I’ve used KEH both to buy and sell gear. Their product descriptions on the “buy side” are accurate and reliable, and if anything are a tad conservative... i.e. items graded as “excellent” in many cases are more likely “excellent-plus” on delivery. Orders are processed quickly and are packed securely. Seems like a reputable company based on my experience. Sign-up for their emails and they periodically have 5-10% off coupon offers.

To enhance your Route 66 driving experience and inspire your photography, make sure to get recordings of the “Route 66” songs to play on the road, including the classic Nelson Riddle “Route 66 Theme” orchestral played on the old TV series as well as versions of the rock song “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66” by The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry and Nat King Cole. And hit the sites mentioned in the song: “Well it goes from St. Louis, Joplin Missouri, Oklahoma City looks oh so pretty, You’ll see Amarillo and Gallup New Mexico, Flagstaff Arizona, don’t forget Winona, Kingsman, Barstow, San Bernardino... Get your kicks on Route 66!” I drove cross-country from New York to Phoenix in 2002 and hit parts of Route 66 during my three and a half day drive. Of course, your trip would be especially memorable if you happen to have a 1966 Corvette!

Also, once you find and can read the serial number, you can visit this site to discover approximately when your lens was produced, where it was produced and how many were produced: http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html

...a flashlight will help “light up” the laser engraved serial numbers on the back side of the aperture ring...

The 80-200 D is a classic Nikkor lens that’s made in Japan, built like a tank with excellent image quality...and even includes a built-in metal lens hood. Nikon has been selling this lens since 1997, which is a good indicator that it has withstood the test of time. Compared to the alternative 70-200 G models, it’s significantly less expensive, new or used. I love it, even though it’s slightly slower to auto-focus than the newer 70-200’s, and doesn’t have VR. But in terms of overall build quality and value for the money, I’d go with the classic 80-200 if I had to choose.

Probably makes sense that more basic questions come from newbie Nikon users than Canon, based on the fact (I’m surmising) that Nikon has generally higher brand awareness among beginner photographers than Canon when it comes to cameras and lenses. While Canon is also known as a camera and lens manufacturer, they are also known for copying machines, printers, toner cartridges and even inexpensive pocket calculators. Among the general public, Nikon is known as a camera company — and only a camera company, with an excellent assortment of generally top-rated lenses. And who knows? Anyone who was brought up listening to Paul Simon’s “Kodachrome” is familiar with the “I’ve got a Nikon camera” lyrics in the song, which could have a subliminal effect on brand recall and subsequently a newbie’s selection of a camera system... It did for me.

I love my Df... in fact, I have both the black and silver versions... Love 'em.

35mm

I have the 200-500 and like it a lot. I’ve mainly used it so far on the roof of my apartment building for “supermoon” shots that turned out pretty well. Focus is fast and the VR is great for hand-holding, but it’s a heavy mother. For less than $1,400, it’s an excellent value.

I hit 10,001 shots this morning, and tomorrow I am going to apply for a photojournalist job at Life Magazine!

I have a Nikon D810 and Df, and for landscapes I use the 14-24 f/2.8G as well as the 16-35 f/4G. Both perform amazingly, but the 14-24’s drawbacks are it’s (a) heavy, (b) expensive and (c) impossible to mount a filter to protect its bulbous front lens (unless you purchase the unusual-looking protective lens cover/filter from Fotodiox. The 16-35 is a great lens but it’s a bit long and a little heavy to carry around all day. Both of these lenses are somewhat delicate and have to be handled carefully. My favorite go-to lens for landscapes and all-day use is my old Nikkor 20-35 f/2.8D IF AF Zoom, which is more compact than the other two and is made in Japan and built like a tank, and purchased used costs a lot less.

I'll bet it was Nikonusa.com...

The 14-24 is heavy but it's pretty versatile, and is great for both shots of dog close-ups and tall buildings...

I’ve been using the 28-300 FX on a Nikon Df for over two years with amazing results. Me lens is sharp with fast focusing, great color rendition and excellent image quality... even extended to 300mm. I’ve seen no vignetting at wide angle shooting. The only downsides are it’s weight, which is a little heavy for carrying around all day, and lens creep when I carry the camera face-down. But overall the 28-300 is a very versatile all-purpose lens for a wide range of shooting situations from street photography, portraits and landscapes to shooting birds and airplanes. Given the lens’ flexibility, it’s a very good value for the money. Have you downloaded the latest firmware update for your D600 to eliminate vignetting?

You can’t go wrong with a Nikon Df camera... pretty much can handle any lens Nikon ever produced, including pre-Ai lenses going back to the 1970’s.