I've used a compact digital camera for the past few years. A couple of months ago, however, I decided that I wanted more manual controls and greater zoom capabilities, so I started the search for a new camera. I found myself wondering whether I wanted another point-and-shoot or whether I should look into an SLR.

Most of my experience had been with compact cameras, but here's what I knew about SLRs. SLR is short for "single-lens reflex." These cameras offer more controls, more options, and more heft than compact point-and-shoot cameras. While a larger size isn't exactly desirable, more options and controls were definitely what I was looking for. A digital SLR would give me the ability to change lenses to get the greater zoom capabilities that my point-and-shoot cam lacked. More controls would let me take my camera off auto mode, learn the more advanced features and get creative with my shooting.

After some serious research, I decided to go with a digital SLR, and more specifically the Nikon D40. (While my article doesn't delve into the details of choosing a digital SLR camera, Dave's article does. It's a great resource if you're in the market for a new camera, with a lot of tips on what to look for in a digital SLR.)

The D40 is a small, entry-level digital SLR camera.

During my pre-purchase research, I learned the following about the D40: It's a 6.1-megapixel digital SLR, and comes in a kit with an 18-55mm lens. The D40 is also one of the smallest SLRs available, which made it a great choice for me — I'd found that other SLRs felt clunky in my small hands. Another attractive aspect was this camera's price. As an entry-level cam in the digital SLR market, it was within the same general price as higher-end compact cameras, but the D40 came with the manual features I wanted. With my decision made, it was time to head home and try out the new camera.

First impressions

As I opened the box, the first thing I noticed was the larger size. I've carried my slim compact cam in my pocket and handbag for two years, and this SLR definitely wouldn't fit in a small handbag, let alone my pocket. The D40 was heavier than my small camera, but that was a good thing. I expected the D40 to be a solid camera and it was — it felt sturdy and well-built in my hand.

I charged the battery, attached the kit lens, and was ready to go. Some digital SLRs use CompactFlash cards, but the Nikon D40 uses SD™ cards. I was able to reformat the 1-gigabyte SD card I'd been using in my compact camera and use it in my new camera — very convenient.

I wanted to see how the picture quality compared to my old cam, so I snapped a few photos in auto mode. It wasn't the greatest test, since the subject was my cats lounging in a darkened living room, but I could see an improvement in the image quality and color reproduction, even on the 2-1/2" LCD screen. Then I turned the camera off and spent about an hour reading the owner's manual. While it was easy to turn on the camera and take photos in auto mode, I knew I'd need the manual to figure out the D40's more advanced controls.

Over the next few weeks, I got the chance to test out the camera's advanced functions at some local parks. I noticed a vast improvement in photo quality when compared to photos taken with my compact camera. I only stepped from a 4-megapixel to a 6-megapixel cam, but the photos were crisper and the colors were more accurate. Some of that was undoubtedly the result of a larger, better quality lens. The best part of my new camera was the increased creative control over my photographs. Even a simple feature like manual zoom made a big difference. I framed scenes precisely as I wanted, instead of relying on the preset zoom stops that my compact camera offered.

The D40 did a great job capturing the fading sunlight at a park near our office.