I own a D5500 now. I had a D7200 (lost or stolen) and frankly I like the D5500 in that the articulating screen is easier to read and understand; the view finder is only adequate. The D5500 is much lighter and fits my hand well. The view finder is better in the D7200 which is much brighter and the settings are easier to read. It is more water resistant but heavier and a little larger. My photo dealer suggested the D5500 when I went to replace the D7200.

Either choice is a good one. I have the 18mm-300mm Nikon zoom (and had the 18-270mm Nikon zoom) . These are great when we travel and for getting distant wildlife and yet, wide enough for scenery. After all, who has time to constantly change lens when you are traveling. Also I have a 35mm prime that is exceptionally crisp.

Either way enjoy your choice. Its more what you do with the tool than the tool itself.

Very near Arches is Dead Horse State Park, worth visiting. Also on the way to Jackson Hole stop in a very small town of Dubois, Wyoming (pronounced the American way not the French one). Stopped for lunch and stayed three days.

I made a similar trip and used a 18mm-300mm zoom. The zoom really is great for animals but also for scenery. So often an interesting natural structure is too far away or is inaccessible. Zoom does the trick! And lets you compose on the spot. With modern high ISO the relatively small aperture of zoom lens still work in lower light conditions.

Usually I carry a fixed 35mm lens but most often, time does not permit a change of lens. Weight is the enemy of sightseeing so go light.

I read that the latest version of Photos has improved.

How good is the latest Apple Photo?

Received a Mac Pro 13 from my kids a week or two ago as a gift. Had been using Picasa on my old PC'S for years. Transferred all my photo's to the MAC via a flash drive and have been using Apple's Photos to manage and to edit them. Here is my question" Photos seem to me as good as Picasa was. Am I missing something? I think it is more user friendly than Google Photos. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks in advance.

Down load Nikon Manual Viewer to your iPhone. That way it is always with you.

Israel is great for photography. I used a 18-200mm lens exclusively on a Nikon D90. Maybe a 50mm might come in handy but too many interesting shots of many different kinds of people come up so quickly there is no time to change lenses. Israel is multicultural to an unbelievable extent. Remember 20% of Israeli citizens are Muslims so you will see many in traditional dress as well as Bedouin, Orthodox Jews, Orthodox Greek and Armenian priests, goat herders etc, etc. Of course, respect the fact the some do not want to be photographed, but that's where a long lens comes in handy!

Most Israel historical sites have good audio visual displays so you really get to learn what you are seeing.

While Israeli cities such as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are laid out roughly similar to American cities I would hire a guide for the rest of the country. Too much history and too many interesting facts if you go it alone. Ordinarily I travel w/o a guide but in Israel they are highly trained and they all know the history in interest to both Jews and Christians. I recommend it.

Great Place. Did it last June. Two hours allows you to do most of it. Enough time for dozens of snapshots with less time for composition. Visit Indian museum nearby. Enjoy!

Gene51, you are a wonderful writer. I hope you are using your writing ability in addition to your photographic ones.

I use a Nikon 18-300 mm with good results.

Shows versatility of wide range zooms. I use a Nikon 18-300mm. This demonstrates why.

How did your New England trip go? Love to hear.

I did parts of New Mexico, western Colorado and Wyoming to Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Jackson Hole on one two week trip and on a second trip did Utah and parts of Nevada. I only brought my Nikon 18-200mm (and now lost along with d7000) on the first trip and my new Nikon 18-300mm (with new d5500).

Of course it is all how you like to shoot but several times while shooting a grand landscape we spotted some wildlife at a distance. No time to change lens so just zoom in and shoot!

These wide zooms are excellent in my opinion for traveling if not perfect. When I look back at the photos a year later I am proud of what I have captured. And really don't notice if there is a slight technical flaw. All of course is only my opinion.

Recommend Las Alamos NM. Great museum (Bradbury Museum) on the history of the atomic bomb development.

NM Museum of Natural History, Albuquerque. Interesting section on personal computers. PC were started by a couple of UNM professors about 1975.

Santa Fe must be on list and Taos UN History site.

Also Carl

I have D5500 and 18-300mm. Works great as a light weight combo. I am 81 next week.

Contest 43 built in The Netherlands. Nice!