Nikon D50...Make the dive?

[aldog]

I have a Fuji s5100 right now. I've been wanting to upgrade for a couple months now, just kind of delve into the realm of dSLR's I suppose. But for some reason I've been kind of iffy.

I've pretty much narrowed it down to the nikon d50. It looks like a great camera, and it's within my somewhat stretchy budget. But for some reason I can't make myself take the leap.
I was a little dissapointed to hear that there was no live-view mode on the lcd screen with most of the dslr's. I have a hard time looking through the viewfinder, I can do it, but it takes some strain, and I like not to. (eye problems from when I was a baby and so on...)
Also I know that until I can get a new lens I'll be missing out on my zoom. the 5100 has a 10x zoom, and the kit lenses, or at least the less pricey ones (for if I was to get a body only, and purchase the lens seperately) don't seem like they're good enough.
The only other thing that I was a bit sad about, was that I can't do video, I've pretty much gotten over that because I have a old crappy kodak easyshare that would work for video, and my phone takes video too.

But I'm wondering, is the d50 gonna be good enough? Should I just do it?
I take pictures of lots of things, family functions, parties at friends houses, I've done a couple of my friends weddings where they couldn't afford a...dare I say...REAL photographer, some skateboarding, I want to start shooting my friend mountainboarding, a little bmx when my cousins come to town. And most definitely, I do alot of shooting of my cousins football games, he's pre-highschool, I'm not sure what the league is called. But they're just outdoor games, middle of the day usually.

Is the d50 gonna make me happy? Am I gonna notice a huge difference compared to my finepix 5100?

[SMcEvoy]

Aldog - all I can say is 'go for it'. I don't know if you can afford a body and one good all purpose lens e.g. 18-200, but that would be a great way to go. I have the kit 18-55, a 70-300 and a 90mm Tamron macro with mine now. The kit lens still takes great shots - e.g. my September Transitions winner http://www.bytephoto.com/forums/t4932.html here on Byte. I use the 18-55 more than any of my other lenses. All but the centre one on this page of my Rocky Mountains gallery http://www.photoswithfinesse.com/Ima...ins/index.html was taken with that lens. Same with all but 4 of the shots in my textures gallery. http://www.photoswithfinesse.com/Ima...res/index.html (And those are all reduced resolution for web.)

I don't miss the LCD on the back at all but I've always shot through the viewfinder, even on my old Minolta 10x optical digital. I could never see what I wanted in the panel on the back - always too bright, too dull etc. However, if you have an eye problem, that may be a deciding factor for you.

Good luck - and take the plunge.