Nikon D40, D40x, and D60

In 2008, Nikon released the D60 digital camera. In talking with many D40 and D40x owner, I've heard the question, "What's the point?" Being very pleased with my D40x I spent 2 weeks with my buddy Steve Dugan researching which DSLR he should make his first. We looked at the D40x, D40, D60, D80, D200, and D300. Finally he chose the D60 for the following reasons:

• Camera Status: The D40, D40x, D60, and D300 have the newer more comprehensive camera status on the rear display. The D80 and D200 did not.
• Price: the D60 new with a nice VR 18-55 lens was less expensive than the D40x was last September. The D60 has most of the features of the D200 and many of the features of the D300 at 1/3 of the price.
  
• Eye Detection: the D60 recognizes when an operator is looking through the eye piece and turns off the camera status page on the back of the camera without having to press the shutter button half way down.
• Sensor Cleaning: Whereas no automated cleaner can clean up a dirty sensor or mirror (don't ever touch the mirror), the built in design works to keep a build up from occurring. When the camera is turned on, it vibrates a filter in front of the sensor to free up light-weight particles. Also, the D60 has a sensor cavity design that drains away the dust. Last the design directs any wind comping into the camera during a lens swap away from the sensor.

What is missing in the D60

There are some features that would be very nice on the D60.

• Greater lens choices: While it is getter better, the lack of an auto-focus motor in the D60 means that each lens must supply a motor. At this time, there is still no Nikon prime 50mm lens with a built-in auto-focus motor for the D40, D40x, D60 family of cameras. The 50mm prime lens is usually a very affordable piece that many photographers consider essential to any camera bag. Sigma has released a new 50mm prime with an HSM motor, but the Sigma representative at Precision Camera told me that the price tag will be close to $500, as opposed to the $150 price of the Nikon prime 50mm lens requiring a built-in auto-focus motor.
  
• Better remote shutter sensor: I'd like to see a sensor in both the rear and the front of the camera. For taking those bulb photos one must put the shutter remote in front of the camera pointing at the hand grip. This can be difficult to do if one has the camera pointing over something.
  
• Remote flash control: the ability to trigger a flash that is disconnected from the camera. The SB-600 and SB-800 can be remotely triggered.
• A Depth of Field preview button. Essentially this feature narrows the iris of the lens to the size that will be used when taking the picture.
• Live View: this feature is on the D3 and D300 which cost $1800, and $5000 respectively. However, Canon is offering live view in it's newer low end Rebel cameras.

Overall, owners of the D40x have little need to upgrade to a D60. D40 users wanting more resolution might consider a D60 if they don't mind selling their D40 for half of their purchase price. Unless Nikon releases a successor to the D80, the next Nikon camera to consider for upgrade is the D300.

Things I've Learned

It's been about 2 months since I started using my new camera. Here are some things that I've learned:

• Intentionally take pictures for at least an hour a week


• Take day trips with other photographers and have them critique my images


• Take camera classes at the local photography store (I use Austin's Precision Camera)


• Look at lots and lots of photos. There are great groups on flikr, 23, and Google, and Nikonnet


• Access the awesome photocastnetwork.com which has more than 10 superb audio and video podcasts dedicated to photography


• Do photography assignments. These are topics that are suggested by photography groups. I've been following the ones by Leo Laport, on The Tech Guy. For example, one of the assignments was capturing a photograph representing "contrast." Others were to capture the ideas of "trouble" and "yesterday."


• Think about how you want people to see the image you are capturing. This distinguishes a image capture from a photograph. A photograph conveys a story.


• Do "Digital Darkroom" post processing. Start with a simple free program like Google's Picasa2 and work up to GIMP or Photoshop.


• Share your work on a public photograph site. Show only your best work. Receive criticism on your photos and give criticism to others. Avoid saying "nice pic" or "Don't like it." Instead say things like "Creative use of color tones as well as capturing the subject at just the perfect time and angle. Consider shooting in more shade next time."

I'm a new Nikon D40x Digital SLR Photographer

Last week I bought a Nikon D40x, which is a Digital Single Lense Reflex (SLR) camera. I've been reading lots of reviews (after the fact) and learning as much as I can. Using my new camera and Google's Picasa2 Program, I made this photo. I took it at night during a baseball game. The catcher was about 400 feet from me. He's in the process of catching a base ball, which is the streak in front of his mitt. Click on the picture to see a much larger view of it.

Some of the useful links that I've found are:

• Austin's Precision Camera & Video sold me my camera. They are a top notch company and have prices that are close that to of other stores and within 10% of online prices. Camera purchases include professional classes that teach the customer how to use the camera. Precision Camera & Video's employees are enthusiastic about photography and at the same time they are low pressure. I was highly motivated to start taking pictures immediately.
• Nikonians - a sight dedicated to Nikon owners. If has a free and paid portion. Free users can access everything from the website and cannot post pictures. Paid members can post their pictures in varying degrees. Additionally, paid members can attend camera field trips around the world. Nikonians arrange the local travel, housing, found, and have camera coaches available for learning to take the most interesting pictures. I think I might have actually seen them at the Alluvial Falls are Rocky Mountain National Park at the end of July


• NikonNet - a website profiling established photographers photos including nice biographies


• GIMP - No it's not some naught site, it's the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is handy for powerfully touching up photos, using a concept called layers, on a budget. GIMP is freely available, and all of the pluggin's I've seen are also free. It appears that there are some branches of GIMP, one called GimpShop


• Piscasa2 - a powerful photo cataloging program. It's Google for your pictures. Piscasa, like Google Desktop, indexes photos, and understands the photo META data. It allows for captions that several programs understand and which survives image manipulations. Last, Picasa2 has the most popular image manipulation features that I use. Piscasa integrates with a Google account and allows for emailing photos, printing services, and making of CD's and DVD as well as sharing photos online. So, it's an overall excellent program.

Last there are some local Austin photography groups referenced at a post on Flickr

• Texas Photographic Society (TPS)
• Austin Shutterbugs
• Texas Documentary Photography Group