz_]

I'm wondering the same thing. With so many kits available over the past few months of looking at the d90, I've wondered what to get.

Purpose of the camera will be pictures of my son (due in July), and night theme park pictures for a Halloween Event.

D90 SLR Digital Camera Kit with Nikon 18-105mm VR Lens - $1,149.95
D90 SLR Digital Camera Kit with Nikon 70-300mm VR Lens - $1,288.95
D90 SLR Digital Camera Kit with 18-200mm VR II Lens - $1,579.95
D90 SLR Digital Camera Kit with 18-105mm Lens & 70-300mm Lens - $1,589.95

I plan on adding the 50mm f/1.8D AF Lens and a SB-400 also. Right now I'm leaning towards the 18-200mm VR II Lens Kit. Just looking for that good general lens, and a one that will work well in low-light (night/indoor).

[Rooz]

the 18-200 has the best flexibility
the 18-105 has better image quality
the 16-85 has the best image quality

which lens you buy will depend on how important having an all-in-one zoom means to you and of course, what you're budget is.

if i as buying a d90 kit, i'd be getting the 18-105+70-300+35/1.8af-s. if you had alot more cash, i'd get the 16-85+70-300+50/1.4afs.

[Spinning]

How will the 70-300 handle sport pictures? The zoom would be great. My daughter is a spring board diver and I can't get real close to the boards. I would be shooting mainly outside in the summer.
Kids swim and dive, plus other random stuff. But if I can get this camera it would be for the Frames per second. Would this lens slow the camera down a lot?

[Rooz]

outside the 70-300 will be fine. if the light is good, it wont slow the fps down at all. indoors it will not be as good as a 2.8 lens but its also alot cheaper and lighter.

[britkev]

I haven't used the newer VR version of the 18-55, so I can't comment on IQ... but I will say that my 18-105 is a big improvement over the older non-VR 18-55, not only in IQ, but also flexibility... while I was using the 18-55 and 70-300 I had quite a few missed opportunites where I had the wrong lens on at the wrong time. The extra reach of the 105 means I can often get something useable that would have been a blob in the middle of the frame at 55mm.

The 70-300 VR is wonderful for the price, will not be a factor on frame-rates, and with VR it is quite usable handheld in just about any reasonable outdoor daylight conditions or well lit gyms, arenas, pools etc.

@mz - for just ten bucks more I think the 18-105 + 70-300 kit is a far better option than the 18-200... but maybe I'm just saying that because that's the way I went when I got my D300 ;)

[fionndruinne]

I would humbly suggest going with the 18-105mm kit, and saving the rest of your dough for lenses which are a step up from these consumer types. The aforementioned kit lens will give you a lot of versatility, and if you decide to upgrade with some better options (the 16-85mm, new 35mm and 50mm primes, a 70-200mm f/2.8, etc.), it will still have a place in your kit for when a wide range and small bulk is necessary.

I highly recommend getting a prime like the 35mm (or a 50mm if you're into portraits) and a flash; while these may seem less versatile than say the 18-200mm lens, they'll open a floodgate for your images in terms of creativity and quality.

[mmp121]

if you had alot more cash, i'd get the 16-85+70-300+50/1.4afs.

Glad to see that I made a good decision in getting the D90 w/ 16-85 + 70-300.

Now I just have to save enough for the 50/1.4 AFS

[polvadis]

Although I don't have a D90, I did get the 18-105 vr lens as a replacement of the kit 18-55. I couldn't be happier. It's my first DSLR setup and the lens is not too heavy, not too long, picture quality blows my mind, and the zoom is just right. Now I just want a low f-stop prime lens and a flash to complete my amateur photography kit.

[lindseybp]

So i'm very close to pulling the trigger today on a D90 and a 18-200 Nikon lense. While it's a ton of money ($1,561) I want something that will last for many years and allow me enough options on the camera to hone my skills and take frame worthy pics. I can afford this camera now but once our first kid comes along next year my money will be going to diapers and other kiddie items. I'm thinking about the 18-200 lense because I probably will not be a big lense swapper, just looking for one good lense that can cover a broad range of things. Down the road I can invest in more specific lenses but not right now.

I've got a Caribbean trip at the end of April and my nephews 2 year birthday party in two weeks so am leaning toward getting something today so I have some time to learn a little about it and take test pics.

I keep waffling between the D90, D40/60 and Canon XSi. I guess I'm just looking for a sanity check that I'm making the right investment by purchasing the D90 w/18-200 over the other cameras. Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[K1W1]

You are not going to need a long lens for a baby but you will be taking a lot of indoor shots. With that in mind have you considered the D90, an 18-135 lens and a flash (SB400 or SB600) instead? I think that you will find that a more useful combination.