Have you ever heard of the progressive, sometimes fatal, affliction called Nikon Acquisition Syndrome (“NAS”)? It is a well-documented, rather widespread, and bizarre human condition. Sufferers are typically in evidence on the listservs devoted to photographic equipment made by Nikon.

I seem to have caught yet another case of NAS recently (it’s not my first time) what with the availability of two incredible new releases from my favorite camera manufacturer. First up is the new 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor lens (is that a mouthful or what?). It is an incredible zoom lens with the 35 mm-equivalent range of 27-300mm. It has the second-generation vibration-reduction system that lends itself to handholding even at the longer focal lengths. It’s really a “do everything” kind of lens.

I want one.

The trouble with this particular item is that everyone else in the Nikon world seems to want it too. I have had my name on the waiting list at B&H Photovideo for several weeks, holding my breath for the word that they have one in stock. So far, no luck.

The second piece of equipment I’m lusting over is the new Nikon DSLR body, the D80. It’s their “lower-end” (compared to the D200, that is) 10.2 megapixel model. Believe me, it’s not that my current 6.1 megapixel camera body, the D70s, isn’t good enough. It surely is. But, well, the D80 is the newer “toy.”

And I want one.

Now, all I have to do is justify the purchase, somehow, in my mind. The D80 is available right now, if only I could get over this emotional barrier of spending so much money on something that I don’t really need.