I use two prime lenses almost exclusively: one is a 50mm and the other is a 28mm. Both are Nikkor lenses. I'd definitely advise sticking with Nikkor, other brands are okay, but will not give you the sharpness and clarity that a Nikkor lens will give you. Look for a good 70-300mm zoom lens as well, if you don't have a zoom, you'll wish you did.

I love Fuji's digitals. I really wish they focused more on their DSLRs, but I do know that their DSLR bodies are compatible with Nikon's lenses.

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You know, the homeless make desperate, passionate lovers. But they will rob you blind.

Fuji bodies are compatible with nikon lenses. The guy across the street from me uses that combination.

My fuji pocket camera is the greatest(finepixf20). It has this text setting that is amazing. Here is a photo I took while a bit tipsy with no effort in a dark dingy bar-its not a compositionally correct picture, but you can see the potential of the camera...

Ritz has both the d80 and d60 in stock, so I think I'm going to go test both of them this week.

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The body is not as important as the lens on it. A D70s is more camera than you will need as is a D80. The newest bells and whistles are just fluff to a point. Get a used camera body and a good NEW lens to start with. I have a D200, a D80, a D70s among other camera's and unless your really looking to do large enlargements or real commercial studio stuff these camera's are fine. Now for fun check out a Phase 1 camera... real studio machine that!

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"i live my life in the city"

Holy heck-that lens is more than the camera!

I want to crawl before I runhehehe

Maybe if I buy the lens I will be as good as mpenn, though. Eh, who am I kidding. The same philosophy didn't work when I bought $200 nike running shoes.

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Magellan2's prescription:
ATTENTION ALL READERS...
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HOLY $%^%&!!!!

Calumet is selling the backs of the phase one camera for 20-30k!

The actual cameras have no price-I guess if you have to ask, don't even bother!

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Magellan2's prescription:
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One more question and i'll leave you guys alone!!! Probably not.

Here's the mother's day sale. I can get a d60 with 2 nikon(nikkor)lenses for $750. It includes an 18-55 and a 55-200.

The d80 deal includes one nikon(18-55) and one quantaray lense(55-200) for $899.

I looked at the specs right next to each other on dpreview, and they are almost exactly the same-except for the autofocus...d60 has 3pt focusing, d80 has 7(I think).

Any final thoughts before I pull out the amex? I guess besides the lenses I'm asking if, as an amateur, I would knowingly miss features that are on the d80.

Thanks!

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Magellan2's prescription:
ATTENTION ALL READERS...
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That's a tough one

I might pick the D60 package.

I would not get the Quantaray lens if I were you. Those are the ones that offer less clarity than the Nikkor lenses. A lot of people never notice it, but if you have a discerning eye or are picky, it will bother you.

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You know, the homeless make desperate, passionate lovers. But they will rob you blind.

I agree, but didn't know if they got any better since I was in college. I always thought that picts taken with a quantaray looked a little fuzzy, but through the years salespeople have always told me that the lenses are basically the same-so I thought it was something I was doing wrong.

__________________
Magellan2's prescription:
ATTENTION ALL READERS...
DISCLAIMER: Alesis is a South Street business owner
(keep that in mind when reading his or her responses)