[OceanicCorals-Ian-]

From my experience shooting with both Canon and Nikon, I find that Nikon is alot more accurate for skin tones and warmer colors. Not only are hobbyists using Nikon, but if you look at fashion photogs and landscape photogs most are shooting Nikon. Sports photographers use Canon because of the extremely fast focus tracking system but some of their L series lenses are priced outrageously.

The barrel on the 18-200 lens should be quite stiff and not too loose. If your barrel is loose, contact Nikon because their lenses have a 5yr warranty and they should cover that issue for you. Having said that, most zoom lenses are designed to be shot in a horizontal fashion and not so much vertical so maybe the barrel will slip a bit. I am a huge fan of the 18-200 because of it's versatility. The 18-70 is nice but is limited and at 70 mm I think the minimum aperature is 5.6. Where as the 18-200 at 200 you can step down to 5.6, great for blurring background noise.

I have the 80-200 f2.8 and that is a very big lens to take around. The 70-200 f2.8 VR was not around when I bought the 80-200 or else that would be the best choice for long range telephotos.

Here are my choices for lenses that I would have in my photographic arsenal:

General Lens for Vacation and family/Kids/Pets
Nikon 18-200

Macro photography
105 VR if you have a full frame DSLR

*60m if you don't

* this is because of the 1.5x conversion factor when purchasing an APS size sensor DSLR. If you are using 105mm on anything lower then a D700, the lens is magnified due to the small sensor size and you will be around 155mm macro and that is way too much magnification is you are working in a small room with walls.

Large Zoom Teles:

70-200 f2.8 VR

Prime Teles

400mm f4

Fisheye:

10mm f2.8

Portrait lens:

105mm VR macro.

There are also a lot of really nice old school lenses available as well that the D700 would take.

Can't forget the 50mm f1.4, sharp sharp lens and incredible for low light.

OC.