via the lens -
You are making several erroneous "maybe" assumptions here. First of all, your first sentence is quite a head scratcher. If something is broken or difficult for me to learn, you damn bet I'll move on to something else. LR and PS have too steep a learning curve for me. I've watched videos, talked to professionals, ad nauseam with no improvement in uptake. I switched early on from Windows based computers to Macs for the same reason, they are easier for me to navigate. I "believed" in that purchase and am so happy I made the change. Secondly, I don't buy something because I think it will make me a better photographer, I buy it because it fits a need. Film is hard to get, hard to find anything other than Walmart processing around here, hence I moved from the FA to digital. I upped from a Minolta point and shoot to a smaller Leica because I wasn't happy with 4 megapixels. I purchased a Sony P&S because of it's ability to shoot panoramas. Even though I still use the Sony and the Leica, I bought a D90 because I like the ability to change lenses and missed the SLR feel. Finally, I purchased a D7000 because the D90 failed. I was able to purchase two D7000 bodies (new old stock) for less than I paid for the D90 new, and the tutorials, videos and various websites WERE helpful and intuitive. I will use these bodies until they drop. I purchase lenses based on what I like to photograph, not because I think it will make me a better photographer...except maybe in the sense that I can't shoot closeups of softball games from the back fence with a 50 mm...or even a 70-200mm lens. Based on cost ($69 once vs over $100 annually) and information garnered here concerning quality and ease of use, I think it is worth changing.

Thanks so much for the link! Your posts on the "Luminar 2018" thread yesterday were also quite helpful. I've just about decided based on:
1. Having a MAC
2. Comments on the "Luminar 2018" thread
3. Positive comments on this thread; especially from wds0410 and jcwall396.

I will continue to look for responses here and on The "Luminar 2018" thread. A BIG shout out to the Uglyhedgehog community for your thoughtful responses, both positive and negative. It really does help!

Thank you. The butterfly photos are certainly eye-catching. Hope - if I decide to buy Luminar -I will be able to produce images of the same quality!

I see that topic is in today's list on the main photography section. Sorry for the duplication, but I'll leave this here anyway just to see what happens
and read replies on the other post as well.

Lately I've been receiving ads for Luminar. Right now I only use iPhoto even though I have Lightroom and Photoshop (and do NOT understand how to use them - even after many attempts, tutorials and videos). I'm a rank amateur with over 50 years experience taking "pictures" with everything from the Pentax K1000, Canon A-1, and Nikon FA film cameras, various point and shoot digitals and finally graduating to the Nikon D90 and now the D7000 which I love. I know I'm missing out by not using adobe stuff, but they are just too much for this old Luddite. I really don't want to keep paying for something I don't seem to use enough to learn properly. I don't sell photos and only share with friends and subjects (usually of my granddaughter's softball teammates in action), but I'd like to up the quality of what I do without a "too steep" learning curve or a program that changes often or drastically.
If you have experience with Luminar, I'd really like to have your input concerning the quality, ease of use, and effectiveness of the program. It - or something similar perhaps - will be my last editing purchase, so I would be committed to learning how to use it. Any and all input would be welcome, but I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who actually use Luminar regularly.

To everyone in harms way - including (since I see that UH emails come from Miami) the folks at Ugly Hedgehog - be safe and sound. We here in Iowa send our Love...and wish you well.

Nikkor, Hands down. Assuming you will be sticking with the lens for a long while - and since you are still using the fabulous old D80 - I'd save up and get the better quality lens.

But those Peak Design clips don't "render it useless". I use a plate on the lens ring for my 200-500 zoom when I mount to a tripod or monopod and the rig is better balanced and just as secure if the ring is properly attached. If I want to attach a different lens/camera rig with no ring it takes about 20 seconds to remove the plate or the clip which is annoying but does not make it useless. If that extra time is the issue, you'd be better off carrying the camera on the tripod. I know that statement is probably causing some rolling of the eyes, but really, if you are worrying about mounting on a tripod its gonna take time anyway. What's an extra few seconds in a process that probably isn't meant for rapid response shooting? That said, I've heard from a not so reliable source that Peak Design is working on a solution to this problem.

