| While far from being a professional photographer, I | | | | with focus motor, which cost around $250 a piece. |
| believe I have quite a good understanding of it as a | | | | The motor-less ones for this camera are in the range |
| hobby and I know what to look for in a camera. I have | | | | of $100) |
| been using a Nikon D40x for quite a while and as I | | | | - Great image quality in auto mode. For normal photos |
| started to realize that I have reached its limitations, I | | | | with low demands you don't need any post-shooting |
| decided I had to keep up with the trend in technology | | | | processing. |
| and move on to a new model. | | | | - The greatest flaw I came across was that the |
| For a while I was looking to buy a Canon 40D, until I | | | | buffer fills after 8-10 continuous shots in RAW mode |
| spotted the new Nikon D90. Here's a list of pros and | | | | and the camera will freeze for a couple of seconds. I |
| cons I came up with after several weeks of using it. | | | | haven't documented it properly, but it could be a |
| - Separate buttons on the camera to control | | | | software bug, as it works just fine when shooting in |
| parameters like ISO, shooting mode, white balancing | | | | JPEG mode. |
| and automated focus. So no more pushing one MENU | | | | - Also, the camera isn't weather proof, which is quite |
| button and browsing for ages to get to the function I | | | | surprising, since weather sealing is found on a lot of |
| need. | | | | lower class cameras. |
| - 12.3 Megapixel image sensor, pretty much enough for | | | | And a few tips, coming from my personal experience. |
| all needs. | | | | - Download Nikon ViewNX from Nikon's site, it will let |
| - Shoots great with high ISO settings. I managed to get | | | | you inspect images shot in RAW and allow you to |
| great photos at ISO 1600 and decent ones at ISO | | | | export to JPEG or TIFF for further processing with a |
| 3200! | | | | piece of software like Adobe Photoshop. |
| - A second LCD screen that shows the shooting | | | | - If you shoot directly in JPEG format, you should |
| parameters. Great if you messed with the settings and | | | | increase the sharpness, saturation and contrast default |
| forgot what mode you are shooting in. | | | | settings. It could be a matter of personal taste, but I |
| - Built in focus motor, allowing the photographer to use | | | | believe the pictures with these settings look more |
| cheaper lenses! (With my old D40x I had to buy lenses | | | | natural. |