TBonz

Gogs,

It really depends on what you already have and what you need for the photos you're trying to shoot.  If cost isn't an issue, you don't loose anything on the aperture by going with the 55-300.  I haven't shot either of them, so can't speak to any quality difference between them.  The extra reach from 200-300 can certainly come in handy when you want it though.  The 300 has VR which is nice, but it is about twice the weight if that makes a difference.

nbanjogal,

Make a copy of some of your RAW photos to a different folder for "play" and then use those copies to test out the software.  Your "original" RAW files wouldn't be touched if you do it that way.

The temp is the one thing I'd worry about.  I certainly wouldn't use them for extended periods of time when its that cold, but I doubt you would want to stay out that long either.  As long as it is out for short periods, I think you will be OK, but definitely check Nikon's info on temperature ranges.  

In reading your posts, what ran through my mind is that the more robust protections come with the higher priced cameras, so you might not be able to get what your looking for cheaply.  Assuming my suggestions above, I'd hang on to the money you would spend on the extra body and look towards your next piece of glass...

How about one of each?  

Beautiful places and photos...I'll throw in a few from my area...

Caught this sunset before a football game...had all my gear with me and shot several different views, but my favorite was this one which I took on my iPhone to send to my son who's away in college.

I was supposed to go out of town to photograph several baseball games for the weekend.  Rented a lens to keep things interesting (200-400) and the baseball got canceled...Went out to a local park to see what I could find...it was cold and had been windy.  The wind blew water up on branches over the river and it created a pretty interesting set of photos...saw the deer on my way out of the park...

Nice shot!

Nice...enjoy it...I've spent lots of time with both the one you have and the VRII...it looks like a beast, but you can hand hold it pretty easily.  If I don't have a larger lens running, I do shoot it off a monopod for some extra steadiness.  I sure wish I was opening a box with a new lens in it!  Oh well, hopefully soon!

Thumper,

The 70-200 will work great for that.  I enjoy shooting all the sports, but for some reason I really enjoy baseball / softball.  Not sure how far out the fences are where you're shooting, but on a standard high school softball field with fences in the 200-250 foot range, it will be perfect even for shooting the outfielders.  You'll be doing a fair amount of cropping for outfielders on a standard baseball field with fences at 300+ feet though.  Of course, that also depends on how close you can get to the action.  Shooting the high schools around here with permission, they place a box, lined off like the foul lines along each of the fences just outside of the bases.  Photographers have to stay within the boxes except between innings where they can stay, move to the other side or leave the field.  The space inside an occupied box is considered out of play.  I've seen boxes that were 5x10 feet and I've seen boxes that were 1x20.  Most are about 4x8 with the smaller distance being the distance of the outside of the box from the fence.  That 1 foot deep box doesn't leave you much room!

You can probably find some of them used or refurbished as well.  But since it is your first DSLR, I would suggest making sure you purchase from a reputable company who will stand behind the sale...not expecting a problem, but better to be safe since you are getting into something unfamiliar.

Yep...I've met them too!  I just dive in and try things so I continue to learn.  I've shot at 25600 - don't like to, but I know what to expect if I have to.  That's one of the nice things about photography - lots of different ways to reach a similar end point.  Even then, the end point that I like may not be the one that others will like best...

I love it too which is why I do it...While I did this when I was in high school and college, I kind of got back into it the same way as you describe.  Baseball coaches were happy I was taking photos when my older son was playing and that transitioned to meeting a couple of guys writing about the area high school sports and me shooting for them...then the guy who was shooting for the school wanted to retire and recommended they get me to do it...I don't do the team / individual photos either - just shoot all football games and some of most of the other sports. 

I still post on one of the media sites along with shooting for the school.  I also post the photos on my own site.  Parents and the kids always go to the media sites for the story and photos but kids especially are starting to drift over to my site as they've figured out that I put the photos up there first and that I don't charge for a single image low res download that they can use as their Twiter or Facebook profile photo.  Lots of them follow me on Twitter because I'll typically send out a photo from the previous week's game at some point.  I get some sales from the media sites and some from my site, but I'm really just having fun.  Hopefully will have made enough to pick up a new lens or similar before next fall.  Another guy who does some on media sites charges an arm and a leg...he also spends half his time at the games trying to pose cheerleaders, fans, players and whomever else he can...I even heard him trying to get a Referee's attention for a shot during a break in the action.  I guess it is my photojournalist background, but I do as little as possible to interfere and try to cover the story...

Thanks to all for the welcome...really enjoying the site...

Nikoninjection - I'll try to post up some VA photos at some point...

I don't normally have any issues with access below the high school level or even shooting non-school related games like the lacrosse tourney this past weekend.  Actual high school games (and of course college / pro games) they take a bit more seriously.  They like having you away from the field / court so that you and the players have less of a chance at injury.  I understand that.  I remember when I was shooting a basketball game in college sitting about 3 feet off the court behind the basket...lucky I only got hit with the ball...been hit with baseballs a couple of times and manged to avoid many others...both times it was my son who hit it...Barely managed to get out of the way of a rather large pro linebacker running back an interception...On the other hand, I had a lady who threatened to have me thrown off the field at a lacrosse playoff game if I didn't stand back about 10 yards off the field - effectively behind the players on the bench!   She wouldn't let me shoot from the other side of the field at all.  She just had no clue, but I managed to work around her and shot most of the game from a yard or two off the field which is standard...

To be honest, I always look...kind of like looking at women I guess   just can't help mysef...doesn't mean I am going to run out and grab it, but I enjoy seeing what gear they are using.  My friend is a pro and has multiple D4s and multiple of just about every piece of gear that I would really like to have if money wasn't an object...I always point out that just makes me work smarter and harder...maybe someday...

I enjoy shooting almost anything.  I don't even really mind the posed shots - what I mind is having to pose the people!  I shot my son's lacrosse team this weekend and they won the tournament. The "posed" team shot at the end was basically telling them to get together for the Championship photo.  I didn't try to organize them other than to be sure they were all visible.  I think it ended up more natural.  I even posted up one of the photos where the young man next to the coach gave the coach "bunny ears" and everyone loved it because it was an in the moment thing.

Mostly I enjoy shooting natural light and trying to capture that moment...like when my wife mentioned dog treats when I was shooting the sun on the dogs looking out the window...