My Photography Gear
I thought I would write a little bit about my gear...
Camera: 6.1MP Nikon D40.
Lenses: Nikkor 18-55mm AF-S, Nikkor 70-300mm AF.
Filters: Only clear protection filters, one for each lens.
Tripod/s: SAVAGE T-D100 (my first tripod - cheap [$20] and not very good constuction, but better than nothing), VANGUARD SKT-100.
Nikon D40 REVIEW by Andrew Derr:
The Nikon D40 is a nice camera, and relatively cheap (got mine from www.Adorama.com for about $500; including lens, bag, instuctional DVD, 2GB SD card, extra battery, charger and other accessories). Functions are easy to use and the shutter speed is nice and fast, allowing you to capture spontaneous moments that would probably be lost with a regular point and shoot. The D40 features a 3-point autofocus system, which works fine for most situations. The camera also has a setting for flash brightness, which I have found handy when shooting in low light situations because it allows me to control the light so that it is not to bright or to dark. One thing you should know is this camera does not handle high ISO very well - I was shooting at ISO 800 in a basement and the pictures are noticably grainy. The problem was I didn't have enough light, so I made the ISO higher to compensate - bad idea with this camera. Keep the ISO at 200, maybe 400 (experiment and see for yourself which would be best) and you should be fine as long as there is enough light (or use the flash). Overall a good camera if you are just getting into photography, don't have a large budget for a camera, or just want a camera better than a regular point-and-shoot. However, if you really want to get into photography I would sugguest you save up and buy the Nikon D90 or another comparable (or nicer) camera. The reason I say this is that the D40 is really on the low end of the high end cameras. I suggested the D90 because it has almost twice the mega pixel count of the D40 (and higher mp count means you can print larger photos and still mantain good resolution), shoots more frams per second (4.5 fps verses the D40's 2.5 fps), and features an 11 point autofocus system, as well as other tools and features which are better than, or not included in, the D40. Bottom line - the D40 is a great camera for those just geting into more serious photography or who don't have a large budget, but if you are already familiar with camera settings and such and are looking for a more of a pro camera, than I reccomend that you look for a higher end camera that will better suit your abilities.
In closing I want to leave you with a very important point; the camera doesn't make the pictures, YOU DO. If you are looking for a camera that will take good pictures all the time on its own, you will never find it. Yes, some cameras and lenses will produce better quality pictures than others, but you are the one who creates the picture. Know what abilities you have and find the camera that will best fit those abilities.
Thanks for reading,
Andrew Derr: Dogwood Acres Photography