AkitaSam

If you can afford a dSLR then get one, it will give you more options for the future. With the lenses you indicate they are good lenses but slow, meaning they require a good amount of light to take action shots. You would be pushing it to get good results if you were taking action pics inside (low light) forinstance, with them. For normal everyday shooting they are fine. Nikon, Canon, Pentax ... it doesnt matter as they are all pretty much the same ... Nikon and Canon have the biggest range of lenses though. An SLR will last for years and you can add or upgrade lenses (new or second hand) as money permits. As for the operation entry level SLR's are no different to use than compacts, both are very user friendly, but SLR's are infinitely more flexible. SLR's also have optical viewfinders (much better) where compacts are generally CTV electronic (bad by comparison to optical) At the end of the day any good camera, compact (SLR style) or true SLR (changable lenses), will take good pictures if you use it right. Hope this helps.

If you have the K100D then you have 3 Auto Options if you are unsure using manual modes. My wife recently upgraded her Pentax istDS to the K100D, it may be an entry model but its a darn good camera capable of very good images, and it has image stabilization built in too! On your selection dial (top left) You will see the 'Auto Pic' and 'SCN' indicators. You also havea string of settings like TV and AV ... on the other side of the dialto those you have Icons Option 1. The Icon for 'SPORTS MODE'is the one that looks like a football player kicking a ball. If you turn the dial to this it will display in the LCD on the back that 'SPORTS or MOVING OBJECT MODE' is selected Option 2. Turn the dial to SCN ... this stands for SCENES MODE. ... on the back of the camera is the 4 way controller, under this is a button called 'Fn' press this and then press OK in the centre of the 4 way controller. You can now sellect one of 8 different 'scenes modes' ... There is one for Moving Kids ... and one for Moving Pets Any of these 3 options will give you higher shutter speed defaults as an AUTO setting. Hope that helps.

Im sure you will love it !!!! ... lol But remember, on your D100 your 80-400mm acted like a 120 - 600mm, but its now going to be just 80-400mm on the Full frame D3. .. lol .. but its not going to matter But boy your wide lenses are going to be even WIDER !!! ...

Hey collie_lover The Guy in the store is a complete idiot!!! ... typical salesman The Nikon D80 is an unbelievable camera and has recieved nothing but prais from those who know best. It is one of the best you can get without going for an expencive Pro camera. So relax, you have a camera that is one of the very best, if not the best in its class, period! With the D80 you can also use many of the older Nikon lenses, some of these are just incredible, but they are old. You can get imaculate ones s/h for very good prices. The D80 will take ANY and ALL new lenses from any of the 3rd party manufacturers, Sigma, Tamron and Tokina ... these are the main 3rd party brands. As with ANY lens from ANY manufacturer there is good and bad, so its best to read up on some good lens reviews and make a choice. I'll include some for you that are very good! The lens you speak of is a PRO level lens, very big, very heavy. All PRO lenses from Nikon or Cannon are quite expencive but they are designed for pro's who's income depends on getting that shot. If you can afford it .. go for it, it has a remarkable review! If you do want a long Nikon lense you could look at the Nikon 80-400 VR, it also has very good reviews from the Pro's, but it is a slower lens than the 300-400VR but its a 1/3 of the price new and around $1200 second hand. The Nikon 70-200mm VR F2.8 is a killer lens @ $2700, but again its a Pro Lens, built like a tank, so they costs more. The Nikon 80-200mm F2.8 (non VR) is every bit as good as the one above, but its only $1100 New and around $700 S/h The Sigma 50 - 500mm is around $1500 The Sigma 100 - 300 F 2.8 is around $3000 If you want a long lens you cannot go past the NIkon 300mm F4 @ $1400 new. its a prime lens meaning its not a zoom. For ultra sharp and contrasty pictures you cannot go past a prime lens unless you want to spend thousands and thousands. If you want a long range zoom and VR ... the Nikon 70-300 VR II is only $600 new, and the images are very very sharp! It also has the newer VR Mk II ... giving 2 levels of vibration reduction. THis site has Nikon and 3rd party lens reviews. It doesnt cover every single lens availiable as they test them then post the results. Just scroll down till you get to Nikon Lenses. http://www.photozone.de/reviews This is a very good site too ... http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/70-300-vr.htm Just go into the search at the top of the page and type in the lens your looking at (Nikon) This is one of the best ... http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html He only realy covers Nikon, but he reviews New and Old lenses. But there are many good review sites on the net, just search for the lens your looking at. Remember EVERY 3rd party lens is made for all the major camera makes. But really the thing with lenses is to work out what you would like to shoot, and how serious are you about doing it. If your going to shoot wildlife in natural settings and want your pics published in magazines then you would buy a $7000 lens that is desinged to do the job, and take a bit of rough treatment, snow, ice, rain ... mud ... lol this is what your paying for, optical excellence and solid as a tank build quality. But again, ALL PRO LENSES ar BIG, HEAVEY and EXPENCIVE ... even 3rd party Pro lenses! If you want to take excelent portraits then a Nikon 85mm F1.8 cannot be beat for around $400, or, a Nikon 50mm F1.8 for around $140 So, have a think about what it is you are longing to do and i'll point you in a couple of directions to look at. Hope this helps a little, and again ... relax, you have an incredible and beautiful camera in the D80! Tony.

