Seems my initial response didn't make it to the listserv.

Be careful which Nikon you buy.  As I recall, the D40 does not work  
with non-AF lenses, but the D80 and perhaps the D70s will.    
Actually, I would not use an old lens unless I absolutely had to.   
Many of the lens considered consumer or prosumer in todays market are  
lighter,tougher and have better optics/coatings than those of 10  
years ago.  Very similar to scopes and bins of today.    They are  
designed to match up very well with the new breed of digital camera.

Me?  I use Nikon cameras (D100, D200, D2H) and have an old Nikon F2.   
I shoot wildlife, mostly birds, and rely on an 80-400 VR zoom, 70-200  
VR zoom and 300 f/4 telephoto.  You can evaluate the results at  
http://web.mac.com/rlmader.

An important thing to keep in mind is lens vibration reduction (IS/ 
VR).   If I was starting from zero, I would seriously consider the  
Canon line, not as much for the cameras (I love the way Nikons are  
built and how they work), but the range, quality and cost of lenses.   
Especially if you are thinking mid-range telephoto or super  
telephoto.  All the canons have IS and the selection is excellent.  I  
wish Nikon had as many with VR.   In years past Nikon was the  
undisputed leader in quality lenses, but in most of the reviews I've  
read over the past several years, rarely has Nikon scored high enough  
over the others to warrant the difference in cost.  In some cases  
they don't have the highest score.

  I hate to admit the above, since I am a diehard Nikon user, but  
thems the facts as I see them.

russ mader







On Aug 3, 2007, at 04:50 , danny poet wrote:

> From: Sue Hamilton <>
> Reply-To: Sue Hamilton <>
> To: 
> Subject: [MDOSPREY] Digital SLR recommendation?
> Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2007 04:16:27 -0700
>              Hi Sue and all  just about a year ago  I  bought  the  
> Nikon D 50  6.1  megapixals  with the len kit  18 to 55 zoom  and  
> bought an  extra the  zoom  55 t0 200 with the 2x  teleconverter. a  
> bigger one would be nice     I  bought the camera late last  July   
> they  stopped making  them  just after the first  of the year. If I  
> had known that I might haved waited  for the new  line the D 40 and  
> such  .  But that being said  The D 50 makes some nice snapshots   
> and blow ups to 8 by 10  . I have not tried  any bigger ones . I  
> even Got some shots of birds and other nature  subjects .  It  
> seems  to shoot quckly and no  lag like the digital point and  
> shoots do .  Those miss a lot of shots .  Examples can be provided  
> to those who care to see .


Good luck Sue
Danny Poet
Queenstown, MD



> I have been trying to research Digital SLR's in order to get one  
> suitable for nature photography (I like to be able to do macro  
> photography as well as birds).  The choices seem to be a CAnon EOS  
> and a Nikon D40X or 70.  From what I read, it is harder to get  
> lenses for the Nikon (which is hard to believe.

>   sue hamilton
>   port republic
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles.
> Visit the Yahoo! Auto Green Center.

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