I should have ever got a DSLR!!

[r.spitz09]

I think the bug has caught me, I bought a D3000 just about 2 weeks ago now, picked up a couple lenses took alot of shots. Now I find myself looking on sites trying to find my next body. Thinking hey I can give my D3000 to the wife and get a new D90 or D300. I keep this up I'll be broke by summer lmao.

[Old Timer]

You have the right mentality to be a great photographer. I was making the same rationalities back in the 70's now I own about 15 different cameras and can't seem to part with any of them.

[Loupey]

Two weeks - that's quick!

I usually start getting the itch after about a year.

I think you caught the bug

[r.spitz09]

I'm kinda regretting getting the d3000. I originally was going to get the d90 buut decided the D3000 was "all I'd ever need". Lol oh well at least the wife pretends to understand.

[Nicci]

Yep the bug has hit. That is one reason I started off with the D90. I knew it was a camera I could grow with. I recommend it HIGHLY!

[Singletracklovr]

What exactly is the D3000 not doing for you?

[SmartWombat]

Ah, just don't turn into one of these ...

[r.spitz09]

What exactly is the D3000 not doing for you?

Just having some trouble with it in low light. And wildlife in motion shots. I'm sure alot of it is a user not equipment problem but not entirely sure.

[Franglais]

Just having some trouble with it in low light. And wildlife in motion shots. I'm sure alot of it is a user not equipment problem but not entirely sure.

I have a D60 which is very similar to the D3000 (better focussing system on the D3000). I also have the D300. In low light I use the D300 but the D60 is not far behind.

I think that you may be expecting too much from an upgrade to the D90 or D300. Take the time to understand what's going wrong. Post some examples here so we can maybe find out what the problems are. And shoot a lot more (see Smartwombat's cartoon)

[r.spitz09]

I have a D60 which is very similar to the D3000 (better focussing system on the D3000). I also have the D300. In low light I use the D300 but the D60 is not far behind.

I think that you may be expecting too much from an upgrade to the D90 or D300. Take the time to understand what's going wrong. Post some examples here so we can maybe find out what the problems are. And shoot a lot more (see Smartwombat's cartoon)

Ya I was kinda thinking that might be the better route. I posted a few pics in the help forum to see what I am doing wrong. Thanks for all the responses, You guys may have saved me a bunch of money lol.

[LightBright]

I am sure with practice you can overcome any weakness your camera may seem to have. In low light, you have a 50mm f1.8 lens and I don't think noise should be to much of an issue. I have recently borrowed a old canon 20d, and even that camera paired with a fast cheep lens can get great results at iso 1600 (which is its max sensitivity). Focusing on wildlife and subject's in motion can be tricky, but even slow cheep telephoto lenses can be used efficiently when you learn how to properly track and predict where your subject matter will be.

Good luck and yes photography is very addicting, especially camera gear!

[Singletracklovr]

Ya I was kinda thinking that might be the better route. I posted a few pics in the help forum to see what I am doing wrong. Thanks for all the responses, You guys may have saved me a bunch of money lol.

I looked at most of the pictures and EXIF data in your user gallery and have a few general camera setup suggestion.
Most of your pictures have shutter speed of 1/2500, ISO is set to 100. This is causing the camera to open up the lens in most cases to its max giving you a very narrow depth of field (area in focus) and in most cases under exposing the images do to the high SP.

I would like to suggest you try these settings and see what you think.

For your 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G, and 50mm f/1.8D
Sunny day ISO 200, Cloudy day, evenings or indoors ISO 400
Camera mode-Shutter Priority
Stationary subjects- shutter speed 1/125
Moving subjects 1/250

For your 55-200mm ED VR zoomed to 200mm
Sunny day ISO 200, Cloudy day, evenings or indoors ISO 400
Camera mode-Shutter Priority
Stationary subjects- shutter speed 1/250
Moving subjects 1/500


These setting should allow your lens to close more which will give you a much better depth of field (more in focus) and your pictures should be much sharper and brighter.

Unless your subject is 3-10 foot in front of you, with perfect light over your shoulder you will need to perform PP to tweak the image. We all have to do it.

hth

[r.spitz09]

Thank you for this Singletracklovr. One question would I use the same settings for indoors with flash? I just tried some shots with the 50mm indoors with natural light in through the window with and without flash in shutter priority mode the f stops never went any lower than f1.8 so I still had a very shallow depth of field.

[Singletracklovr]

Thank you for this Singletracklovr. One question would I use the same settings for indoors with flash?

No, use a shutter speed of 1/60 with the flash. If the photo is still too dark bump the ISO even more give 800 a try.

I just tried some shots with the 50mm indoors with natural light in through the window with and without flash in shutter priority mode the f stops never went any lower than f1.8 so I still had a very shallow depth of field.

Yes f1.8 will have a very narrow DOF
I use this website( thank you Charles) to help me understand DOF
http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

In shutter priority mode keep dropping the shutter speed until you get the f-stop you want.
If that number is lower than 1/30 you need a tripod or up the ISO or increase the ambient light in the room

I will offer one more really good read ( thank you Loupey).
The 4 Basics

hth