The DSLR question

[mixmastermike]

I made a quick post on my twitter feed soliciting advice on a DSLR purchase.  Shortly afterward I realized this was not something that could be discussed 140 characters at a time.  I'd like to use this post as a discussion ground for my photography savvy friends to give me their advice

Comments

[igorxa]

glad i could help! def keep me posted. remember, a camera body is really only as good as the lens mounted on it. spend your money on glass and you'll never be disappointed. here's a good place for comparisons:

http://www.naturfotograf.com/bestof.html

that list is the best of the best, and most of those are pretty expensive (the 24-70 listed under the zooms is the one i just spent $1600 on), but the link at the bottom that says "lens survey" has a more comprehensive list.

with the exception of the sigma lens i mentioned earlier, i don't recommend (most) sigma or tamron or tokina lenses. they are cheaper, yes, but usually at a price. the build quality isn't as good as top grade nikkors, and usually the optics are not quite as good. there are exceptions and arguments for both sides, and where sigma (not so much the others) really shines is where nikon doesn't make an equivalent lens (the 30mm 1.4, the 150-500mm zoom, etc.).

oh, and i misspoke. i don't recommend the 18-70. the 18-55 mk ii, which is usually the kit lens on the d40 and d60, now comes with vr and is a much better lens than either the 18-70 or 18-105, and only costs about $100. the d90 body only is $1000, so you'd be saving $100-200 over the kit and be getting a better lens. if you think you'll want more reach, the do-everything 18-200 is not bad value for the money.

anyways, i could go on and on for hours. i'll wait till you have more questions.