Sheets wrote:So I'm looking at getting my first dSLR since I just can't get the quality I want out of my point and shoot.
In anycase, for climbing and nature photography does anyone have any opinions on the Nikon d40 vs. the d50? I know there are like a million reviews out there but without any dslr experience I have a hard time knowing who to trust.
The D40 is a good introductory model as goes d-SLR. I own a D50 and a D80. I like the D50 for its light weight, but I never use it anymore as my D80 is a superior camera. The D40 more or less represents Nikon's effort to get the point-and-shoot photographers into SLR with a relatively low cost and easy operation. In this sense, the D40 was made to replace the D50. If you're like many of us, you will buy the D40 and before long it will become a backup camera.
In a nutshell, the D40 is Nikon's least expensive and lightest model d-SLR. The D40 has been put together without some of the shortcomings of the D50. It will take very good pictures. In my opinion you should give consideration to what Cannon has to offer as an alternative to the D40 and forget about the D50. See the following review for all the details:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/NikonD40/