Nikon d7000 for beginners?
Would the Nikon d7000 be ok for a beginner camera?
Yes, but buy a 50mm 1.4 lens
It is a very powerful camera. It would be OK, but realize you will have a significant learning curve to get all of the performance out of the camera, so it could be a frustrating experience.
Sure, but you don't need to spend that kind of money for your first camera.
It will take you a few years to learn how to use a fully adjustable camera and during that time, had you purchased a nice Nikon D3200, you could have purchased more lenses with the difference in price.
The D7000 is an excellent camera and its sensor out performs my D300 which I use to shoot professionally. But you will first have to learn how to use a camera before you will benefit from the better performing sensor. When I was first shooting with a digital camera (Nikon D100 - $2, 000 for body only) I was able to seamlessly move from 35 mm to digital and the images that the D100 (6 mp sensor) produced were and are perfectly fine for magazines, newspapers and even 16 x 20 inch prints.
I think I have mentioned that ANY fully adjustable camera is fine for beginners, they all work the same. So whether you spend $43, 000 on a Hasselblad or get your D7000, your learning curve will be about the same.
Lenses are more important than the camera body, so consider buying a D3100 or D3200.
You read the others advice, and other than the first lens answer ( 50mm) all of them are right. Its a fantastic camera but has so many advanced features that you could get lost in learning your way thru them while also just trying to learn the art and craft of photography. It all depends on just how much effort you decide to invest.
The new D3200 with a kit lens seems more than enough camera to start with and you end up buying a lot more stuff to support your efforts at photography than you expect. A tripod, extra memory cards, flash, bag, extra battery, filters, etc add up quickly, especially if you buy quality equipment from reputable suppliers.
In my opinion any camera is suitable for beginners, if you can afford it and you're sure about it, there's nothing wrong with buying as high spec camera! Buying a low range camera is just delaying the inevitable, as you will develop skills quite quickly and demand more advanced features that a D7000 is capable of very soon.