sopixELATED said:
Thanks for all your suggestions... and to kyoshinikon: so sorry for repeating something that was included in another thread; I'm new to the forum. Please excuse the oversight.
Simply,
sopixELATED

No not at all. You didn't repeat any thing. It is just good to check other threads for answers to your questions as well as asking them :)

I just picked up a slighly-used D7000 with 3k clicks from Craigslist for $1000 and couldn't be happier! New and refurbished D7000s are getting difficult to locate for a decent price.

Thanks for all your suggestions... and to kyoshinikon: so sorry for repeating something that was included in another thread; I'm new to the forum. Please excuse the oversight.
Simply,
sopixELATED

For 1600$, I would go for D7000 + new lens or D90 + even better new lens(es). The D700 is already out of your budget (even used) and with a FX body (D700), you would neeed at least one new FX lens to replace your 18-55 DX lens.

In the end, from D50 -> D7000 or D50 -> D300s or even D50 -> D700, you will notice in all three cases a huge difference. If your reference point is the D50, the biggest difference you will see between the D7000 and the D700 is the price.

Give your D50+18-55 to your little sister and buy the D7000+18-105 kit. And with your 70-300 and 50/1.8, you will have a great set.

For your $1,600 you might as well make as big a leap forward in technology as possible. D7000 is likely your best option at the moment but that moment won't last this entire year.

The D400 should be out this year and it will be a pro DX sensor body, better than anything other than the new D4 and the new D800. If you can wait until the fall of 2012 you may be able to leap all the way to the D400. Also, later this year the D7000 is expected to be upgraded with a D7100.

So I say your best option now is a D7000 (or D700 if what FX offers is of key importance to you but used D700 bodies remain around $2,000 at this time) and if you can wait until later this year your best options will be the D400 and the D7100. Don't buy the D300s now since it is expected to be replaced within a matter of months.

There are many good reviews which provide information and reviewers opinions. Note I said good; not God. No reviewer is perfect, just a source of information and opinion to be weighed and balanced with all the other information you gather and your own observations.

sopixELATED said:
Have read lots of reviews of folks that say the D200 is great and they just can't imagine why Nikon came out with the 300..."cause they were just trying to perfect what was already perfected"

We just discussed "cough cough" that in another thread (D400 replacement)

So what is better and more pro than a D50 (and found for less than $1600)? (Too Old that it isn't really worth not getting newer) D70, D70s, D80, D2x, D2xs. (Old but much better than what you have and worth the price) D200, D90, D300... (New and most worth it) D300s, D7000, used D700...

Ken is a valuable resource but take note not all of his advice is good...

Well the D200 is about 7 years old, D300/D300s is about 4 years old, D700 is 3 years old, and D7000 is still current. I would only consider the D700 and the D7000.

$1,600 is more than enough for a D7000 and would be a huge increase from the D50 and includes the most current system for your budget. If you are coming from a D50, you may want to consider a D5100 as well. It would be still way beyond what you have and is a great camera as well and just doesn't include a few of the advanced features of the D7000. If you need/want a "screw" drive for lenses (D50 has one) you are left with the D7000.

Rockwell... he has some good information. He is better than a CNET but his contradictory advice flows faster than a river down hill. Just like any technology, time dates everything - something "great" in 2010, is now easily be mediocre by today's standards.

Budget for body only... <$1,600 or am I sitting "on a wing & a prayer"?
Looking @ D200, D300, D300s, D700, or D7000?
Have read lots of reviews of folks that say the D200 is great and they just can't imagine why Nikon came out with the 300..."cause they were just trying to perfect what was already perfected"(those were the exact words used in 2 reviews
Rockwell recommends the D7000??? Does he really carry as much weight, in terms of being a pro reviewer, as he used to? I've, also, checked out C-Net... but, the more I read, the more confused I get.
Years ago, I had was a film photog... children & families... too afraid of weddings; now, they don't seem as scary since the digital age.
So, now with my budget out there, and the bodies(not dead ones) I've compared, what opinions do you have?
Again... Much obliged,
sopixELATED &, if you couldn't tell, downright-southern : )

+1 TaoTeJared. Hard to really suggest anything. Just about any body will be an upgrade from your D50. Any body of the D90 will have more pro like features. Just depends on what you need, how much you can spend and if you want the latest technology or not. Any camera will get the job done. Not everyone on here has the newest body and I think even your D50 can probably take just fine pictures.

I have and had several refurbished items. If I had the money there are some pretty good deals on refurbished bodies right now. I think you can get a D90 for like $640...which seems like a steal to me. There are some decent prices on D300 and D300S's. Depends on if you want newer technology though.

Expodisc Neutral Balance Filter - 77mm. All of Nikon's "pro" glass is 77mm so you will not miss with that.

There is a thread on refurbished still on the main page here - resoundingly it is positive.

What is your budget? Everything starts there. "Tight budget" to photographers can mean anything from $300 to $2,000+. It is hard to suggest any camera if we don't know what you are willing to pay.

Have had the D50 since '06; have Nikkor 18-55mm f/1.3-5.6G AF-S, Nikkor 70-300mm AF f/1.4-5.6ED, & Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G AF-S lenses.. so, I've heard from (2) pro photogs that the d200 & d300 can get the "job" done... just as well as the d3 or d7000. I've read so many reviews 'til I'm blue in the face. Just attended workshop where Canon 5D Mark II was used... but, I'm a NIKON girl; I haven't purchased anything other than NIKON, including all (3) point-and-shoot(s) I have. And, I "shutter" to think anyone I know(who has been around me for any length of time) would purchase anything other than NIKON. Also, my budget's tight; I'm, heavily, considering purchasing a Refurb by Nikon through Adorama... if possible. So, with all that in mind, I'm looking to my Nikon peers for advice.
Much obliged,
sopixELATED

BTW... what size Expodisc Neutral Balance Filter would you recommend? ...go ahead with the 72mm or 77mm?