This 3rd generation member of Nikon's mid-range lineup inherits exceptional technology from the D3: superb low noise performance, chromatic aberration correction, stunning 3" display, and more. Its great images and refined features make it a great choice for the serious amateur. Truly, you'll have to go full frame to improve on the D90's image quality.

Incredible feature set, ruggedness, and quality - plus the superb handling and ergonomics Nikon is known for - the D200 was my long-time workhorse after moving up from the D70. Now you can own this classic at bargain used prices. Although it has been replaced by the 3rd-generation D300, which offers a near 2-stop improvement in usable ISO performance, the D200 is still a very capable camera.

To call this full-frame gem a prosumer camera seems demeaning -- it's a superb camera with an extraordinary dynamic range and leading-class ISO performance to 12800. All the superlatives of the D300 apply, plus many more. The AF fine adjustment feature is huge. The D3 and D700 need FX lenses, which adds significantly to cost of ownership. My favorite Nikon ever..

I never warmed up to the 50mm f/1.8 lens on a DX camera, but this one I highly recommend as your "low light" lens on a D300, D90, or other DX camera. It's extremely sharp, even wide open, and focuses accurately in an instant. Very compact -- so you can always fit it in your bag. On a tight budget? Make this your first lens!

This film-era, all-metal pro zoom (originally $1600) is a bargain on the used market and is great for interior, low-light candids. This constant aperture Nikkor is razor sharp even wide open, works with both DX and FX DSLRs, plus is smaller, lighter, and has less distortion than newer ultra-wide pro Nikon zooms. I'm a sucker for wide zooms; this one is terrific fun on my D700.

This is a terrific lens -- it's sharp, has VR that's quite effective, reasonably light & compact, and it works on both DX and FX cameras -- all at a reasonable price. Gives a 105-450mm equivalent on a D90 or D300.

The best of the 3rd-party alternatives to the Nikon 17-55mm lens above. Build quality is no match for the costlier Nikkor, and it's a bit slower to focus in low light, but image quality is extraordinary even wide open. Very light and compact, plus 1/3 the price! Be forewarned that there have been quality problems (e.g., focus errors), so if you buy one, be sure and test it carefully.

This filter has a very effective coating (be sure to get super HMC) that noticeably cuts glare over uncoated ones, yet is attractively priced.

Every serious photographer needs a camera that slips easily in the pocket, and goes everywhere for those times you're without your big guns. I like the 4x optical (15x optical + digital) wide zoom (28-105mm film camera equivalent), big 3" LCD, AUTO ISO to 1600, and image stabilization. Much higher noise than a DSLR, but at least you'll get the picture.

If you bought a Nikon, flash, and 1-2 lenses, now you have the basic equipment needed to take your photography to another level. Well, almost. Next stop: Scott Kelby's wonderful books that are packed full of great techniques to make the most of your new equipment. Read 'em and you'll become a better photographer.

From renown photographer Michael Freeman, this book has both inspiring photos and insightful discussions of how great photographers approach their art. This book stands apart from others as a rare gem in its ability to impart such knowledge with nearly divine clarity.

Eventually your sensor will need cleaning. This low-cost device can direct a blast of filtered air to dislodge dust and particles, and is a safe way to clean the sensor or lenses. Most of the time, this is all your sensor needs to be clean again.

One of the new worlds that digital photography opens is image processing, and Photoshop is the premier software tool for transforming your images into finished works. If you're new to this, start with Photoshop Elements; it gives you most of the essential tools at a fraction of the cost of the full Photoshop suite. Students & teachers -- Adobe has great discounts in this and other Adobe products!

This will surely look out of place here, and I'm not getting one anytime soon, but I know digital nirvana when I see it. This flagship Nikon pretty much defines the state-of-the-art; however, the new D700 is a lower-cost sibling that serves the rest of us well, plus is significantly lighter and more compact. The D3X deserves only the best pro glass (below).

This is a lower-cost, but still tack-sharp, pro-grade alternative to the lens above. Although, it lacks VR, it doesn't have the vignetting problems of the 70-200mm. If your interest is outdoor sports or nature photography, and you use a tripod or monopod anyway, you won't find better.

Test reports suggest Nikon has truly achieved perfection with this design -- it is exceptional without peer (including other brands). 14-24mm is amazingly wide on FX bodies, but still a respectably-wide 21-36mm equivalent on DX bodies.

Give your 70-200mm (or 80-200mm) f2.8 zoom a 1.4x focal length increase (to 280mm) without noticeable image degradation. AF-S function is even retained. A lower-cost alternative that is reportedly also sharp is the Kenko PRO 1.4x teleconverter.