Well, because a full frame model like the D700 is too expensive. And the D90 seems to be about half the price of the D300S though the 2 cameras seem to be almost identical otherwise - with the exception of the 300S maybe having better weather sealing; hard to justify for an extra $800. Most of the photos I take are landscape and travel. Many of my photos are low light, one of the major reasons why the P&S is not so good. And almost no artificial light and no portraits. The lens I was considering is the 17-55 f2.8. That would also give me back some of the DOF control - a P&S has essentially none. With my F-1 about 70% of my shots were with a 50mm, 25% with a 24mm and the rest with a 70-210 zoom. What do you suggest?