Ready to buy first lens for D7000

What about the 18-105? Sure, it’s plasticky, not-as-well-built, some might even say, boring… and the 2 mm missing at the wide end do make a difference. But… more reach at the long end, fastest aperture should be about identical, and IQ is said to be only marginally behind. Plus, I’ve heard a lot of complaints about the 16-85’s bokeh.

Probably won’t help you, but a camera gear dealer near me has the 16-85 in stock (as per their website). So perhaps you just didn’t look well enough…
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Pics, or it didn’t happen!