Nikon D80 Body only 10.2 Megapixel

I did extensive research when I decided to purchase a DSLR as an upgrade to my extended zoom point and shoot camera (Kodak P850). I owned Pentax film SLR's in the past so I was considering the K10D. I also was intrigued by the Sony A100 and the new Nikon D40X. The Sony and Pentax both had in-body shake reduction systems which is a great advantage as it works regardless of the lens you may use. The only REAL way to tell which camera is for you is to handle them.

I strongly suggest going to a local camera store to hold these cameras in your hands and see how they feel. You can purchase it on e-bay as I did and save a bundle, but DO NOT buy a camera you have not actually handled. I was surprised to find that the Sony, while well priced and feature laden, did not feel right when I held it as the shutter release was not where my finger expected it to be. The D40X was a little too small for my hands. The Pentax K10D was simply unavailable to try! The D80 felt just right. Even though you must purchase VR lenses to get the shake reduction feature, the quality of the Nikon and the vast array of features it offers made my decision easier. The on-line reviews confirmed my choice and I appreciate having a camera and a system I can grow into. A DSLR mainly consists of a quality sensor, ergonomically correct functions and a system of LENSES! Nikon has been world renowned for the quality of their lenses for the past 50 years. I feel that 10 mp is more than I will ever need and I am extremely satisfied with the images this camera creates.

That being said, the software that comes with the D80, Picture Project 1.7, is crap. Go out and buy Photoshop Elements (under $100) for your imaging needs.