I'm looking to buy a DSLR for an upcoming vacation. Any ideas?
What would be the best Body and lens combination for under two thousand dollars? Right now I'm looking at the Nikon D7000 with a tamron 28-75 2.8 + nikon 35mm 1.8. Thoughts or improvements on the current set up would be greatly appreciated.
Added (1). Just for anybody that may be wondering, I've had a DSLR for years, I sold the entire camera system to make way for a new one. A big reason for wanting a new DSLR is for video capability.
If you are a newer photographer I'd recommend a Canon as they have a simpler interface. As for under two thousand dollars the EOS Rebel T3 18-55mm IS II Kit includes a lens and a body for around six hundred dollars, great pictures come out of this camera; it is definitely an amateurs camera though. If you are more advamced and willing to spend more green the EOS Rebel T3i 18-55mm IS II Kit should be considered at around $800.
Hope this helps!
Sounds like you're into photography enough that getting a dslr is not a mistake, which is the first point I would have made. People think it's the camera that takes the great pictures but it's really the person behind it.
You'll be splitting hairs forever if you get into a Canon / Nikon debate with people. Cameras are coming into the marketplace so frequently that no matter how good the one you get is, there won't be much time passed before you hear about something better. Dive into the upper end of the amateur line or lower end of the pro line of any make.
Put the majority of your money into the lens(es) for your camera. I've found that this is the one piece of advice I wish I'd been given early on as the lenses go with you to the next camera model and the one after that. The quality of the image (resolution, sharpeness, etc.) is more noticeable when you go from an average lens to a better quality one than you'll likely ever notice going from one camera body to another. For Canon, this is the L series and for Nikon, the red line (?) so pick a lens first (that fits your $) then the body.
That would be a good set up except you don't need the 35mm f1.8 You already have that range covered and f2.8 is adequate. You are far better off buying a long lens or a wider lens. Perhaps something in the 20mm range or over 100mm. You will have a great set up. I can cover my vacation with a D7000 and just the 28-75mm. I tend to like long lenses so I'd consider a long lens unless you are going somewhere like Rome where you are close to a lot of cool things and inside nice spaces in which case I'd look at a prime lens in the 16mm-20mm range.
If you liked the "normal" FoV with a 50mm lens, then you may enjoy the 35mm on the D7000. What I see that you may be missing is a wider angle. For vacation, I usually have the 18-200vr as my walking around lens. It does have some of the problems that every "super-zoom" lens has in distortion. But for documenting a vacation I find it's perfectly adequate. Also the vr will give you a stop or two more leeway in exposure. It is not a fast lens, though. But I think I would miss a wide angle on the 28-75. On a Nikon crop sensor, the 28 will be like a 42mm.
Good choice but I'd probably scrap the 35mm f1.8 since your 28-75 f2.8 already covers that focal lenght and f2.8 is already pretty wide open.
Maybe invest in a speedlight instead or a 70-200 f4 or f2.8 (depending on your budget). Don;t forget a spare camera battery and spare memory cards.
Like I said, your 35mm is a bit redundant what with the 28-75.