Nikon D3x...Nikon D5000 Whats next?

Hi,
With all these new cameras with seemingly better and newer features, is it necessary to keep up with them? I don't think so and will not do so. A DSLR has numerous and lots of functions that one would take long to master. If you keep changing cameras, you would not spent enough time with your camera to be able to maximise your camera's potential. And hence, you would end up sticking to only those modes on your dial and not move to manual and set it yourself. I'm not saying that those scene selection thingy are not good but having master manual, you would be free to generate whatever type of pictures you like.

FYI: digital ages 25 times faster than humans. Means: 1 human year equals to 25 digital years!! How are you going to keep up with it??!!

Despite saying this, I feel like upgrading my D50 to D40 or D60. I don't mind megapixels. I just want a camera with a bigger screen. (:

So, most importatly, just choose a camera you are comfortable with and stick with it for at least the next 6 years unless it spoils. After that if you feel like spending more, invest in camera lens. They are what really affect your photos the second most. (first being the man behing the camera)And get it right, lenses are not part of the digital world. They are optical technology and their prices would not drop too much if it's good.

Now, there's just those lens that will just let you beat the rest. The fantastic 18mm-200mm and Tamron's 18mm-270mm/18mm-250mm. They are super versatile that covers wide-angle to telephoto.

Nikon has its own 18-200 VR
Canon has its own 18-200 IS
Tamron has its own 18-200, 18-250, 18-270
Sigma has it too 18-200

With all these kind of lens, there's not really and need for more lends unless you are going into photography seriously like me. Another additional lens you can get is the 50mm f/1.8 from nikon or canon. They are cheap and good. Don't bother getting third party for cheap lens. I bought the Nikon 50mmf/1.8 for $170 ++!!

But what if you wanna cover ultra-wide?
Get these:

Nikon 12-24 f/4
Nikon 10-24 f/3.5-4.5
Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 (rumoured to be sharper than nikon's DX wide angles!)
Tokina 10-24 f/4
Canon 10-22 f/3.5-4.5
Sigma 12-24 f/4.5-5.6
Sigma 10-20 f3.5
Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6

What if you intend to cover super telephoto like 800mm? 600mm?
Then I suggest you get these lens. I don't really use up till this range because I simply they shoot them. However, one quote from a famous photographer is that real skill is about getting close to the animal you are shooting and not use a long lens and shoot from far away.

Anyway, if the original camera lens are too expensive for you, you should try the third party lenses. They are just find. I'm using lots of third parties. I use Sigma 18-200, Sigma 70-200 f/2.8, Sigma 28-70 f/2.8 and they are just fine! Next, I'm eyeing the Tokina 12-24 f/4!! It should be great!

bye,
Tyy