@**DCLEW2,
.MRW can be edited by many other programs: there is a Photoshop plug-in + Raw Shooter etc... Speaking for myself, I will not be buying the Alpha 100, I will wait for the replacement fot the 7D. It should come out early next year.

Charles**

it's working - you just have to turn on yourself counterclockwise 5 times, jump on your camera 3 times, throw your best lens at your better half and say 'OPEN SESAME' out loud!!!

For how much longer?

don't I remember that someone told me Tedz was banned for complaining that the site was too slow and that the people who run it might not be that competent?

If I might contribute my 1.5cents worth:

1. The D200 is clearly the better camera especially because of
   (i) the bigger+better sensor
   (ii) the weatherisation
   (iii)  the much improved auto-focus.

What is more, as mentioned above, the D200 will surely become substatially cheaper in the next few months as:
(i) other companies bring out models with the same 10MP sensor - Pentax and surely Sony?
(ii) Nikon brings out a replacement for the D70/D70s that surely will also use the same Sony-made 10MP sensor that shoulod become the industry standard, as the 6MP sensor in the D70 was until now (except for Can*n of course). My guess is that a D70s replacement will be anounced at Photokina (late summer).

Therefor, you must ask yourself to what extent you really NEED a better camera than your D70? IMHO, the 6MPs are perfectly adequate for amateur use, for RR & for prints up to A4 at least.
I would therefore go for the new glass (according to your needs/desires but I would only buy the really good+expensive models so that you will be able to go on using them with your better camera when you do trade up.

Sorry for going on at such length (professional disease I'm afraid)

Yours,

Charles

Allways flattered to be included :-))

Kort, I think you have found the basis for a whol series - I would be interested in seeing what you would create if you tried to make say 5 pictures, rather than finding a 'best one'.

C.

most honoured to be chosen  :-))

Dear modesty - don't go! This site is already bleeding too much talent!

sorry if I decline to get involved with this whole argument, I would just like to thank Doug and Danob for all their work - this work is one of the reasons I keep coming back to RR :-))

v impressed - 2 of my friends are getting D200s - I will have to figure out a way of borrowing their cameras - lol

1600x1200

you beat me to it Kort, I was just about to post the link myself - the purpose of the survey is not to re-hash the eternal RAW vs Jpeg argument (RAW wins of course) but is concerned with the idea of 'open raw' - that is that there should be one single raw format shared by all and open to all software developers as oposed to 'closed' formats (eg: Nikon) where camera manufacturers not only use a their own formats but also try to prevent others from producing conversion software.

I am amazed at your restraint :-)

Wonderful news - best wishes to you all - Charles