Dooms

I was in the mall today and I passed by Ritz cameras. I walked in and was just checking out all the cameras when I saw another guy looking at a Nikon D50. So, I played around with it a bit and noticed a D40 up on the wall. After playing with both a bit I decided the D40 was the way to go. I walked out of the store about $700 poorer, but with this nice new toy. (Plus I even got tickets for free Nikon specific camera lessons.)

I had a birthday/Christmas party tonight so I took it with me. I opened the box, put it all together, and started using it (Luckily the battery comes semi charged). Didn't even read the instructions, just figured it out as I went.

Let's just say I am extremely impressed. Just using it like a point and shoot camera I got better pictures than any other digital camera I've ever used. Out of 155 pictures I took tonight only a few were blurry, and those were the ones I didn't use the flash (and didn't adjust any settings). I think it's because it's a larger and heavier camera than the little point and shoots, which let me stabilize it a bit better.

The detail is amazing, I took a portrait picture of my brothers friend from a few feet away and when I zoom in on the picture (in my computer) I can see my reflection in the black of his eyes. I also took a picture of my dog from about five feet away and I can read what his tag says.

Also, the continuous mode it has....exactly what I was looking for. It takes one picture right after another with almost no lag for the first five pictures or so. It does slow down a bit after that, but it's still much better than my old camera.

All in all, I'm glad I went with this camera. Right now it takes better pictures than I could have hoped for and I know I'm not even scratching the surface of what it can do. Now I have no excuse not to learn.

I do think my next purchase will be a few more lenses. The 18-55mm it comes with is ok, but I need a lense with a bit more zoom to start. Then maybe find some lenses that can do wider shots and closer macro type shots. What's the recommendation out there? Keep in mind I can only use AF-S or AF-I lenses if I want to keep my auto-focus.

Here is one of the pics I took tonight. The resize killed the quality a bit, but atleast you get some idea.

__________________
2003 Summer Super Moderator and Most Informative Award Winner

COG/TOG Member



It is my sworn duty to comfort the afflicted, and to inflict upon the comforted.

minimagpro

thats a nice camera man. The resolution looks great in that picture.

__________________
Im always up for getting down

1337

Good choice Paul. Just wait till you start getting more and different pictures with it. Also, using photoshop can really help bring out your pictures more. Especially levels, color balance, constrast, shadow/hightlight.. and a photo filter can really make the picture look better as well.

__________________

WTB: Angel LED/LCD or Gen E Matrix

I would like to solve the puzzle...

mavsfan31

Haha, at first I thought this thread was about a new car.

__________________
John

NYY

Congrats on your first DSLR. I'm still waiting for my new camera. It's been back ordered for a month...

Dooms

Thanks!

As you can see by this thread I'm having a ton of fun. Only problem is everyone at PBN thinks I used photoshop for the last pics.

__________________
2003 Summer Super Moderator and Most Informative Award Winner

COG/TOG Member



It is my sworn duty to comfort the afflicted, and to inflict upon the comforted.

JeSTeR_1269

Waaayyy better than my POS powershot...well done

__________________

tippmann kid99

dooms, what kind of dog is that?

__________________
Canadian Paintball Player

Dooms

It's a Shiba Inu. They're beautiful dogs and love to play, though can be a little hard headed (sometimes they ignore your commands). My dogs name is Brock, he's one year old and is about full sized.

__________________
2003 Summer Super Moderator and Most Informative Award Winner

COG/TOG Member



It is my sworn duty to comfort the afflicted, and to inflict upon the comforted.