Mark and other kind, patient souls -

Thank you. My wife didn't give me a budget yet. There WILL be one, I'm sure. It is possible that the expense of competently doing this task well will prevent us from doing anything.

I did some reading on the Nikon D50 and the Canon Rebel XT. They seem to be the right idea. The Nikon D70 is considerably more expensive - why?

Should I be concerned about the D50 being "only" 6.0 megapixels?

It seems like the Nikon lenses are somewhat more affordable than Canon lenses. Should I even consider lenses by companies like Sigma or Tamron?

How zoomy do I need to be? There is a kit at Abe's of Maine that has the D50, and 18-55mm and 55-200mm Nikkor lenses for about $750. Will that much lens get me - for instance - a person filling a frame from about 75 feet? Or do I need one of those too expensive howitzer lens things that Dennis Rodman kicks on TV?

I guess I need many massive memory modules, too. And probably an extra battery. And filters. Is Abe's the sort of place I should be shopping? Where else?

And thereby went the HDTV budget.

Thanks again.


bibere usque ad hilaritatem