comparisons and evaluations of current models of 35 mm SLR autofocus
cameras, including Nikon N75 and comparable Canon, and of zoom lens by
camera body maker and others
 in range of 24-70, 28-140 and 70 to 300.

I think you're barking up the wrong tree.  Film SLRs are so 2003. 
Digital cameras now have the power to rival film.  Furthermore, there
is technology out there to capture information without noise, just as
film does.

I would suggest you get a camera with a foveon chip like the Sigma
SD-9 or SD-10.  It has all the adjustability of an SLR and the images
are dust free, easy to store, don't deteriorate over time, are ready
to be manipulated in a computer, and don't need to be developed.

http://www.foveon.com/X3_comparison.html

Nikon currently has the N75, N80, and F100.  For the Money the N80 is
probably the best buy because of it's features and advanced functions
for more technical and experienced photographers.

Canon has the Elan 7 and Elan 7E to compare.  They have eye controlled focus
and have a wide range of features for the money.

A good magazine that publishes reports on Cameras is Popular Photography
<a href="http://www.popphoto.com">Popular Photography Site</a>
<a href="http://www.thepage.com">Name of link</a>
If you visit their site you can read reviews of all the best models
Canon and Nikon have to offer.

When you're ready to buy a camera, use Froogle or visit Broadway Photo
<a href="http://www.bwayphoto.com">Broadway Photo</a>

Although, always remember that the lens is much more important than
the camera, because it determines what quality the photo will have.

All these Nikon cameras essentially do the same job, so buy the
cheapest/lightest/easiest to use. Taking good pictures with them is a
mixture of skill, high quality lenses and high quality film. Digital
cameras are convenient, but the colour depth and resolution of slide
films such as Fuji Velvia are still unbeatable.

Digital SLR in the class of Nikon D70 or Canon Digital Rebel have
sensor performance almost rivaling good 35mm ISO100 and slower film. 
For example, Fuji Reala is about 8 to 10 megapixels equivalent, with
about 11 stops of usable dynamic range.   The current crop of DSLRs
does 6MP, with probably a bit less dynamic range.

If you've already a collection of Nikon or Canon AF lenses, then buy
the DSLR that can use them.  If  you're starting brand new, the D70 is
better from a usability point of view.

You'll find that your photography skills improve very quickly with
digital because of the instant feedback.  However, I know of at least
one case where mechanical durability with these low-end DSLR was an
issue.  A friend of mine's Canon Rebel 300 mirror assembly mechanicals
died after 20K exposures (about 9 months.)  It's really easy to take
lots of exposures when there's no film cost, but the consumer level
Canon Rebel body that the DSLR is built on really wasn't built to take
this level of use.

Me?  I have a Olympus E10 (4MP) I bought a couple of years back.  I'll
probably wait a couple of years before transitioning to DSLR.

When I shoot film, I use an old Minolta X700 with a bunch of prime
lenses, then scan the negatives with a Nikon Coolscan 5000.  The
workflow after that is all digital.