So i've been wanting a Dslr for a while now. I've been using a film slr (nikon n2000) and a super zoom digital canon s1 is for a while. I'm getting really fed up with 1 paying for film/development as well as the limits of the canon (slow to focus and very very hard to properly focus on close ups) as well as just its limits in terms of blowing pics up, etc.

So for a new digital slr i was looking at the d80 and d200. obviously being a student cost is an issue, that being said the highlights of the d200 in my eyes are the improved weather sealing and more rugged body, as well as the bulb setting ( not sure if d80 has this). I probbably will make use of the faster 5fps but its not esp necessary.

i have played around with both recently and either one feels fine in my hands, the weight is neglietable to me etc.

my main question is being new to DSLR and the fact that i try to do very little post processing except for the very best of my photos, which one is actually going to be better?
Also learning that Nikon is putting the 10.2 mb sensor in the new d40x thats comming out. is this making the d200 really obsolete?
And are the reasons I feel the d200 are stronger really enough reason to spend the extra cash?

i guess you also need to know that i shoot mostly nature shots, esp close ups, scenery etc. I am pretty rough on my camera equipment, carrying it backpacking and with me doing field work etc. (i'm a biology grad student doing a herpetology study in Kentucky, i spent last summer in Utah doing research and got sand everywhere etc). and that i have a few older nikon lenses but most are not even AF so i;m not sure if they will work on a DSLR ( i bought them off ebay so i'm not sure their exact designations).

I would have said d80,(I'm happy with mine and it does have bulb), until you talked about working in the field with dust. Sounds like the 200 would be a better choice with its more rugged and sealed body.

yeah thats what i'm worried about, i'd rather spend a few hundred more and have a camera last (plus a better camera) than have to buy another in a few years (excluding warrenties and upgrades etc)

i've about 95% sure i'm going to get the d200 but i wanted to see if there was any reason the d80 would be better. sure as in the way photos come out and need post processing etc.

the other neat thing i noticed when playing with them is the automatic bracketing feature, up to 9 shots with d200, thats pretty nifty!

The D200 can do everything the D80 can except the in camera retouching menu.

the D80 can't do everything the D200 can, which makes the D200 a better idea in my opinion :)

There's no way the D40x would make the D200 obsolete, it's aimed at a totally different crowd with a completely different feature set.

yeah, i didn't really mean the d40x would replace the d200 just that technology is progressing so fast i shouldn't buy one of the older models that nikon now offers.