I have has a Sony DCS F717 for 5 years and really like the quality of the night shots and night focus pictures. I am considering replacing it with the Nikon D200 because I can't always print the pictures as large as I would like and hope to get better quality with the Nikon.

Most of my shots are taken under natural daylight, but I have noticed that when I need to take a night shot that Sony's weird red light focus does a great job, better than some much more expensive cameras (when on an Amazon trip a fellow traveller, with a really nice camera was upset that my camera took such better night shots than his and had me download my caiman pics to his computer). I also like that the lens can move at an angle so I can take candid shots without it being obvious that I am shooting.

Does anyone have the D200 or can tell me about how well it works at night for people/animal shots?

Also, we are travelling to Thailand next week (change planes in Tokyo, stay in BKK and Khao Lak). Is it cheaper or prudent to buy the Nikon there?

Thanks.