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Looks like you got yourself a heckuva camera. I don't know what your experience is, so to recommend lenses wouldn't be appropriate. However, if you haven't read any of this fellow's stuff, you're in for a treat. You will find honest to goodness opinions on almost all Nikon kit, including lenses.
I have the cheap and cheerful Nikon 18-55mm VRII; the results from this lens totally blows away the price; the D7000 sensor would crop your images to give an equivalent focal length range of 27-82.5mm a useful range.
Note also Mr Rockwell's comments re this lens.
Peter.
How much can you afford - and are you prepared to consider second hand, perhaps from somewhere like Ffordes with a warranty.
A high-end camera like the D7000 deserves a equally high-end lens, otherwise you could have saved yourself a lot of money by getting an entry-level body.
Back in the good old days, our one lens was the 50mm - f1.8 for the skint and f1.4 for those who were better off. It's come back into fashion.
I'd spend the same on the lens as I did for the body. My choice would be the 24-70 AFS.
If you're skint at the moment, there are a few lenses whose performance is way ahead of their price 18-55, 28-105 and the 50mm prime.
Does the D7000 work with manual-focus? If so, you have access to the huge range of manual-focus primes that are superb quality and used examples come cheap.
another other prime lens to scrutinise in case you think that the D7000 crops the 50mm too much is the 35mm 35mm f/1.8 G AF-S DX; I have one and it is a superb performer.I note that the price is now a shade beneath £160.
Peter.
Quote: A high-end camera like the D7000 deserves a equally high-end lens, otherwise you could have saved yourself a lot of money by getting an entry-level body.
I'd spend the same on the lens as I did for the body. My choice would be the 24-70 AFS.
I agree that the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 AFS is a superb lens. I use it more than any other on my D3s.
But for a crop sensor body like the D7000 I would seriously suggest the DX equivalent of that lens, i.e. the Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8. It probably gives a somewhat more useful range of focal lengths on a DX body for the type of photography you mention.
The advice to spend about the same on your main lens as you did on the body is certainly sound although, if money is tight, it may be something to save up for in the medium term and use a "kit" lens for a few months while you become familiar with the camera.
.
Sorry, I was confusing the D700 with the D7000. Of course the D7000 is a crop sensor!
In that case it'd be a 17-55, which She-who-must-be-obeyed finds very useful.
I have to say that there many good 'entry level' lenses out there (one has been mentioned here already, Nikon 18-55mm VRII). Another option which is highly underrated in my opinion is the Nikon 18-70mm. This used to be the kit lens distributed with the D70 and is out of production, but mine spends a lot of time on my D300 and is a very versatile lens. I imagine you would find one very reasonably second hand.
The D7000 uses the DX sensor, though to avoid problems later on if you go to an FX sensor, I would suggest getting FX lenses... there isn't a great deal of difference in price between the two lens types (like for like) so it is a more sensible long term investment.
I have only recently joined EphotoZine hoping to get a little bit of advice since I decided to get back into photography (a little more seriously), after many years with aim and fire cameras, but you have all been great- thanks very much!
My favourite lens when I had an Olympus OM2 was a Sigma 28-85mm, so all of your recommendations suit what I was kind of hoping you'ld say.
I think I'll investigate the 18-55VRII which had more than one mention,the 2nd hand 18-70 and the mf prime lenses, which I believe are helpful for depth of field. The Ken Rockwell site gives high praise to the 27-70 AFS but I would rather become familiar with the D7000 using a couple of cheaper new or 2nd hand lenses before investing in such a grand bit of kit.
I think my head is a bit less scrambled than it was a couple of days ago, so thanks again. I doubt this is the last you've see of me in this forum either!
If you were to get the 18-55mmVR II or the 18-70mm, and the 70-300mm ED AF or the G model of that lens, which has a plastic mount vs metal on the ED, or the 55-200mm VR, you'd have a good focal range covered for about $200.00. The 70-300mm was used for years by John Shaw on film cameras, and he's one of the world's most respected pros. Taking it a bit further, for another $100.00 you can get a Canon close-up diopter for the 70-300, and you have an excellent macro setup.
If you go for the 17-55 there is a lot to be said for second hand - Ffordes have 4 http://www.ffordes.com/category/Lenses/Nikon/Nikon_AF_Fitting
There are other good second hand sellers to try.
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