(Ironically, there are no pics, because I don’t have anything to photograph it with.)
When we were planning on selling the house, I promised myself that I would get a digital SLR. So I’ve spent happy weeks researching stuff on the web, spending money I didn’t have. When it looked like we weren’t going to get as good as price as we’d hoped, I was doubly depressed, because I had been looking forward to it so much. There’s a lesson there, I think.
Anyway, it turned out as good as we’d hoped, so I felt I could spend up to 10,000 SEK on new stuff. Mmmm, stuff…
In the end, however, I decided on one of the cheapest cameras, the Nikon D40 kit. I paid 5,500 SEK for mine retail, it’s about 500 SEK cheaper online. If I register with Nikon I get a flash for free.
I chose Nikon because even though I have a thing for Olympus, I’m not really sure they’ll survive the brutal competition in the digital camera marketplace. I realise I’m doing my bit in undermining them by not buying their product, but so it goes.
I also don’t have a significant investment in optics, so I might was well start from scratch. Canon and Nikon are more or less equivalent, I chose Nikon because I perceive them as the underdog in the DSLR wars.
The reasons for the D40 were:
- price. It’s hard to find a cheaper DSLR. If I found out I didn’t enjoy taking photos as much as I’d hoped, I wouldn’t be out of a lot of dough.
- small size and weight. The Nikon D80 would have been within my budget, but it’s a lot larger and heavier.
- personal recommendation. My coworker Christopher has a D40 and was very happy with it. I got to try it out before buying.
- online evangelism. Ken Rockwell is a slightly controversial web presence with a thing for the D40. His user’s guide is a welcome alternative to the manual.
I chose the D40 over the newer 10 mpx D40X because 6 mpx is plenty enough for me.
Pros so far:
- low weight. This camera is really easy to carry.
- easy operation. The controls are well laid out and with the help of the guide mentioned above I’ve been able to find and play with different settings.
- Auto-ISO. This allows the camera to set the ISO automatically, which gives you another axis to play with when the light levels are low.
Cons:
- lack of autofocus with older Nikon lenses. This means that I cannot use older prime lenses like a 50mm or 35mm with autofocus.
- even if the camera is small and lightweight it’s still pretty bulky! The included zoom is partly to blame. This said, I wouldn’t miss a battery back or similar to extend my gripping options.
I’m using a 1GB SD card which was only about 150 SEK. The store didn’t have any clear UV filters, so I had to drive around town looking for one yesterday.
The included strap could be better. I’m looking for an alternative, perhaps something I can wrap around my wrist so the camera can be held in my right hand.
I’d also like a good bag, but preferably one whose styling didn’t scream “camera bag”.
I need to research alternatives when it comes to manipulating and storing pics online. I have a Flickr account but I also have my own box. I’d like simple software that will allow me to upload the pics and produce smaller versions and thumbnails automatically.