Thanks for the resource, it struck me as generally useful and I've bookmarked it. Merry Christmas!

In addition to the many options mentioned here you might also consider the National Geographic "Great Courses" series on photography. It covers basics of exposure in addition to suggestions about equipment, creating photographs under different conditions, different subjects etc. I hope this fits what you were looking for and enjoy the trip.

Thanks but I have one. Good luck with your sale effort.

i'm confused. The last picture is for a 70-300mm. ??

Try this; it's for the D version:

http://download.nikonimglib.com/archive2/HEzFG00Jj7zi02k5hGg06wuiSj75/AF50_1.8D_CH(80_DL)09.pdf

Documentation of the prior version AF 50mm isn't available from Nikon anymore but you might find something on the web if you google for it.

There is a Nikon support site for may of their products here: https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/index.html

AZ themed stocking! I'm sure she appreciated your efforts

She will when it's full!

I have to say you all do some beautiful work. Have a Merry Christmas!

A stocking for a daughter living in Arizona from a mother in Pittsburgh.

Christmas stocking made for a daughter living in Arizona; we're in Pittsburgh.

Percent change is the difference divided by the reference, i.e. ( (36x24)-(24x16))/(24x16)=1.25

Let's think about the differences. The DX sensor size for Nikon is 24x16mm and 36x24mm for the FX sensor. That's a 125% change in area! Much more information can be captured for the larger sensor at any given stage of manufacturing development (pixel density). If you don't blow images up to a large print size or don't crop to a smaller area the difference would be hard to see given current pixel density capabilities. On the question of lenses, DX lenses are designed to cover the DX sensor and not the larger FX sensor. The diagonal measure for each of these is 28.8 mm for the DX and 43.3 mm for the FX thus a lens designed for DX will cast a circular image to cover a 29 mm diameter at the sensor but that will not cover the >43mm diameter of the FX sensor consequently the image on an FX sensor would have to be cropped down to be useful. The FX lenses designed to cast a >43 mm diameter will of course also cover the smaller DX sensor although the image captured would be like a crop capturing ~45% of the FX image area. This is why I moved to FX cameras when they became available; the fact that I already had lenses from my film cameras at the time helped. Today, if I were considering changing I'd have to consider the Z format cameras being pushed by the manufacturers. I haven't investigated this much but I think what might be behind this is the functionality that is now in the lens (electronic diaphragm, focus motor etc.) that used to be in the body consequently the opportunity to simplify the camera body but there's probably more than that involved. All that said, which is going to give you more enjoyment taking pictures?

I made this switch years ago from a D40 to a D3 at the time. The D3 is still around but has been joined by a D850. The D40 was fully capable of taking fine pictures; where it didn't it was usually operator error. but I still appreciate the advantages of FX. However, if you were to purchase an FX format body I'd suggest the AF-S 28-300 f/3.5-5.6 G VR ED (assuming you stick with Nikon). It will give you a full kit of focal ranges in one very fine unit for about $950! That should get you in business for most general photography needs while you supplement with more specialized glass as your needs and desired dictate.

There are certainly a lot of options but how's one to decide what would be best? Hands on experience would help. It occurred to me that renting one at or near the focal length or zoom range being considered might help before investing a bundle of money. Brick and mortar photography shops catering to this are getting hard to find but it's worth looking into. Adorama rents but I'm not sure about doing so thought the mail but a call or e-Mail might pay off.

Well you must feel like the guy who wandered into the lion den and asked what's for dinner. I might as well throw in another option to consider. The Nikon AF-S 28-300 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR would meet your needs if you don't already have it and it sells for less than $1,000 leaving enough left in your budget for the tripod or monopod someone else suggested. It offers quite a focal range in one lens considerably simplifying your kit. Good luck with your decision.

Well I'm new here and clearly not a pro but I saw this while out walking with my wife and it struck me as funny so I thought I'd share it. Besides, I needed to figure out how to post a picture. The scene was cluttered so the best I could do under the circumstances was rely on the color and cropping to isolate the subject. Jack 'o lanterns eat their young.

I saw this just after halloween; always wondered what happened after we slept.

Shot on the north shore of Pittsburgh. Nikon D850 Nikkor 28-300 f/3.5-5.6 @ 105mm 1/1,000 f/10 ISO 5,000.