Help with digital SLR choices

[lastlight]

I own the d80 and borrow the 105VR from time to time. It's takes the most amazing portraits and is very sharp. Yeah it crops on my body but I've taken some really nice macros with it as well.

[Skimmin]

Cool. Well thanks for all the response thus far. An SLR is a big decision for me and I want to make the right choice. I think I'm beginning to lean away from the 18-200 and I think I may consider the 18-70 and 70-200 even though it means hauling around 2 lenses. I think the body is still the biggest decision. I want something that feels good and not too 'plasticey' which I don't think I'm gonna run into with these choices. I think the D700 is probably what I may go with but I guess I'll see if I can give a few of them a try before I buy them. Another question is... UV filters? I know its always good to use one if nothing else to protect your lens. What should I take into consideration when buying one for a telephoto (for scenery) and one for more close up stuff?

[sphelps]

You should go something else instead of the 18-70 if you get the D700 like the 24-85, the 18-70 is a DX lens. Don't spend that kind of money on n dslr if youre worried about carrying lenses around

[Ian]

I am releative newb to DSLR and was given a D80 as a gift a year ago. It is still smarter than I am IMO it is a very good camera and more than enough if you are not very advanced.

[vessey]

I think those bodies might be more then you need and you would probably be better off buying a cheaper body and some good lenses. Buying a full frame camera is only really needed if you want to take scenery shots and can't have the cropping that a APS would cause. APS are also better for cropping because they have more MP by area. D90 has 12.3 MP on a 23.6mm x 15.8mm ASP, D700 has 12.1MP on a 36mm x 23.9mm full frame sensor. Also don't get hung up on the fx and dx lenses unless you plan on going full frame later on because they make some good dx too. If you did get the D700 get the fx though.

You could always buy a cheaper body now and learn with it then decide what you think you need that it doesn't have and buy a better body a few years from now. They are constantly coming out with newer and better, I cringe when I think about home much I paid for my cameras 2 and 3 years ago and how obsoliet they are.

[fkshiu]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1

You'll be happy with either Canon or Nikon. Both companies make very good products. I went with Canon simply because I could mooch lenses off of a good friend who shoots Canon.