Hey Mike concerning your comment

Let's see the original file without noise reduction and resized for web.

Good try though   

I've noticed mediocre results with my D80 on high ISO photos, but mainly if my exposure is off.  Mike did mention that was a critical element of getting the best out of the Nikon at high ISO.  Bob, I would be interested in seeing a cropped section of the background.  If the woman is properly exposed at the time of capture, the noise will probably not be unacceptable (at least to my already low standards).  But the shadows will be poor, I'll bet.

I actually just did some indoor photos at ISO 200, and the shadow areas started picking up noise already.  I'm just glad I had my flashes to help light my scenes or these images would not be good enough for the publisher I was shooting for.

I am looking forward to a D300, they are supposed to be really good at noise control.  The D3 is being called the best camera for high ISO ever built (by some at least).  Oh well, I'll keep dreaming for the moment.

Travis

My Dream is the D3
The D300 is a completely different beast, I haven't gone to the shop yet, but, I'm told the noise factor is way better then the D200.

I shoot mainly 100, but, will push to 400, unexceptable though.
Yes, it is the greatest factor, Exposure.

Glass helps to get the widest ap. 

I still like the user bility of my Nikon and is much better then the 20D I had.

I prefer clean files without noise, but I just don't let it stop me.  I will accept a photograph that has more than normal noise if it means I can get the light and ambiance in the image and tell the story better.  I look at so many old photos that are still considered great today, the graininess of the film is almost never discussed.  These images are great aside from that, so I try to do the same thing.  Of course there is a point where the noise can make an OK image unacceptable, but not getting the shot would be even worse in my mind.  I think it just depends on the final use and interpretation of the final product.  I shoot at 800 ISO quite often indoors, and personally I wouldn't trade it for low noise and a flat-lit flash photo, but that's just my opinion.  I will shoot at 1600 even, on occasion.  I hate using my flash on-camera and will take the high ISO image anyday.

Again, this is just my opinion for my photos; I have seen many great images posted here by people using flash.  I just can't seem to be able to use the darn things that well, I guess.

Travis