Well I can't really add much here, esp since I am from the UK and we work in sterling. hehe. I have the nikon 70-300mm G lense for my D70. This is a budget choice I know, but I couldn't resist it for 99 new. It is the budget version of what dbgrafix has (without the ED glass) but still great value for money. But my advice would be of course, if you have the money, spend of much of it as possible :) I would still buy a zoom if I had more money, just for the flexibility really. Mr Seagull above is at 300mm, just cropped.