FlyOrDie

The 18-55 is just a good all around lens. I think in the long run most people would be better off getting a SLR versus a little point and shoot because with the SLR you at least have the opportunity to grow and expand your photography if you so desire. You can always buy a new lens or do ultra long exposure stuff which you can't really do with a point and shoot. Another cool thing is using antique glass. My dad gave me his old 35mm Nikon F2 with a couple lenses. I slapped the prime Nikkor 55mm 1:1.2 1970s vintage lens on and got the picture below. Granted you have to use the camera in full manual mode which isn't that hard.




The cockpit shot was from this C118. I've never actually flown this airplane. As far as using the other guy's instruments generally my stuff all works well by 1960s standards.

Kasserine06

Is that true for just the D-40 or will it work with the D-80, which has the auto focus motor built into the body? I have about 6 lenses from the 70s-90s so it would be great if I could use those.

AZFlyer

If your lenses are Nikon F mount then they will work just fine with your D80. As an added bonus, if your older lenses say AF on them (not being full manual lenses), then you should have autofocus ability as well.

usmc-sgt

Update:
After reading this thread over about 15 times, a few PMs, and a TON of reading online I made my Xmas decision and purchased a camera!

I decided to go with the Nikon P90.

The main reason is that I have decided that I will never (I know me pretty well) will go anywhere with the specific plan to take a photo. I have also decided that I need something as portable as I can get it so it will fit in my flight bag with limited worry of damage.

The specs I am happy with over the D3000 is the 15FPS burst which is something I will use on occasion and I like the zoom of the lens and the simplicity of the camera.

The 3000 does not have as good of a FPS although it does have a much slower shutter speed option which I did like. I like the photos at night of planes landing with the 30 second shutter speeds. The P90 only has an 8 which will limit me in some regard with those photos but it will get the job done to a certain extent.

Bottom line is that the features are near identical between the P90 and the 3000 so I will not be limited in that aspect and I just did not feel that the extra weight and cost of lens' would be what I was looking for.

I have played with the panorama feature as well and I really like that. If the airplane is still I may not have a wide angle lens but I can capture the entire thing in two shots with a seamless stitch through the software which I find interesting.

My wife (who knows me more than I know me) also made a good point that if after a year or so I decide I cant live without a DSLR I will go any buy one anyway. I do not feel this camera will let me down as a basic point and shooter I think I can do some good things with it.

I have decided to take advantage of the rest of your advice that it is the shooter and not the camera as well. I am doing all the research I can on ISO, Shutter speeds, Aperture and everything in between. I also just downloaded gimp and will read all the tutorials so I can take a technically sound photo and get it just right in post production.

Thanks for all your input!