Going into DSLR the first time and I need advices here?

Dear all,

I'm going to get the first DSLR of my life and it's gonna be the D90 or D7000.
If I were to get the D90, I'm definitely be able to get at least nice lenses and as for D7000, it will have to be only one.

However, I'm a bit confused here.
AF lenses and AF-S lenses' main difference is the motor capability but since these DSLRs consist of a self motor, why do we still get the AF-S version?
Is it because this will hasten the autofocus function?

Another question is I'm hoping to be able to take close ups in a good lense and I have actually chose the 'AF Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8D' but I have also chosen the 'AF Zoom-NIKKOR 24-85mm f/2.8-4D IF'. Do you thinks it's inappropriate to do so?

Should I choose the standard zoom lens in this case?
Sorry for the numerous questions and hope that you guys don't mind giving me some advices.

Either of those camera bodies will make an excellent choice - the lens quality will have far more influence on image quality than the body. Having said that I have heard excellent reports about the D7000.

Either AF or AF-S lenses will work - as you correctly said, both the D90 & the D7000 have focus motors in the bodies.AF-S doesn't make it focus faster - they're just available so that those without focus motors can use them (D3000, D3100, & D5000).

Your choice of lenses will be dictated by what you like to shoot - the 60mm macro is an excellent macro lens & is ideal for portraits too. The working distance is quite close though which might scare off shy critters. You might want to consider the 105mm f2.8 macro instead.

The 24-85mm lens will be a good general lens and at f2.8 will be fast with great low light performance.

Go for canon

1. A AF lens will work on these bodies. So will an AF-S lens.AF-S lenses are quicker to focus. That difference is not all that clear on small and light lenses but on bigger, heavier telelenses it becomes very noticeable.

2. Nikon's 24-85 is a nice all purpose zoom, can do a lot of things. The 60mm micro is suited for closeups and macro of unmoving objects, something at which the 24-85 is very weak.

3. I think you'd be better off to start with a simple lens like the 18-105 and discover what you really want to spend your money on.

The huge advantage of the D7000 is the new Sony sensor it uses, wider dynamic range (fewer burnt out skies), much better low light, low noise performance approaching the Nikon D3 a full frame sensor.

This same sensor is also in the Pentax K5 and they seem to have done more with it, the K5 exceeds the Dyanmic range and low noise performance of any Nikon camera, including the legendary D3.

http://www.dxomark.com/...d3)/Pentax

You also have image stabilisation built into the camera, with Nikon IS can double the price of a lens, with Pentax every lens you fit, even a 30 year old manual lens (of which there are hundreds available cheaply) will be image stabilised, they also have all the functions some such as Tav mode where you set the aperture and shutter speed and the camera alters the ISO, and catch in focus only available on a Pentax.