nikon D40 or D3000?

lol thanks I wanna learn to use the advanced features (other than auto mode)

I just went to walmart.com and did a print screen of the price of the camera, took it to BB and they said "sure, we'll match that". I also got a polarized filter for 6 bucks, it was normally 20 but in the wrong spot

 

Throw away that polarizer. A $20 polarizer will hurt your photos more than help them.

 

^^ really? how come? I also got a clear filter as well

 

I'm a Canon shooter so I'm not too familiar with the nikon line but compare the sensors of both cameras. Are any full frames? If they're both crops get the cheaper one and put the money into some nice glass. If your doing it as a hobby or just using it for snapshots you'll get better use out of glass than you will from fancy features. I purchased an entry level canon and two kick ass lenses that are worth way more than the camera but the lenses
make such a big difference

 

Camera lenses have many elements, the front element, rear element, and all the glass inside. Even with a less expensive 'consumer' grade lens, putting a cheap filter in the mix will degrade image quality.

I don't believe in filters for protection. Using a clear/UV filter just to avoid damage to the front element isn't something I would do unless I was in seriously harsh conditions (dust storm, sea/ocean spray). I've experimented with a 'clear' filter before (Hoya multi-coated) and while the images didn't look degraded, I often got light refraction when shooting with the sun in the background.

As far as circular polarizers or neutral density filters, those actually accomplish a specific purpose for the image, so those are the only one's I actually use. That said, if I'm going to introduce another piece of glass in the image taking process, I want it to be of high quality to minimize any quality impact on the photo. Even with the highest quality B+W circular polarizer (I currently have the B + W 77mm Kaesemann Circular Polarizer Multi-Coated Glass Filter - http://www.adorama.com/BW77CPLKM.html) on pro-grade lenses, you still get a little worried about sticking a $200 filter on say a $2500 70-200 f/2.8 lens.

Well, I'm not saying a polarizer isn't worth using. I'm saying the quality of a $20 polarizer is in question.

 

I agree. While I am by no means an expert in photography, and barely an amateur, I bought a couple of those 20 dollar filters from BB and two out of the three were junk, straight out of the box. Like you said, it just doesn't make since to have $500+ lenses utilizing a sub-par filter in front of it. While my most expensive lens is roughly 600 dollars, I can still assure you that my next filter purchase will only be of the highest quality filters.

 

I 3rd that opinion. I didnt wanna piss on anyones parade in another thread but any filter found at best buy is crap. HOYA & B+W are just a few of the high grade filters, and even then you gotta make sure you get the multicoated fiters. Layers are applied unevenly on filters which make light refraction and image distortion very common. My Polarizer was $89 and my UV Filters were each $60-$70 but Id rather spend my money on the correct item the first time.

Heres a great read on filters:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=807555

 

Thanks for the info on filters guys.

 

Still rockin my D40 and 18-55

 

Here are some last night from the D40:

 

I have the D3000 and I love it! enjoy your new camera!

 

Hi Jen

 

Have a D40 myself. Just picked up a nikor 35 f1.8 prime

 

Are those straight from the camera or you did a little touch here and there?

 

All I did in PS was add the vignetting and watermark.

 

ok Ive been taking some shots around the house and well...

How the hell do I take a pic where the subject is in focus and the background is blurred? Ive tried putting it on Aperture priority and setting it at its lowest (4.5) but it doesnt change anything...

 

Depth of field is determined primarily by the aperture setting, which you did correctly attempt to adjust. f/4.5 isn't very low at all though.

The smaller the f-stop number, the larger the aperture, and the shallower the depth of field. f/2.8 and under will get you the very blurry backgrounds (aka bokeh).

But note that the depth of field / bokeh effect is also affected by your lens' focal length, the distance you are away from the subject in focus, and a little bit by the distance the subject is away from the background.

Rather than type up an entire lesson on DoF, watch this video by Mark Wallace:

http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=OUYuUs1aaCU

It's a pretty good primer on DoF.

 

THanks. Ive been doing alot of reading today so far and im understanding some of it.

Im looking at getting this lense
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/247091-GREY/Nikon_2137_Normal_AF_Nikkor_50mm.html
Nikon 50mm f 1.8d

that was a great video and exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

 

Make sure you buy US, not grey market.

US version of that lens: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/247091-USA/Nikon_2137_Normal_AF_Nikkor_50mm.html

Grey market has no warranty.