Best value for your money

After owning a Canon G-1, then a 10D and a 20D, I decided to switch back to Nikon due to overall quality and lens sharpness of Nikkor lenses. I was a Nikon man all my life (I am 62!). THe Canon 20D was quite good, but all Canons seem to have problems with accurate flash exposures. The D-200 was right on with the pop-up flash and the SB 800 is just perfect. I own he 18-200 ED VR and use it as my main lens. It is very sharp and the focus is right on. I also have a 105 VR Macro and a Sigma 80-400 for nature and sports. I should have bought the Nikkor 80-400 or if I could afford it the 300mm with a 1.4 extender. But it is too late now.

It has been my experience that I post process everything image. I had to USM the Canon images just as I do the D-200's. I like to control how the image looks in Photoshop. It is very important to learn how to use the camera! Most people will never use all the available features.

As I shoot weddings, I have found that the whites are not blown out at all. Many pros are using it as their prime camera even tho they may have the D2Xs.

I never shoot RAW as I don't have the time to mess with it. So far I am able to get a decent 16 X 20 print without a RAW file. I also crop a lot. Learn to expose correctly and to read the histograms! They are there for a reason.

Yes, there are better cameras out there. Canon's 5D is superb and Canon's 1DS Mk II is great. But most people don't have $8,000 to spend on a body. The D-200, therefore represents the best value for your money in my opinion. And the D-300 or whatever will have further refinements that you will not want to live without! <BIG GRIN>