Is the new Nikon D80 too expensive? Check with B&H online first. Their prices are good and they're a good online store with a fantastic reputation.
Anyway, get the Tamron 28-75 mm f/2.8 as a general lens. It does so much you don't understand. The f/2.8 gives you very good control over depth of field, and is great for shooting under low light (I don't like using flash under low light). I bought the Sigma 24-70 mm f/2.8 because the Sigma can shoot a bit wider than the Tamron (ie: at 24 mm rather than the Tamron's 28 mm), and it can shoot at a magnification ratio of 1:3.9, which makes it good for macros. Of course a dedicated macro lens with a 1:1 ratio is better, but this 1:3.9 is still great for a general walk-around zoom lens.
The Sigma is fantastic, and despite the fact I wouldn't be able to tell the difference, the Tamron is supposed to be even better than the Sigma (and better + cheaper than the Nikon 28-70 mm). It's not a macro lens though, and it shoots from 28 mm rather than 24 mm, which makes a slight difference if you shoot a lot of wide photos.
The other lens I want to recommend is the Nikon 50 mm f/1.8. It's only like $100 in the US. Fantastic for indoor shots and low light.
I don't have a telephoto lens to recommend because I rarely have to take photos of something that's very far away. It just doesn't come up too often.
I like taking landscapes, and regular everyday things where I'd have to shoot wide rather than something far away. Any general zoom lens would do for me, although I'm waiting to see how much the Nikon 70-300 mm with VR will cost where I live.
I don't know what you mean by "artistic" shots, but if you like macro shots, then the Nikon 105 mm macro, Nikon 105 mm macro with VR (worth the extra cost over the version without VR), or any of the 3rd party vendor models are great. The Nikon 105 mm with VR is probably the best because it has VR, but Sigma, Tokina, and Tamron all make a macro lens that's probably 98% as good (and cheaper) than the Nikon 105 mm macro without VR.
If you like portraits, then nothing is going to be better than the Nikon 85 mm f/1.4 lens. There's also a cheaper Nikon 85 mm f/1.8 lens, and that's probably very good as well.
So I'd recommend:
- Nikon D50 or D70s (or preferrably the D80 since it looks fantastic and is the brand new successor to the D70s)
- Sigma 24-70 mm f/2.8 macro lens (which I own) or maybe a Sigma/Tamron 18-50 (or 18-55 mm?) f/2.8 lens as a general walk-around lens. It's probably $300-400 USD. The Nikon 17-55 mm probably costs over $1000 USD, so I wouldn't recommend it unless you were very very keen.
- Nikon 50 mm f/1.8 (costs around $120 from B&H, I believe). The f/1.4 version is probably more than double the cost.
- Nikon 105 mm "micro" with VR, or a Sigma 105 mm macro lens (cheaper than the Nikon option without VR). If you're not hardcore into macro shots, the Sigma I recommended does quasi-macro shots.
The Sigma is probably $350 or something, while the Nikon 105 with VR likely costs around $800-900.
- Nikon 85 mm f/1.8 for portraits (costs around $400 USD, probably). The f/1.4 version is more expensive.
