I've always been interested in photography. And I've been wanting a camera for so long now. Epiphany: I have a job now, let's buy one.

I went to a photography class of sorts today. It had two segments: one about a little trick in Adobe Photoshop and the other about the Gigapan System. All around the room hung photos by senior photographers. I mean seniors in the sense of kohai and sempai, not that they aren't also actual seniors in age(grandpas) which they are. Anyway, after the one hour session, I went up to the teachers to ask this question: For an amateur photographer just starting out, would it be better to get a DSLR or a point-and-shoot? (DSLR = the cameras that have a mirror and many lenses to switch around for any wanted effect; e.g. Nikon D40 / point-and-shoot = your usual digital cameras with one lens and set zoom of 3x, 6x, etc.; e.g. Nikon CoolPix)

What I understood from the short answer I was given and the amused look constituted this: look at your budget. If you can spend $500 or more, get the DSLR. If not, get the point-and-shoot.

Problem is, I also have specific kinds of pictures I want to take. Things that I get a feeling that I like and is different, my style. But I also want to just buy a CoolPix and have a camera already! I have a co-worker who bought a CoolPix for $135 or so and the other guys were basically saying he could have gotten it cheaper. That's right up my alley. I don't think I can buy in the $500 range; as much as I would like to take the photos I want.

So the choice is between Nikon CoolPix or Nikon D40. Cost is a big deciding factor.

i REALLY want the D40...

@random: I don't remember what I said, but shush you!
@midmoon: What, you don't get my genius? Come on!
@muffy: That's what I'm talkin' about! *high-five* See? HE gets my genius.
@lostsoul13: Yeah, but now I'm stuck in the middle. Can't type the old way and I suck at the right way.
@lost: Yeah, our weather is pretty good right now. *cheshire cat grin*

Plugs: randomjunk, middaymoon, The-Muffin-Man, LostSoul13, LostSoul13

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