Really?

I find my D80 over-exposes normally. I dial it back to -0.7.

I may have it the wrong way around! They changed something on the D300 i seem to recall reading. Funny though, I used D80's extensively in the Middle East and always found the exposure about right.

Shooting in RAW negates it anyhoo.

http://www.nikondigitutor.com/eng/d40/index.shtml.

Just had a quick look thru the above link and can't see any built in sharpening in the camera menu on the D40. It is the Nikon entry DSLR model so maybe it wasn't included

Higher up the range image sharpening in the camera menu is available which is handy.

I would suggest when ever possible to shoot in manual mode ( don't forget to set the dioptics for your eyesight).

Bazza

Cancelled xxxxx

Ok, so it seems that I need to shoot in Jpeg (for now) for best results. I am thinking of trying a few postcard/greeting card etc., companies in the near future, to try and make a little money from my images. I think they want Raw images, over Jpeg, but I'm not sure. Also, a bit off topic, but if I was to submit some of photos, would I need to copyright them first?? The only copyrighting facillity I currently have, is through Picassa. I have very basic editing software (only Picassa and Adobe Elements v5), as money is very tight.

Thanks.

I don't know where people are getting the notion that RAW is inferior to Jpeg - that simply isn't the case even unedited. In fact, the opposite is true.

Your pictures may be out of focus for a variety of other reasons, slow shutter speed, movement, camera shake, etc... post a typical example with the efit data and we will have a better idea to help you.

your pictures are automatically copyrighted, you dont actually have to take any action - but it doesnt harm to attach a copyright rights reserved caveat.

On focussing - use auto focus and then switch to manual focus to finish. Can you calibrate your lenses to your camera as you can on the D300? That could make a difference. 3rd party lenses can require calibrating to the body.

Exposure - use the exposure guide in camera and then made ev adjustments to suit - it may also be by virtue of the subject you are photographing that your exposure isnt spot on. What metering are you using?

Copyright is a legal position rather than a physical thing isn't it? If you submit the pictures as the photographer then you will either continue to hold copyright or else may relinquish it (i.e. sell it or give it away) under the terms of the contract you are entering into when you sell your pictures, enter a competition or even place them on a website. I guess you mean making the pictures have some embedded marking to say they are yours. Can you do that with your camera like on my D70 and D300?

Not sure anyone has said that JR. Seems to me it's pointed out that RAW comes out of a camera unprocessed and jpgs come out already tweaked by the in-camera processor as developed by the manufacturer. Typically jpgs come out looking better, probably sharper and more vivid, and may even mean pictures from a compact can look at face value as good as anything from an unprocessed DSLR RAW. Most of us know the RAW gives more flexibility for post processing so long as you have the skill to achieve it.

You can't calibrate lenses to match on a D40 it's an entry level DSLR. I think the D300 is one of the first to offer it in the Nikon amateur range.

Anyway Sally, looking through your album shots I really don't see any problem at all. Your pictures seem to be to a good standard and without issue. Are you a photo-hypochondriac?

That's because BlackCloud, I have edited them before putting them on! But thanks for the nice comment! I think I may be photo-hypochondriac though, as I never think my photos are good enough! Maybe I am just too much of a perfectionist, for my own good.

So, my photos are copyrighted already, because they are mine? But what if a company I contacted said they weren't interested in my photos, but then used them without me knowing? I know they would be in trouble, if I found out, but if I didn't??

My D40 is only an entry level SLr, but it's all I could afford. I would love one of the more professional models one day, but they are so expensive!