Sorry, in my statement 5 posts above I should have said that my go-to behind the plate lens was an 18-200 Nikon, not 24-200.

I agree with those suggesting that you hold out for the D500; make the major leap instead of the incremental jump. I have two D7000's and dearly love those cameras. When the D7200 came out I looked at it and rented one for a weekend. I'm not a professional, just an advanced amateur...as long as you leave the "advanced" part out. My not so critical eye didn't really see much (if any) difference in quality between the two. I also see little value in using a camera with more than 16 mp unless you are planning to blow your shots up to wall size. My old and not so sharp brain has trouble learning new stuff, so my next leap will probably be when the D7000 thru D7500 series becomes obsolete. My point is, I personally don't see the advantage to learning the D7200 if I'm happy with the D7000 and can wait to upgrade to something exponentially better...if not easier. For more reference, I use my gear primarily for my Grandkids' softball games which are played in every type of light. I put a 24-200 Nikon lens on when behind the plate (one granddaughter is a catcher) and use the 200-500 on the other when I head to the outfield for a different perspective. As I'm sure you know, shooting through a chain link fence is a bear (any suggestions anyone?) but the smaller zoom does an adequate job if I find the right hole in the fence behind the plate. So, my second point is that I also agree with those suggesting you look more closely at lenses than bodies for a cost effective way to improve your images. Good Luck with your choice!

Absolutely LOVE the Peak Design stuff. I have the whole system including both clips, shoulder strap, hand strap and also the PD Messenger Bag. I use the Bag for light walk around only. I didn't find the bag as versatile as I thought it would be, especially for bringing large lenses like the Nikon 200-500 zoom. Everything else works perfectly - as advertised. The clips are strong and easy to release once you get used to them and never accidentally come loose in my experience. Sometimes the clips can get in the way when mounting a camera on a tripod or monopod, but it only takes a few seconds to remove and reattach them. When using longer lenses, I keep a plate mounted on the lens ring to avoid the hassle. Can't say enough good about the utility and quality of the system.

I'd echo what most others are saying; the 18-200 is an excellent value. I still have my D90 but it's put away. I use two D7000's and love them dearly. The 18-200 is always attached to one of them and I can't imagine the D7100 wouldn't be a great fit as well. Good luck with your choices!

Well, that's gonna happen whether it gets stolen during travel or lost during shipment, isn't it?

No/yes. I've not had to because I haven't had to check photo equipment. However, I do have insurance with our household insurance carrier that supposedly covers travel but I've never had to use it. I think the idea of using USPS, UPS, or FEDEX is a good one.

I would guess baggage handlers as well. I just returned from Molokai, one of the least touristed (and most strikingly beautiful) of the Hawaiian islands. I used Kolumbo locks - one of the highest rated I could find. Everything went well until we left Molokai. The airport is tiny, no passenger jets, and only one TSA gate. I watched my checked bag go through screening, watched it be opened and manually searched, and finally watched it get relocked, put on the baggage trolley, and then on the small prop plane. You are so close to the process you can keep close track. When we landed in Honolulu, I watched the bag go on the trolley and in to the inter island terminal. In less than 3 minutes, I was picking my bag off the conveyer. The lock was gone, but nothing else was stolen. The same thing happened two years earlier upon leaving Molokai (yes, I dearly love that place) with a Tumi lock and again, nothing else was stolen. My theory is that some baggage handler for Ohana has a collection of TSA locks that he adds to when he sees new designs or different locks. In my opinion, the TSA folks had nothing to do with the lock theft. I would be very reluctant to check photo gear without great insurance and without carrying the filled cards on my person. I too, would like to know if the person who initiated this string had any suggestions.