Les Jones: Took the Plunge on a Nikon D40 and a Photography Class

January 07, 2008

Photos > Took the Plunge on a Nikon D40 and a Photography Class

I did it. Today I signed up for an eight week non-credit photography class at the Univ. of Tenn. that starts next Monday.

I also ordered a Nikon D40 digital SLR. What persuaded me to go with the Nikon over the Canon was Ken Rockwell's recommendation. He's a pro photographer who owns much more expensive cameras but uses the D40 for most things. He especially likes the small size and weight, nice LCD, re-programmable menus, and color histograms. He also likes it better than the newer D40x, which saved me two hundred bucks. (FWIW, it's about time for Nikon Canon both to release new cameras in this class, so the lower price on the D40 is probably a pre-closeout price, which is OK by me.)

His explanation of histograms and their use in getting correct exposure was really persuasive, since exposure is so critical for taking good pictures. The D40 has color histograms that are easily accessible. Ken also has a free Nikon D40 guide.

The only other extras I bought were a $9 UV filter to protect the lens and a $13 wireless shutter release. I'll eventually buy some other lenses, a camera bag, and a speedflash, but I'll wait until I take the class and have a better idea of what to get.

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Comments

I bought a Nikon D40 a little over a year ago. LOVE the camera, but should seriously take that class. I have a pretty decent understanding of photography, and f-stops, etc. in general, but there are so many bells and whistles on this thing...I carry a manual, but who has time to look it up when the shot is waiting?!

Congrats on the cam!

Posted by: Gnightgirl at January 07, 2008

Great. Congrats and enjoy.

Sorry I wasn't able to get by Knoxville so you could check mine out. Did you get the two lens package??

If so, that should cover 99% of the shots you would probably take (you might want a macro and/or fisheye too)

UV lens is good. You should also think about getting a polarizing lens and maybe a Neutral Density lens, but wait till you take the class to start thinking about them.

And a Speedlight. Light is important.

Posted by: countertop at January 07, 2008

Congrats. Nikon has really caught up with Canon and exceeded them in some areas like noise at high isos. I suggest shooting RAW and developing your own images in Photoshop for the best results. Don't be disappointed when looking at a RAW image right out of the camera. It's just a bunch of bits you have to push and pull in PS to bring the image to it's best. Have fun.

Posted by: fletch at January 08, 2008

Gnightgirl: you're way ahead of me. I'm just now trying to understand all of that stuff.

Top: I got the single lens kit. For a telephoto I'm thinking I may spend the extra moulah for a Nikon VR lens.

Fletch: I haven't played with RAW yet. After this class I probably ought to take UT's Photoshop class. I could use some help on the computer side of camera, too.

Posted by: Les Jones at January 08, 2008

Color me jealous -- not only do you have a nice new digital SLR, but you're going to take a photography course, too! I'm hoping to enjoy both by late summer.

Posted by: Pattie at January 08, 2008

Congratulations! Looks like a great camera. I may take the plunge soon myself.

I took a photography course at UT back in 1971...suppose things have changed any?!

Posted by: Mushy at January 08, 2008

Ya know, much as I'd like to make a crack about Flintstones cameras with little birds drawing pictures on stone tablets, most of the photographic stuff is the same. There are lots of extras you can do with the camera and a PC, but the basics haven't changed, but at the same time some of the extras can be a distraction from the actual picture taking.

Posted by: Les Jones at January 08, 2008

Get a 35mm f/2 or a 50mm prime to see what the camera is really capable of. There's nothing like shooting wide open to blur out the background. Not to mention they are SHARP and I know the 35 focuses relatively close.

Posted by: Ben at January 09, 2008

I still emphasize my camera critique: The swivel LCD rocks. A must for me now. For Tiki Daze I spent days photographing stuff with the tripod and if I had to use the fixed LCD, it would have sucked. It only looks good when you are right in front of it. There are really a lot fo times I take pictures NOT with the camera in front of my face. It is a HUGE shift that was not truly possible before. I have held the camera out over ledges and I could still see my frame and pick my shot, not just guess and hope. Hold it overhead at a crowded show and I can still see what I am shooting. But to have it at waist level, shooting into my light box and to be able to turn the LCD up to my face and see everything... Well. It's a paradigm shift of sorts. My video camera has down this for 10-15 years now...

And to toss my same 2 cents. You can Photoshop a lot, but you can't fix a bad picture completely. You always want to start with the best image and maybe tweak. A bad picture can't be corrected.

I tend to switch my Canon between Auto and P a lot. Let the camera figure out what it likes and often get a decent picture in a tough place (low light, motion, etc.) and then move to P and use my settings to get a more interesting shot with richer colors usually, etc, but maybe lose the crispness. The thing I need the most and suggest you learn well is how to change the focal point. I have trouble manually focusing a digital. Your Nikon will be easier of course. But I often want the camera to focus somewhere off center and get some depth of field and moving that focus box around is good to know.

Posted by: Swanky at January 13, 2008

I would really like to join this class late summer/early fall. Any suggestions of cameras (other than the Nikon D40) or things to do get ready? Great pics!

Posted by: Lauren Boardman at April 19, 2008