heartyfisher said:
"... but ended up getting a D600" LOL

18-120 ?? huh ?

Ugh.. I mean 24-120mm (AF-D)

And I agree with SquamishPhoto

$20 says the zoom stays in your bag %90 of the time. The speed and overall image quality will win you over and you'll find ways to make the 50mm work for most situations, especially now that you're on an FX system. The compromise in image quality and lens speed wouldn't be worth it to unless we're talking about generic snap shots - in which case an iphone is probably a smarter choice.

"... but ended up getting a D600" LOL

18-120 ?? huh ?

Well thank you all for the input. Went to the camera store thinking of picking up the D7000 but ended up getting a D600. So I caved and going to Japan with the 50mm f/1.8G and an old 18-120 f/3.5-5.6 (heavy!). Looking forward to taking great pictures with them.

I have been to japan.. and taking a single 50mm would be a mistake. There are many temples that do not allow flash or tripods. in those cases a VR lens is invaluable. They are also quite small and with amazing nooks and crannies, so a wide angle lens is essential.

I had my 18-70, 12-24, 18-200vr and Sigma 150 macro. I found the nice little 18-70 quite adequate but the 18-200 was most used mainly due to the convenience and the VR, but it was not wide enough in the temples, the 12-24 was not able to get pictures bec of the low light, but for sceneries it was great.. I am not really a fan of the wideangle ranges though that 12-24 is a really nice lense. I like tele shots but bec japan is so closed in I didnt use the 200 end much. The macro lens was great, lots of tiny things and trinkets to shoot :-). If I were to do it again and had only one lens I would take a 16-85 VR(Plus my DCR250 for macro), and an AW-100 for when it rains and snows or when I go skiing( LOL skiing with a DSLR was not the most fun thing!, but I did get some nice pics !). I would probably take a new 70-200 F4 too :-) .. cant live without my tele end ! :-)

mikey said:
Have done a couple of photo trips to japan
Its the most photogenic country ive seen
I took and used everything i had and would encourage you not to leave stuff behind - its very photography friendly - i regret leaving stuff behind.
If its just one lens, and you are at all interested in city photography, you should go wider than 50 as the buildings are tall and crowded and the underground subways are great to photograph
My choice would be the 18-whatever zoom and the 35mm 1.8 prime. This is a great, light combo. Third choice would be wide angle (loved the tokina 11-16), and a tele zoom last, as didnt use that one (70-300) much
Amazing country to photograph - my walls are adorned with prints from this trip - all with a d40
I also had a canon S95 with me thinking at times i would want 'lighter' but none of the pictures from it have the 'magic' of the d40 DSLR - its a country you want a DSLR & fast prime in. All my prints on the wall are from the DSLR

Have done a couple of photo trips to japan
Its the most photogenic country ive seen
I took and used everything i had and would encourage you not to leave stuff behind - its very photography friendly - i regret leaving stuff behind.
If its just one lens, and you are at all interested in city photography, you should go wider than 50 as the buildings are tall and crowded and the underground subways are great to photograph
My choice would be the 18-whatever zoom and the 35mm 1.8 prime. This is a great, light combo. Third choice would be wide angle (loved the tokina 11-16), and a tele zoom last, as didnt use that one (70-300) much
Amazing country to photograph - my walls are adorned with prints from this trip - all with a d40

18-105VR would be my choice because you will find that even the 35mm will not be wide enough for sure.

My 2 cents worth...If it's only ONE lens you WANT to take and you don't have any of the wide to medium zoom lenses mentioned above then I'd recommend taking a 35mm f/1.8 DX if you had it. The new 28mm would be a good choice also but being fairly new, many people just haven't bought it (and I don't know if you have either).

The 50mm just might be too long for many of the interior scenes you might like to shoot. Also, the 35mm is just a small crop or couple of steps away from the look that the 50mm would give you (aside from the look in portraits).

For panaramas turn the camera vertically and take overlapping images and mend them in Photoshop when you get back home.

D7000 + 35mm f/1.8 DX is a sweet combo.

I would say go for it, i regularly go out with either my 35 1.8 or 50 1.4,
I actually went on a few foreign trips with only my 35mm 1.8 and i wouldn't say i missed to many shots apart from tele stuff

I would take a zoom like the 18-105vr or a couple of primes (28mm 1.8 or 24mm 2.8)/35/50. The issue with just one prime is that you may not get a wide enough view.

If you want to go light, I would take my Fuji X100 or look at an all in one like the Canon PowerShot G1X or PowerShot G15, COOLPIX P7700 or even the J1/V1 series. You don't need a DSLR to make great images and if you want to go light - then go light.

I have a D7000 that I sometimes carry around with just one lens, either the 35mm f1.8G or the Tokina 12-24. Depending on what style of photography you like, both can be practical. Alternatively the Tamron 17-55 f2.8 might be a good choice, I do not own it, but everyone that owns it seems to think it is a great lens (and it has quite a practical zoom range for most purposes).

Thank you tcole1983 & msmoto. I'm still learning and while reading I just found out that 50mm on a DX equals to a 75mm.

I will definitely try out the 35mm. Don't think I can afford the f/1.4 yet though.

I don't have the kit lens since I saved about $100 by getting the body & the 50mm f1.8G

If this is the only lens you have..fine. If there are choices...I would definitely go with a wider lens like a 35mm f/1.4 or 24mm f/1.4. Maybe a 28mm f/ 1.8... The normal lens on a D7000 is between 24 and 35mm dependent on one's preference. The 50mm is a short telephoto and will not allow a lot of scenic shots.

I would take a zoom instead if you have one. Gosh I would even say the lowly 18-55 of 18-105 kit lenses. Unless you like using primes I have found they aren't very good single lens options on trips. Especially on DX I personally would use something more like the 35 if I HAD to take a single lens, but out of what I have I would take my 17-55 F2.8.

To me the 50 would be too long if you are inside. 35 would give you a wider angle for outside to capture the whole structure or inside to get more of the room. It also focuses pretty closely and would be good for food shots. Ultimately I think a zoom would serve you better...bump the ISO a bit if you need to, but I think the flexibility of the zoom would win over a single fast prime for a travel situation.

Going to a trip to Japan for honeymoon and thinking of carrying a D7000 with just 1 lens (lightweight traveller).
Most photos will be of the scenery (temples mostly) and probably food and goodies I come across with minimum use of flash. Oh and of course me & the wife. Will a 50mm f1.8G be good enough?

Thanks!