From what I understand we here in Adelaide are still waiting for the first shipment, and ... lol ... that shipment had already been sold in advance Its a great camera from all the reviews and is going to kick Cannon of its perch in the Sports photography area But the D3 is a high end Pro camera and will not take better images unless you do your bit too, in fact cameras like these can indeed create more problems than solutions for those you dont know what they are doing ... but i'd still love one, and a D300 to keep my D200 company ... lol ... ;) Hey, Collie_lover ... what are you talking about saying they 'aint compatible with other brands' ??? ... please explain Nikon is very good gear, and yes Nikon lenses (Pro glass) are expencive ... but no more so that all other Pro lenses of any other brand. All the 3rd party lens makers make lenses for Nikon too, and at the same price as those they make for other camera makes. So what are you refering too? Same goes for accessories too, everyone makes the same stuff, at the same price, for Nikon, Cannon, Pentax ... all the major camera makers. With lenses look at second hand Nikon gear, you can get some incredible bargins for some very good glass (unless you have the D40x then older lenses will only opperate in maual focus)

One year allready dear Sam, oh how we all miss you boy. For you ... with love. ... http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=1469e...ium=image"

Dear Sam Its been 3 months without you. I don’t know how we are getting through this and unsure how much more we can travel this road with out you by our sides. It seems to get worse as more time passes. We all miss you so very much. You were such a special boy. I wish i could just hold you once more in my arms and burry my head in your fur, I wish for so many things that are impossible. We love you Sammy. xox

Thank you so much for your kind words

So sorry for your loss RIP little Sox and say hi to my Sammy.

We are so sorry for this happening to you and your loved ones. I am sure they are taking care of each other now. RIP sweet babies.

Be at piece Chance Sorry for your loss.

They are all playing and waiting for us to join them one day. RIP sweet baby.

We are all very sorry for your loss, we know how difficult it is. It is a very hard decision to make but its the right one for them, we are the ones left in pain now. Susan Tony Kim and Kado

Thank you Bonniebank Imagine a place without love and bonding, this place has no pain of loss or sorrow to feel. Are you happy knowing that you will never hurt, so deeply in this place you never need to heal. Imagine a place without love and bonding, how cold and lost my soul would be. My heart would ache more without loving, than the pain I now feel for setting you free. For everything we love there is a price, a price we will certainly all pay one day. But would you swap every moment you shared, with your loved one, to escape the dismay. I for one would not as those moments are forever, they span time and the Universe just waiting. One day we too will be moments for someone, and while they grieve for us we will be united …..with our past loved ones, like you Sam. Author, your loving family.

Unbelivable DS!!! ... we are having the same problem. This morning we saw the Mozzie's hovering neer his back leg and then he flinched and started biting his leg and scratching.