On Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:22:44 -0800 (PST), RichA
wrote:

On Feb 20, 2:19*pm, Bowser wrote:
On Tue, 19 Feb 2013 03:19:19 -0800 (PST), RichA
wrote:

It really is a bit much, even with the plastic kit lens. *The only
cause of this must be the mechanicals, which DSLR's need to function.
Even more odd is that the D7000 body (partly metal and although no
D300 is better than the D5200 body) is only...$900 now!!!

How is the use of plastic detrimental to image quality or
functionality? How would the use of a metal frame improve the camera?

Well, differential of expansion between plastic and metal can effect a
lot of things, from stressing of mounted components to focus shift
with long lenses to body flexture with large lenses.

Have you ever seen any evidence of this occuring in any other SLR
that's based on a plastic frame? The Canon Rebels come to mind, and
I've never heard of anything like this ever happening. Can you point
to a single case of a plastic framed camera failing in this manner?