Sorry, but that may not be true. When I got my D5300 a couple years ago, my old Nikon SB-10 flash was not listed in the manual's compatibility charts. So I contacted Nikon, who advised me not to use that flash with the D5300: its current or voltage may not be compatible with the newer DSLRs, and may damage them.

16.76 meters focal length, f/3.3 fixed aperture, but the downside was the camera had only a 0.000001 megapixel sensor (a 1x1 pixel "array", state of the art for early 1980s infrared digital).



It was not hand-hold-able, or even on a tripod. In fact, it had a whole observatory built around it: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hale_Telescope>.

But nowadays I have to settle for a 900mm, f/7.9 Newtonian reflector on my DSLR, using a tripod.

You canceled while I was composing my reply above!

Nobody in my group got sick, and we had no crime issues during five days there, including my 87 year old mother (her father came from Durango, Mexico). My 93 year old father chose not to go, which is also fine.

Speaking the language and having a local contact are great advantages. You will want to follow all security advice of your local contact.

I went there for a wedding in my family last August (2016). The bride's family gave plenty of specific advice beforehand; we stayed in one of the hotels they recommended and had a great stay there. My mother and sister stayed with the local family with no problem. We did not have a lot of time for sightseeing, but did make it to Teotihuacan and Our Lady of Guadalupe church with a hired local guide. Both had many great photo opportunities. We also enjoyed the Saturday art fair at the Plaza de San Jacinto in San Ángel near the wedding church, but asked permission before photographing any artwork.

The bride and groom made us a travel guide that you might find useful: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7aMBoc_E2ECeUVhSmhRc3E0ekk/view, if it is still there. See "What to Do" and "Travel Tips" sections in particular. I was surprised to see the locals considered Uber fairly safe; we used it to get from our hotel to the airport at the end of our stay. Look into what to do to get your cellphone to work in Mexico. Also let your bank know ahead of time if you will be using your credit or debit cards in Mexico City. I told my bank I would use my credit card there and it was never a problem. I did not mention my debit card, and it was rejected everywhere I tried to get cash.

I was happy with my Nikon D5300 and 18-55mm kit lens. 18mm went wide enough for me (crop sensor) and I did not miss my telephotos. I did not bring any other lenses or a camera bag, but I did change out the factory strap with its bright yellow "NIKON" lettering for a plain strap. I regret not bringing my fast prime lens to have at the wedding in the centuries old church (founded 1596), and I regret not bringing my camera to the reception (I used the cellphone camera in both places). I can not advise about night photography; ask your host(s) what they recommend.

August was a bit rainy, but not a problem for getting around. Remember, Mexico City is at a fairly high elevation, you may not feel very energetic if you have lived in Miami a long time. The sun can be very intense at that elevation; you may want a hat for protection if your hair is thinning as much as mine is.

Above all, have a great trip!

With my wife, I just tell her I am still experimenting with my new camera, and want to test white balance, flash, lighting, composition, or whatever; I need a live model and she happens to be present. I only share the posed pictures with her and others, but I have been gathering lots of candid shots that way. I have not reached "way later" yet

Excellent advice! And so sorry for your loss. It is very kind of you to share such important advice during your grief.

This is the kind of experience that brought me back to photography (amateur/hobby). In 2013, a few months after our 30th wedding anniversary, I brought my wife to the hospital emergency room with what I thought was severe dehydration; she was admitted to intensive care with a life-threatening staph infection. She has since made a 100% recovery, but by her side for 16 days of intensive care and months of recovery, I realized the last photos I had taken of her were from 1987, when our son was born.

Now I have a D5300 with a couple kit lenses, and my old Nikkor 50mm and 135mm prime lenses have become moderately good portrait lenses (the 50mm goes to f/1.4), albeit manual only (the way I learned photography). My wife is now my number one model. And I photograph our son, when I can see him. My parents, too. It turns out there are many loved ones to photograph in my life currently.

Please take photos of your loved ones while you can!

That should be "... not far east of Sisters ...". Sorry for the ambiguity in the original.

I second Highway 138 (I grew up in Roseburg). Check the roadside viewpoints, too; there are some spectacular rock formations visible from some of them.

If going down to Roseburg (to 138), take the MacKenzie Pass highway (if open, I forget the number, Sisters locals can tell you how to get to it). Large lava fields, with narrow road cuts (through the lava rock), scenic views of the Three Sisters mountains. It can also be done out and back in about a half day from Sisters.

138 also leads to the north entrance to Crater Lake NP, either via US97 to the east or I-5 to Roseburg to 138 in the west. But call the park first to see if the north entrance is even open. Most of the year it is closed due to deep snow. The south entrance is much, much farther from Sisters. If you do get to Crater Lake, there is a 33 mile road around the caldera, with many different views, worth taking (if open).

Very photogenic, not far east of there, is Smith Rock State Park, near Redmond. Hiking trails all over it, usually many rock climbers from all over the world.

If you like bridges, this one is not far from Sisters: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crooked_River_Railroad_Bridge>. If you go to that one, you might as well catch this one, too: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crooked_River_High_Bridge>. Just about anywhere on the Crooked River looks like the gorges shown in the bridge links.

If you like lava fields, but MacKenzie Pass is closed, just south of Bend is the Newberry National Volcanic Monument <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newberry_National_Volcanic_Monument>.

Have a great trip!

You have received many good answers that I agree with. Your 18-200mm lens covers a decent range; have you thought of taking sample photos with it strictly at 50mm to see how you like it, or if you can determine what is missing that a prime 50mm might have?

I have a Nikon D5300 and an old prime 50mm f/1.4 lens that works with it (entirely in manual mode). The only thing the prime has that my 18-55mm does not have is a wider aperture, and I find I only use it for portraits and never for landscapes, cityscapes, architecture, etc. (I am neither a professional, nor a very good amateur). If I wanted a faster prime lens for landscapes, I would pick a much shorter focal length for the wider field of view.

My 50mm f/1.4 was very handy decades ago with my 35mm film format FM. It was the only lens I took to university in Germany (Stuttgart) and for travels around Europe. If I had to pick a faster prime lens than my 18-55mm, I would consider Nikon's 35mm for those kinds of travel with my DX format D5300. But my 18-55mm does such a good job I just take it now for travel or general use, most recently including a trip to Mexico City and its environs.