josh_story1

<p>Got some input on this one, just my $.02. I have the D90, upgraded from a D40, and have regular access to a D300.....and the D5000....its a great camera. Get the Tokina 12-24 II, I hardly ever take it off my camera. The best choice after I tried the Tamron and Sigma wide angles out for a week each on my 90. Tokina won hands down. Build quality as good as Nikon, half the price, good for portraits (allows some creativity with them also if wanna go that route due to the perspective options) perfect for landscapes. I also still own the 50mm 1.8, and sad to say, I find its only good [on DX] for portraits/low light "action" shots most of the time. Focal length is too short or too far it seems, which kllls me cuz I love the IQ it delivers, when its possible to step back enough that it fits into the landscape/scenery realm. I really wish it was more versatile... cant seem to justify the 35mm 1.8 AFS cuz of the Tokina, its F4 is enough to get the job done 90% of the time.... works great in my house, just keep a couple lights on when you have your camera in hand lol !! after all the mid range zooms/primes i've had (24mm, 35mm AFD, 50 f1.4, 50 AFS, 85mm, 200mm, 300mm, 18-200, 18-55, 17-55, 55-200, 20-35 f2.8, 24-120mm), I settled on the 28-70, BUT, when I got the 80-200 2.8 (i got the AFD, but you could go to AFS for a couple hundred more) I hardly ever touch the 28-70 anymore. <br>

If i would have known in the beginning of my progression in this hobby that I would wind up switching back and forth between the Tokina 12-24 and the Nikon 80-200AFD nearly exclusively, with my other 2 lenses collecting dust in my cabinet, I could have saved a boat load of dollars!! Just need a micro now......... :-)</p>

<p> I had the Made brand camera armor on my D40 (left the more expensive camera safely at home) in the middle eastern deserts for well over two years. People say alot about the texture of the material collecting/attracting dust, and while it does, it seems to be more prone when the armor is new, and gradually leesens to the point of being a non issue. The dust (only the very finest of particles) collects only in small corners and relief areas on the outside only. My camera accompanied me on a daily basis through countless severe dust storms and such a small amount of dust worked its way past the armor that is was virtually undetectable. I only removed the armor only twice during this near three year period, one of those times it was completely dust free. The other time was during a period where there was a constant level of dust in the air for nearly a month straight (to anyone who hasnt been there, the dust is close to the consistency of talcum powder) and found an astonishingly low amount of very small dust particles underneath, almost none. The armor works exceptionally well at preventing dust from contacting the camera body, and even fends off errant liquid splashes reasonably well. More of a concern should be directed to using zoom lenses in an environment like this. While the armor adds a little bulk, it makes the camera easier to hold positively. You wont loose any precision with the controls, and when you take the armor off, you'll miss the size and added protection. Just thought i'd speak on behalf of this product. It works very well regardless of all the negative assumptions that are floating around the net. </p>