blaise1

<p>I like what Shash said above. Digital cameras are great and are reaching a technological point where they don't need to be upgraded to increase quality much. Likewise, my dad's Leica M3 is a lot of fun and leicas can be had used for quite cheap these days. Isn't it wonderful that we can take pictures with all of these things.<br>

But... after looking through this whole thread I'll suggest the usual internet forum comment: "just go out and shoot."</p>

<p>Hi Freddie,<br>

I would like to give a plug for the 180 2.8.</p>

<p>I recently bought the 180 2.8 slightly older non-D version (nearly identical to the D) from KEH. It is a small fraction of the cost of the 70-200 VR and I must say the condition rating from KEH was very conservative. I am very pleased with my purchase.</p>

<p>You seem to be most concerned with the weight, size, and cost of the 70-200. The 180 is much better in all those regards (compare the specs). And, you seem to be most interested in using the lens for dance and in general if there are any shots you may want a smaller field of view for. VR may not be that useful for moving dancers in low light ( I have never used the 70-200) and with the 180 you still get 2.8 max aperture. The only thing you give up is the ability to zoom-in closer and some AF speed. Think about what you really want to shoot and decide if most of the things will be shot using the long range around 200mm without needing to quickly switch to a shorter focal length. If that is the case then I think you will be more than pleased with the 180 and the money you saved.</p>

Thanks for all the responses. The sb-800 is appealing because it is much more versitile than

a ringflash but I still would like to have a ring flash. Although many orchids don't need 1:1

magnification, there are many different types of orchids and many of the ones I take pictures

of are very small (needing 1:1). I am thinking of starting out getting the sb-800 because it is

so useful for other sorts of photography and I can use it off the camera to take close-ups. If

I'm pleased with the results it gives in the macro world I might not need a ring flash. Perhaps

a longer focal length macro lens or a nikon i-TTL ringflash will be something for the future.

Does anyone have experience using the Sigma 140 DG with the D70s or can anyone point me

in the direction of some pictures using this set up? Thnks for that suggestion.

Hello,

I just bought a D70s. I mostly take pictures of orchids. I have a N90s and 60 2.8 micro lens

that I used with a Sunpak DX-12R ringflash with excellent results. When I got my new digital

camera I was both dissappointed that TTL options of ringflashes are not compatible with

these new nikon digital cameras and extremely impressed with the accuracy of the colors

reproduced with the built in i-TTL flash. Does anyone know if Nikon is planning on

introducing a new ringflash that will be able to do TTL or i-TTL or something similar? Or, are

there other flash options that would work very well for up to 1:1 reproductions? Thanks.