Camera Choice: Or, Why My Camera is My Third Baby

Stacy over at Kraft Family asked a whole bunch of camera-related questions that I am attempting to answer here.  So for those of you who are not remotely interested in my camera (I don't blame you), this post is not for you :).

1.  My camera:  I have a Nikon D80 that I received for Christmas 2006.  It is a DSLR that replaced Nikon's D70.

2. LOVE IT!  Did you get that with the caps and everything :)?

3.  Interestingly, I didn't even choose the camera.  My husband did all the research and completely surprised me with this gift last year.  I also have Canon A620, which is my smaller, non-DSLR, walk-around camera.  Like Stacy, I think I would have been fine with either Nikon or Canon.  However, once you start buying lenses for a DSLR, there's no going back because if you switch brands, everything has to change.

4. I only have two lenses right now: kit lens 18-55 and my trusty 50mm 1.8.  I rarely take my 50mm off the camera.  Super sharp and great low light pictures.  The next lens I want is an 18-200VR zoom.  I really need something longer, so this is next on my list.

5.  The majority of photos on my Flickr page are taken with my Nikon.  (I've got a flickr button in my sidebar.)  I only use my Canon if I'm going somewhere and want to slip my camera in my purse.  BTW Stacy:  you must have a mighty large purse to fit your D50 in there :)!

6.  I LOVE my DSLR.  Once you get used to the new heft of a larger camera and discover the joys of no shutter lag and wide open apertures, it's tough to go back to the P & S.  However, it can be intimidating at first because there are so many things to learn on a camera like this.  I still have many features I never use or that I have to look up again in the manual when I want to use them.  One step at a time :)!