First of all let me come clean. I was a huge fan of film SLR's but just as I got into photography along came digital. Financial and other constraints meant I was unable to pick up the digital baton immediately so I opted for the compact route into the concept. The next step was a bridge camera and my Fuji Finepix 5700 kept me happy for many years - although compact it at least had the look of an SLR.
However, a hankering for more creativity together with the extra resolution a digital SLR might offer caused me to save my pennies and enter the market.
The question was in which direction, which maker, which model? I was happy with Fuji and prior to that had been pretty pleased with my first compact which had been an early Nikon. I had used Canon with film and had not been unhappy. When it came to my new purchase I had been quite undecided and open-minded until the last minute but eventually plumped for Nikon. The choice then was D5000 or D3000. I guess in the end it came down to money and I was offered more kit for my hard earned by choosing the newer model.
Am I happy? So so.
I have had the camera for just over two weeks and to be honest I am still discovering its attributes. It feels good in my hands but one thing that I find frustrating is the drop down menu. I find it fiddly and time consuming. I guess I got used to the point and shoot attributes of the 5700, something I know I can do by using the automatic mode on my new purchase. But I do want to be creative and use the D3000 to its full potential. I am fairly happy with the results of my efforts with the camera so far. After all the camera is only the tool of the person using it and it has re-awakened my enthusiasm for serious photography. Once I het used to the intricacies of the D3000 I am sure I will be happy with it, it's just that frustrating drop down menu that gets to me. Regarding the in camera guide - I find that gimicky although I have no doubt there will be tose who find it useful.