Macro water drop photography? - 1

First off, I have a Nikon D200, with a 3rd party external flash that I can use off-camera with a flash sync cord.

What lens should I use?
-50mm f/1.4
-18-55mm
-70-300mm
-(I can do the 'reverse lens' macro w/ the 50mm and 70-300, but I think it might be too close, even @70mm)

My main goal is to get stuff like this: or this:
where it's all just very "clean" lighting.

My first question is, how should I set up the lighting?
-I have that external flash with a sync cord (10ft), with a mini-softbox. So where should I place that?
-I also have a reflective disk w/ silver, white, and gold sides. The 'body' of the reflector can also be used as a diffuser disk. When/where/how should I use this?

My next question is what should I use for water dropping?
-I've tried many things… Turkey baster, cups, etc. But I can't get a consistent drop flow.

Added (1). Thanks Lynnzee!

The only problem with that, is that I only have a source of light from the single flash.

Should I take the reflective disk sleeve and tack it to something else and use the frame as a diffuser?

Nikon D300/300d - same camera?

I'm looking for a new camera, and I really like Nikon. Is the D300 and the 300d the same thing?

Which lens is better, Nikon PC-E 45mm or the PC-E 24mm?

For my birthday, I'm considering to buy a perspective control Nikon lens, but just for normal photography like to play around. I own a d700. I can't decide between the PC-E 45mm or the PC-E 24mm which one do you think is better? I already have a Nikon 20mm f/2.8 and a Nikon 50mm f/1.4 and I use the 50mm more frequently.

I want a nikon cameras I look at the d700?

I'm looking through the Nikon range of cameras the D700 was where I started from the price I'm looking at is max $1500.00 I'm going to China Tibet on the train takes 2 days so need to take photos from moving train

Why should I shoot in RAW?

If I can open my Photoshop Elements, and open a JPG as a Camera Raw file, and take it through the RAW process?

If i'm not going to be printing anything larger than 8x10's most of the time, and I can just use a JPG in the RAW software for color correction and etc., then why else should I shoot in RAW?

I have Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 and a Nikon D200 if that helps.

Any advice on buying my first professional Nikon?

I'm looking to spend between 700 and maybe up to about 1100. Has to be a Nikon, I already have all their lenses. I don't need to do video, only photos. I've been working as a wedding photographer, sometimes I need to blow things up kinda large, maybe at a max of 20" by 20". I've been looking at the d90 and d200 quite a bit. Also I don't mind buying a reasonably priced used camera if there's any especially good sites for it.

Is there a Canon Camera Similar to this Nikon?

Sometime… (it probably won't even be in the next few years) I would like to upgrade my Canon EOS Rebel XS to a better camera. When first researching into cameras, I had decided that the Nikon D300 would be my perfect camera considering what I do, it just wasn't ideal for a beginner. BUT, because of my Canon I don't want to switch brands considering I have several lenses and a hot shoe.So, I was wondering if there was a Canon similar to the D300. If you're interested in what I want in a camera to focus on, I'd like it to have a video recorder, be able to shoot in RAW efficiently, preferably more megapixels (minor but it would be nice), it needs to have the same basic options that my current does obviously, and, of course, be able to use my EF and EF-S lenses.

I know this is totally unnecessary for a beginner photographer, I'm just having fun planning for the future.

Nikon D700 Flash sync terminal working properly?

I was in a studio photography class today and after setting up the 3 lights, plugged the flash cable directly into the dedicated flash sync terminal but the flashes didn't fire. When I used the hot shoe adapter (which enabled me to plug the sync cable into there instead) the flashes went off fine.

Is there a Nikon setting that I should have adjusted or is the sync terminal broken?

Would it be upgrading if I switch from Nikon D200 to D3100?

I currently have the Nikon D200, and since I've started becoming "more pro" than I was, I'm noticing little things about the older DSLR models. Like ISO performance at only 400… With the D200 you start to visibly notice noise.

I'm thinking about upgrading bodies. I bought my D200 off of Ebay about 2 years ago, with 12, 000 shutter clicks for $510.

I don't want to spend much more than that, so I was looking at the D3100 for $700.

My question is… Although it's a more "beginner" DSLR, with no top viewing panel, or QUAL, WB, ISO ring on top, is it a better camera than the D200? Sensor wise?

I do notice that the D3100 does NOT have an in-camera focus motor, but I'm comfortable with manual focus on some lens.

I understand that the D200 is more robust, but if i'm planning on upgrading in 2-3 years (which I will, do to rapid improvement on technology), then getting a few dings on the body should be fine, right?

What should I do?

Added (1). Yes, I understand the focus having to be manual on some lens.

But how are the sensors compared?
In terms of:
-ISO performance
-Sensor size (1.4x crop?)
-Etc.

Would it be upgrading if I switch from Nikon D200 to D3100? - 1

I currently have the Nikon D200, and since I've started becoming "more pro" than I was, I'm noticing little things about the older DSLR models. Like ISO performance at only 400… With the D200 you start to visibly notice noise.

I'm thinking about upgrading bodies. I bought my D200 off of Ebay about 2 years ago, with 12, 000 shutter clicks for $510.

I don't want to spend much more than that, so I was looking at the D3100 for $700.

My question is… Although it's a more "beginner" DSLR, with no top viewing panel, or QUAL, WB, ISO ring on top, is it a better camera than the D200? Sensor wise?

I understand that the D200 is more robust, but if i'm planning on upgrading in 2-3 years (which I will, do to rapid improvement on technology), then getting a few dings on the body should be fine, right?

What should I do?

Added (1). Oh yeah, I forgot to add that I do notice that the D3100 does NOT have an in-camera focus motor, but I'm comfortable with manual focus on some lens.