I am an Epson lover. If you are going to be doing any black and white printing and some larger format printing, I would start with the R2880 and work up.
I hope you will be using a monopod or tripod while taking these photos. Remember the VR only takes the motion of the camera into consideration and not the motion of the subject. Not knowing the setting on the Tamron, you might have the set the VR for tripod mounting.
Have you checked Amazon.com. I think they already have the camera listed for sale but is on backorder.
I an still using my of 55 micro on my D300 and it is still great. Just programed the aperature into the camera and started shooting. Still gettng great results.
The listed price for this lens s 999.00, but availability is limited. I have seen some listed for 1069+ which is high, but they are available. If I do get one, I will wait till they are ready available.
Being a Nikon shooter and not Canon, I am not sure about some of the options Canon has in camera. I do know on my camera if can go into the white balance option and change the setting manually to solve various lighting settings. I can also go into live view while changing these settings and see the effects.
This sounds more like an exposure problem. Are you not getting enough detail in the bird's feathers? Try stopping down a few f-stops to see what you get.
The light meters in cameras are great, but they are reflected light meters. Off camera meters are multi-function meters. The are incident, reflected, spot and possibly flash meters. This gives a much greater flexibility in your metering options.
Technology is wonderful and should be embraced. All modes of operation on the new cameras should be used and applied as needed. I use manual mode when I think it is needed, but never always. Great photographs can be captured in all modes. Knowledge of the differences in the various modes of the camera is necessary. I would hate to think I missed a great shot by not being familiar with my camera and was trying to figure out just which mode to use.
I have owned both Canon and Nikon. I have owned Nikon's now for over 30 years and swear by them. Granted, they now make polycarbonate body camers, but do make magnesium alloy bodies. The Nikon F was their top line camera. Today's top line Nikons are still metal bodies. You can't expect get the same ruggedness out of Nikon's that are not near the top of the line, metal bodies.
You might also ask the question when the price is much lower, is this one with a USA warranty or foreign warranty. This is a great scam.
The D7000 seems to be a great choice. The D300 is schedule to be replace soon.
Love the first shot. I looks like an old Harkers Island boat. Some of the best built boats around.
I like to concept, but I think you had your white balance set on flash, hence the blue tint.
You didn't say if the filter was a regular polarizer or a circular polarizer. You need to be using the circular polarizer with the D70. I have a D90 and D300 and use the 18-200 with a circular polarizer with no problem.