If she has more than the one Canon lens, I recommend staying with Canon. Sell the old body, get a new one and continue the lens collection.

If she only has the one lens, sell both the lens and body and get a Nikon if that is what she is set on.

If the budget you mention, $1,000 to $1,200, is for a kit (body and lens), you cannot go wrong with a Nikon D7000. Check out a review here.

With a bit of searching, I just found a D7000, 18-105mm lens and tons of other goodies in a kit for $1,250. You can probably find it for less with just the lens and body. The 18-105mm lens will be a good starter lens as well since it has a wide zoom range. But, you give up a little on the aperture - 3.5 is the largest hole it'll make. There is also a kit with a 70-300mmm lens, which should make the transition less abrupt. It is probably the better one too, since she does a lot of nature photos.

The D90 is a small step down, but you can save a few pennies with it. I used to have one, and loved it. I got rid of it to change formats not because I had any issues with it.

Thank you MonsterDog. Yeah having a face to put with the posts does add something.

Thank you JJ. I had thought the D7000 was way out of our league.

She has the Canon EOS Xs and the standard 18(or28)mm to 55mm lens plus the 55-300mm for the Canon. She would keep it as a second (backup) camera.

Can you guess what blade this is?

Nice pics Randy! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Tom, do you know what blade that is?

I would guess either a MudPuppy or Swamp HRLM <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Ding ding! The Muppy. First knife I was given (has my JYD# on it). IT'S SPECIAL TO ME, Along with a couple others of course! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I feel the same way about receiving the first DogFather! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Of course, it doesn't have my JYD# on it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Don't forget the special little blade you were given at Blade a few years ago by Jerry (wasn't it?).

And Yeah, that DF will always hold a special place for you.

I wasn't GIVEN that knife by Jerry...I PAID for it! It is a cut-down SFNO with a Bowie style shaped blade and wood burl handles. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Oh, Sorry. Well he should have given it to you. I would have. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well she didn't get the pics to me I thought, but this will work I guess. You can't see it but the knife is the Mud Puppy LE#105! The bag is my 511 push pack and the Cookset I mentioned above will fit inside it.