What does ''BODY ONLY mean? - 1
I'm seriously considering buying this camera, but i can't afford a separate lens for it
amazon says this is for "body only" does that mean you can't use it as is but need to buy a separate lens?
never bought one like this before and i just wanna be sure what i'm paying for
It means you have to buy a lens separately. The D7100 won't work without a lens. You really need to get one of the kit lenses with it, such as the 18-55mm or 18-105mm.
They offer "body only" to people like me that would be upgrading from an older DSLR. We can use our old lenses on the new body and don't have to buy new lenses.
Yes, it is only a body.
A camera of this caliber deserves an upgraded lens, as the typical 18-55m or 18-105mm lenses may not provide enough sharpness to take advantage of the sensor.
I'd recommend either the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 ($600) or the Nikon AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 ($1, 399).
And with the D7100 body ($1, 100), expect to spend $1, 700 to $2, 500 on a capable camera.
Truth is, 80% of your DSLR budget should be spent on lenses. So if you are considering a DSLR, eventually you should be spending 4 times on the lenses as the body costs.
Do not make the rookie mistake of buying the most expensive body you can buy, then buy a cheap lens almost as an afterthought. In reality, you should do the opposite. Pick the best lens you can afford, then buy any body that will fit the lens.
Yes, lenses are more important than the camera, and you will be better off with a better lens.
No lens.
Body only means no lens. You can't use the camera if there's no lens. You will have to buy a lens separately. This option is good for those who know exactly what lens they need so they can save money. If you don't, get one with the the kit lens. It's very cheap if bought together with the camera. The most popular is the 18-55mm zoom lens. It is enough for almost all shooting scenarios you will encounter. I survive with just that one lens professionally.
http://keerok-photography.blogspot.com/2012/03/shoot-dslr-without-lens.html
Not recommending this, I just like to throw out the absurd now and then.
You COULD get the body only camera, then using any number of online tutorials or DIY sites you can turn the plastic body/lens mount cover into a pin-hole lens.
I like the methods that drill a fairly large hole, cover the large hole with aluminum foil, then use a sharp sewing needle, poke a clean hole into the foil. The smaller the hole, the better your "lens" but the longer it will take for an exposure.
Something to do while saving up for that lens. (not a good option for action shots, most exposures will be measured in seconds.
It is a body only, you have to buy a lens separately.