Electronics Review: Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

What camera do you recommend? This is a question I get all the time, and my answer has narrowed down to just one word: Nikon. I have shot with two Nikon CoolPix models and two Nikon digital SLRs, and I have to say it is my favorite brand. I have also shot with Kodak, Canon, and Olympus, and I still believe Nikon is the best.
Why Nikon? If you have already made up your mind which camera you like (and it isn't a Nikon), please stop, take a few breaths, and think about a few things. First, like Canon and Olympus, Nikon has been making cameras for years. This is a brand professional photographers have relied on with few complaints. Second, look at your choices. Nikon offers low end to very high end cameras... You can't help but assume that Nikon incorporates some of its high-end technology into its lower-end cameras. Assume right. That glass in the front of the camera (the lens) is really what can make or break a camera. Nikon's Nikkor lenses are really amazing. They make an average photographer look like he knows what he is doing (trust me on this one).
So which one? I have recommended CoolPix cameras to friends and family without dissappointment. Nikon's CoolPix line is for the amateur to semi-pro photographer. They are durable, feature rich, and easy to learn. For the semi-pro to professional, I recommend Nikon's digital SLR (Single Lens Reflex) line, which includes the D50 and D70. The D50 was introduced as a lower-cost digital SLR (than the D70), and is a really great camera for around $750. The main difference between the D50 and the D70 is a slightly smaller body and not quite as good of a lens. The D70 (and D70s) run around $900 to $1,100. I really can't say enough about this camera. The D70 is what I currently shoot with and has an unbelievable range of capabilities. A beginner can use the auto settings and get great results while the professional can use the manual settings and get what they would expect from a high-end camera. Both the D50 and D70 are also buildable - new lenses, flashes, remotes, you name it. It is everything you would expect from a true SLR.
Rating: An easy 5 asterisk rating. Go Nikon. *****