Hi all,

I once owned a Pentax Spotmatic 35 mm film camera in the 70s but that was the beginning and end of my photographic experience until about 6 years ago when I got a Sony Cybershot 3.2MP digital pocket camera as a Christmas present. The Sony was not a very good camera and did not last much more than a year but it was good enough to get me interested in digital photography.

That interest eventually led me to Renderosity and I have been posting images here for about five years. I have been using a Nikon 7900 Coolpix digital 7MP (7.8-23.4mm built in lens) pocket camera almost all of that time. After the Sony died, it is the second digital pocket camera I ever owned or used. 

I quickly discovered that it was just a so-so camera for most subjects and situations but it was very good at taking macro/close-up shots. With this discovery and my interest in little critters, it seemed only natural to pursue that genre of photography and soon, I was hooked. (For those who don’t know me, my Renderosity name is “leeco” and my gallery indicates my subject and style preferences).

This little camera fits in my shirt pocket. It is simple to operate, takes great macro shots, was reasonably priced and has been very dependable for the past 4 years or so. I am quite happy with it and am often amazed at the shots I manage to capture using it..

With that being said, eventually, I could not help thinking about upgrading to a digital SLR and the appropriate lens at some point in time.  I thought I would get the digital advantages of my little pocket camera but with more versatility and control, bigger images, bigger monitor, quicker responses, etc.  This thought seemed like a logical progression and eventually became such an insistent one that this past Christmas; I decided the time had come for this next step.  I did a fair amount of on-line research and read specs, compared brands and price lists, made my choices and ordered all the various equipment and accessories I thought might be suitable for my upgrade.

I got a Nikon D40x 10MP digital SLR camera body, an AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm auto focus-anti shake lens, an AF-S Nikkor 55-200 auto focus-anti shake lens, a close up lens set (+1, +2, +4, and 10x macro), an 8 GB memory card, 2 extra batteries @ charger, remote control, lens cases, lens cleaner kit, mini tripod, and carrying case for all.  I was more than a little excited when it all showed up. It was a stretch for me financially but I was positive it would open new opportunities for shots and improve my results.

As soon as I attempted to take my first shot with the new camera, I made a totally unexpected discovery that put a serious damper on everything.  It quickly became apparent that the monitor could not be used to preview a shot for focus or composition. Its only purpose is for accessing the menus and looking at the shots after they are taken. One must use the viewfinder to focus on the subject and compose the shot.  It turns out this is true of all Digital SLR cameras. Who knew? Not me! LOL!

You see, I usually get within arms length of my subjects and then extend the camera to within a few inches of them. Then by looking at the monitor, the image I see is big enough for me to adjust the focus and see all the little details of my little subjects. I don’t think I ever looked thru the viewfinder of my Nikon 7900 pocket camera in the 5 years I have had it.  Even after all the research I did, it never occurred to me that Digital SLRs and Digital pocket cameras had this fundamental difference.  I did not know enough to realize my new camera would not have this most useful (for me) aspect of my little pocket camera. I assumed all digital cameras operated basically the same. It turns out I cannot see the little details through a viewfinder (I even ordered a view finder eye-piece but I still have problems with getting a sharp focus in manual mode). The auto focus and anti-vibration features don’t seem to do any better.

I have not had the time to really spend on photography since before Christmas, however, I have made a few attempts to see if I could overcome this setback but with no success.  This has been very frustrating.  In addition to this viewfinder setback, I have also been unsuccessful with a number of other aspects of this new equipment.  For instance, my attempts to use the 55-200mm lens in order to shoot subjects at greater distances than I am used to has not turned out well.  I can’t seem to find the appropriate distance to take my shots. None so far have had the look of those my pocket camera takes.  Nor can I figure out how to use of any of the close up lens that came in the set I bought.  I don’t really even know if they are appropriate for my equipment or intentions.

As of now, I am sad to say my disappointments outweigh my expectations and I basically regret my decision to upgrade. My little pocket camera had fooled me into thinking I was becoming a photographer. Such is not the case as it turns out. I really am a point and shoot amateur, lol. I definitely need to learn a lot of new things about basic digital SLR camera equipment in general and specific techniques for what I bought. I am not sure when I will find time to practice.  I am not thrilled with the big camera bag I need to hold everything (this is the only drawback I had anticipated).  I am not sure I chose correctly with my choice of camera or lenses. I have not managed to take even one shot I feel is worth posting here.  My only satisfaction with the experience so far has been the fact that I fulfilled a long-standing wish - even if that wish turned out to be an ill advised one, lol.

As it turns out in my case - newer and bigger is not always better. Knowledgeable advice is always a good thing to seek.  Hands on experience out weigh spec comparisons and hopeful assumptions. Some wishes are better left un-fulfilled, lol.

I trust this may help someone else avoid the mistakes I have made when the desire to upgrade started nagging at me.  My advice is:  Think it through.  Try to actually use comparable equipment before buying something.  Don’t underestimate the good qualities of what you already have and don’t overemphasis its flaws either. 

Lee