Looking for Recommendations for Nikon DSLR

[Laurel Alanna McBrine]

My Nikon D50 has low pixels and has been seizing up on a regular basis, so I am in the market for a newer, better model.

I am most interested in good value for $$ and would love to hear from those who have any advice for me before I start the time consuming project of researching the review sites.

The zoom lens I purchased (24-120 VR) eventually ended up with really bad reviews. It takes rather soft images and I have wound up using a 50mm 1.8 cheapie most of the time, so I would like to know your favorite lens too.

Thanks in advance to all!