Buying a DSLR- New D80 or used D200 ?

Both are excellent. If you're a serious amateur but not a pro, I'd think that the D80 is more than enough (I have been happily using the D50 for almost two years now). I think you should start by outlining your requirements and then plotting them against the specs of the two cameras. You may find out that you don't really need everything the D200 offers, and so you'll be able to buy a new camera with a warranty rather than a used one.

Here are some photos I have taken using the D50:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/arutha/sets/72157594301161054/show/

Thanks!.. 

I'm using two lenses:

1. Nikkor 18-200 VR - Very versatile, covering a very wide range, but quite heavy. With a minimum aperture of f3.5 it requires you to shoot in brightly-lit conditions or use a flash, although the VR (vibration reduction) mechanism does a good job of stabilizing the image when the shutter speed becomes too slow. I like it, but I'm not in love with it. All in all, if I had to choose only a single lens, that's the one I'd take. I think Nikon now has a new 18-135mm lens. I would say that if this new lens has a wider aperture (a smaller f number) and a lower weight it might have been my lens of choice. Keep in mind that entry level dSLRs have a x1.5 conversion factor, so 18-200mm is actually 24-300mm, and 18-135mm is actually 24-202mm.
   
2. Nikkor 50mm f1.8 - this is a very light and compact lens that produces extremely pleasing shots (such as this one) with great depth-of-field. I use it in low-light situations and I love it! It also has an infinite zoom range, activated by your feet.. 

One more piece of advice I can give you - get an external flash (such as the Nikon SB-600). If you bounce it off the ceiling it produces a very pleasing balanced light, and will make your flash photos look very natural. It's nothing like the built-in flash, really.

Let me know if I can help with anything else.

Sure.. glad to help! :)

d80 is a good piece of art. it has many features and is the successor of the amazing d70.

however

if you want to become better in photography, get to experience more manual mode and get bigger files and some more very impressive shots and feelings, get the d200 which is a different league. faster, stronger body, bigger grip, more functions, reliable...  

You should seriously consider the Canon T1i and the Sony A230 and Sony A330 . The latter two replace the Sony A200 . Both the D80 and D200 are old models.

my friend has a D80 and its really nice. I tried it using oil refineries., the colors are so amazing. so sharp and crisp. you can see all the details on those gate valves . great camera.