Over the weekend, I came up on 90,000 images captured with my D200. The camera is now 4 years old, and showing signs of age. Notably, the rubber grip on the right side of the camera (where you hold it) has started to come away from the rest of the camera. A little glue should do the trick to get it back together, but it’s a sign. It’s time to make a decision about my next camera.

I want to wait a little while longer. Currently, DPreview only has a preview of the D7000 up, which is one of the contenders for my hard earned cash. I could get a D7000, a decent micro/macro lens, and a couple of extras for the camera with my funding. Or, I could get a D700, today. No frills, no extras, but it would be my entry into a FX class sensor, and probably a lot more camera that I can chew off for awhile. What I’d really like is the D300S replacement to be released with the D7000 sensor. More pro-level features – like I’ve become accustomed to with the D200 – and still a lot cheaper than the D700, or it’s replacement. Of course, with the D300S replacement and the D700 replacement, there’s no way of knowing when they will hit the streets.

So, do I get the camera that is everything I want, other than FX (the D7000), or do I play the waiting game to see what happens next?