Nikon D7000 - New or Refurbished?

[Mike Buckley]

Sorry, but I have no recommendations about books for you.

I actually wonder if a book will be particularly helpful to you. You already seem to understand the principles of using your current camera and those principles will be the same when using your D7000. I purchased a book for learning how to use my D80 because it was my first dSLR. However, I didn't purchase a book when I upgraded to the D7000 and I don't miss that I didn't.

As an example, reading a book probably won't help you benefit from the fact that the high-ISO capability of the D7000 is so much greater than your D40X. If your D40X doesn't have Live View, perhaps a book will help with that. However, you could download the PDF of the D7000 manual now, which (surprisingly) explains Live View quite well. There are some other new capabilities such as the Virtual Horizon that your D40X doesn't have, but they seem to be very intuitive.

You might consider first reviewing the manual's explanations of all the menu items if you haven't already done that. Doing so will at least inform you of the specific capabilities that the D7000 has that your D40X doesn't have. Then if you still think it might be worth the time required to study a book, that would then be a good idea.

[Green Mountain Girl]

I did it! I just hit the buy now button and should be getting my refurbished D7000 sometime next week

Now I'm off to the used book store to see if I can score a user manual to supplement the one that will come with the camera...sounds like there will be a bit of a learning curve but I am up for the challenge!

As a D7000 owner (and this was my first DSLR), I suggest you first read through the Nikon manual before buying a book. This way, you can have specific questions you need answered (that were not clear in the manual). By looking for the answers to these questions, you will be better able to judge the quality of the book you are considering.

I bought Thom Hogan's online book on the D7000, and while it was not too bad, I found a lot of it confusing. Too much to sort through, perhaps too much information. Not sure what I would have gotten if I had a bookstore to look through, however. But just like it is better to know what accessories you need and why before buying, I think it is better to know some questions to be answered before you buy a book that doesn't answer them.

Also, if the book answers some of your questions well - that is, in a way that you can understand - then the questions you haven't thought of yet will probably be answered as well. The information IS in the manual, just not always so easy to figure out!

Hope this helps.

Susan

[Shadowman]

If you purchase any book, make it one for your camera model such as the magic lantern series. Buying a book that references D300 settings will only make you envious of the camera you don't have.

[ShaneS]

Thank you Mike, Susan and John. I dropped in on one of the used books stores that I frequent and was not successful at finding anything so I will probably just pore over the manual first, search online for answers and then take it from there in terms of buying a book...

I am looking forward to the challenges (and better images - fingers crossed) that are in my future with the new camera

[charzes44]

Shane,

I bought Darrel Young's "Mastering the Nikon D7000" about 18 months ago. It is brilliant. It explains every feature and every setting of your new body perfectly. Read the reviews on Amazon. And it cross references with the Nikon manual should you wish to compare. I am sure that you will find this helpful! Good reading.

Charles

[ShaneS]

Thank you Charles - I will take a look for that title. My new camera has made its way from Melville, NY and is now in Indianapolis, IN en route to Honolulu (according to Fed Ex)...I'm not excited or anything

[flashback]

Shane,

I bought a new 7000 back in the spring. I'm still learning, I read the manual, Ken Rockwell (seemingly not well appreciated but...he does have a very good site on the D7000) and basically just playing around with my camera. It's not a nuclear reactor,
nothing bad will happen (other than some bad shots) so go out and play with it and have fun.

Personally, I love it, I'm still learning, it's rather forgiving and, like everything else in life, you get out of it what you put into it.