Nikon D40

Nikon D40

I just picked up the fantastic Nikon D40 (my first DSLR).  While I’ve used other Nikon cameras (the Coolipx 5200 being my most recent point-and-shoot model) and a film SLR camera (an old Canon), I’m pretty excited about upgrading from the point-and-shoot model to something that gives me a little bit more control.

While the D40 certainly isn’t the newest model Nikon has in its pro-sumer line, a lot of people think it’s pretty darn good. The D90 is Nikon’s latest offering, but at over 2.5 times the cost ($1200 versus $450 for the D40) it’s not really worth it.  Sure, the D90 has Live View (if you’re into that sort of thing), but I find the control I get by keeping the camera close to my body far outweighs the ability to hold the camera at arms length away.  I wanted to try to keep the purchase less expensive.  I’m not a professional photographer, so many of the features I’ll never miss.

I found most of my information on Ken Rockwell’s great website. He has a ton of useful information, including an entire section on how to make great photos.  It’s reassuring to know that the camera doesn’t matter!  If you’re looking for a new camera (any type of camera), I highly recommend doing some research on his website before you buy.

I’ve had the D40 less than 24 hours, so I’m still not comfortable with all of the settings.  Once I get a little more practice in, I’ll start posting some photos for your comments.