Nikon D80 (with 18-135mm lens)

Pros: Versatility, Easy to Use, Fantastic Image Quality, plus tons of other features not mentioned

Cons: Still trying to find one. Simply a great camera

Summary: I was looking at this camera for several months debating to buy this or a Canon EOS. I have owned previous Canon camera products and thought I would only ever own a Canon camera. Once I tried out the Nikon D80 in my local camera store I knew then I was hooked. I tried the Nikon D40 (Too small for me) and a comparable Canon EOS. The D80 has the perfect balance and is ergonomically perfect in my opinion. Sure it is slightly larger and heavier than the EOS, but it feels the most solid. All the buttons are well thought out. I purchased the Nikkor 18-135mm which is actually a 18-144mm when tested and Nikon could have easily sold this lens as a 18-145mm if they wanted to but they didn't. This is a very nice, but rare situation where the lens actually has more zoom than listed. I have absolutely no complaints about this kit lens. I use a 67m screw-on circular polarized filter with the 18-135mm and it works fantastic with it. The 18-135mm lens has actually been indicated to be sharper than the 18-200mm VR which is about 2x-3x more expensive, but the VR is a very nice feature to have. I also recommend the 70-300mm also for more zoom power. With the 18-135mm, any distortion of any kind if any is so minimum it is hard to see, at least with my lens anyway. I highly recommend this camera and lens to start with. The 18-55mm just isn't strong enough to satisfy my zoom needs for everyday shooting, but the 18-135mm covers it plus a little extra as a everyday lens.

This IS the BEST camera I've ever owned hands down.