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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Leif" data-source="post: 1280093" data-attributes="member: 1250"><p>Having not examined a D90, I am having to make assumptions. But having examined a D70 and a D80, I would expect the D90 to have a metal frame (basically a plate to which components are bolted, and maybe a metal base plate too) held within a plastic shell. The problem with that is that it does not offer the rigidity of a metal shell. If you have ever mounted a large lens on a D70, which itself is on a tripod, you would have been alarmed at the degree of warping of the camera base. I know the D80 to be a lovely camera, but in some respects it is no D200. And I suspect the D90 will be a lovely camera, but no D300. I suspect the 40D and 50D are a significant step up from the D90 in some respects e.g. build and MLU. Now if you have done lots of macro work with a long-ish lens, you will know the value of MLU. Basically there are many shots that cannot be achieved without it. In my case that amounts to most shots. So for me the D80/D90 is not really usable. The D200/D300/40D/50D are usable. That is not marketng speak. Of course the D90 is not targeted at me, and for its target market it is superb. In fact I am sure a D90 coud be used by many pros for many purposes. Pro and consumer grade are somewhat vague terms.</p></blockquote><p></p>