Upgrading, and i need some help

[CS]

I think if you can get it bundled with the 18-140 you'd be better off. It's a good match for the body. Both B&H and Adorama have that for about $1300. 

The 55-300 is not a bad lens, but it's slow to focus, and tends to hunt.  Mine will often go all the way to one end and come back, in order to find focus if it's not pretty close to start with.   For a bit more money the 70-300 VR focuses almost exactly twice as fast, does not hunt,  and it's better made, with non rotating front element and a manual focus override.   

I'd consider getting the camera and kit zoom new, and looking for a used bargain in a telephoto.  Examples of either the 55-300 or the 70-300 (making sure it's the right one, not the cheap G version) can be found at places like KEH.com.  My wife just got a nice clean copy of the latter from KEH for $328.  If you really like the 55-300, it can be had for under $250 like new.

I am mulling over the D7200/18-140 bundle deal, and throwing in a used 70-300 AF-P DX VR form KEH. OTOH, Adorama might make me an offer I can't refuse, although I won't be taking any more Nikon refurbs. I knew better, yet still ordered one, which just shows you how addled one can get.

Can I  assume that the the 70-300 DX you got was the new AF-P model? That 16-80 is just out of my reach now.

[Bill De Jager]

I won't be taking any more Nikon refurbs. I knew better, yet still ordered one, which just shows you how addled one can get.

I did fine with two Nikon body refurbs, but that's a small sample size.  I've also had several Canon refurbs with no problem, except for the one body that had a dead battery (which I'm sure was the reason for the original return).

[David H. Hartman]

The 16-80/2.8-4.0 DX is well out of my reach.

Dave

[Matthew Currie]

I am mulling over the D7200/18-140 bundle deal, and throwing in a used 70-300 AF-P DX VR form KEH. OTOH, Adorama might make me an offer I can't refuse, although I won't be taking any more Nikon refurbs. I knew better, yet still ordered one, which just shows you how addled one can get.

Can I  assume that the the 70-300 DX you got was the new AF-P model? That 16-80 is just out of my reach now.

No, the 70-300 DX we got (actually my wife, not me, to go with her D7200) was the older AFS VR version.  Still a goodly step up in quality from the 55-300, though optically not much different. 

The 16-80 is awfully expensive, and the 16-85 is pretty hefty too.  The 18-140, though not a great deal when bought separately, is a pretty good one in a bundle.

[CS]

No, the 70-300 DX we got (actually my wife, not me, to go with her D7200) was the older AFS VR version.  Still a goodly step up in quality from the 55-300, though optically not much different. 

The 16-80 is awfully expensive, and the 16-85 is pretty hefty too.  The 18-140, though not a great deal when bought separately, is a pretty good one in a bundle.

Thanks, Matthew. IME, KEH gives their gear a more thorough look than Nikon refurbs get. Not only that, they give double the warranty period. Since I have a 12-24 f/4 (if it actually up to the 24MPs of the D7200), I would not really need the 16mm  end of the 16-80 to shoot wide. Well, wide isn't really wide with DX, but you know what I mean. 

[CS]

Okay, the D7200 refurb is heading back to Adorama, and I ordered a new D7200 w/freebies, got a bundle discount on the 70-300 AF-P, got a hood for it (doesn't come with one), and I threw in a Sigma 17-50 f/2.8. Now, I have a new body coming with some decent lenses for24MPs.  Should be here Monday.

[Matthew Currie]

Okay, the D7200 refurb is heading back to Adorama, and I ordered a new D7200 w/freebies, got a bundle discount on the 70-300 AF-P, got a hood for it (doesn't come with one), and I threw in a Sigma 17-50 f/2.8. Now, I have a new body coming with some decent lenses for24MPs.  Should be here Monday.

My uneducated guess is that you're going to be very happy.  Enjoy.