Hi--

>Just read some of your reviews on your web page. Am about to purchase a
>new Nikon F90x with a 28-200 zoom. The question is which zoom. Do you
>recommend the Nikkor or the new Sigma I just heard about which is faster
>and comes with metal mount instead of Nikons plastic, or would you even
>recommend the Tamron?
Joshua Karlin

If you have read much of what I've written, you would know that
I don't like zooms, and I particularly don't like the 28-200
zooms of any mfgr, including Nikon... (I also don't like AF,
and I don't like the N90...). It seems to me that what you are
aiming for is a good P&S - maybe the Olympus IS would serve you
better? If you are spending this kind of money, why not buy something
that is good? Non-zooms are much sharper, much faster (especially at
their widest good stop [assuming the zoom has any good stop...]), lighter,
smaller, often cheaper, and easier to use (the exceptions to some of
the above are the best of the tele-zooms...). A used 8008/8008s has a
noticeably sharper viewfinder than the N90/90s. If you are going for
just a fancy P&S SLR, the N70 is a cheaper alternative to the N90, and
you can put more money where it counts in the lenses. As wide-range
zooms go, the Nikkor 24-120 is much better than any of the 28-200's.
Add a 70-300 if you must (I don't like this lens either...), and be
done with it... If you are serious about photography, get a used F3
and 2-3 good Nikkor non-zooms... (see my Nikon list for evaluations...).
Sorry to be so grumpy, but I don't understand spending a lot of
money on not particularly good gear...