frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Welcome to the forum. I think your problem is in understanding how to get maximum focus. I would recommend you read up on the links others have sent, on depth of focus. I would also recommend to you an app for your phone, hyper focal pro. With it you can enter your camera lens, distance to first part you want in sharp focus (subject), and f stop. It will then show you what will be in focus. You can change the distance, lens in mm, or f stop to see what affect our has on the depth of field. It is a great learning took. Some one has already given the rule of thumb, focusing about 1/3 the way into your photo using F8- F-16.

Practice, practice, practice.

Shootist Loc: Wyoming

I suggest that you invest in a subscription to Photopills. The cost is minimal and they have loads of free tutorials covering how to get great photos. The best part is that an app comes with it (Android or Iphone) that has tools that help figure out depth of field, hyper-focal distances and much much mote. It can take the most of the grunt work out of setting up for good images.

Patricia Stoker Loc: Atlanta, GA

Hi Tay,
If you don’t mind accepting a Nikon D5100 that I can give you! It had approximately 10k clicks on it! If you would accept it as a token of holiday gratitude in this crazy world! If so please send me your name and address via a txt msg to 770 597 2681 and I can mail it out to you on the 17th when I venture to my next appointment! No strings attached! I am just trying to spread some cheer 🎄

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

I would look at something with more MP, I think yours has 6mp ( not positive) I bought a full frame, we travel the country in a motorhome taking pix. we printed a book. wasn't worth my time. Not a lot of interests in books like that unless you have pages of text of where you were ..Then they sell better..

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I shot the D40 for a long time. I print a lot (usually 11x14). I was surprised at how my prints improved when I bought my first D3000. I don't know your definition of "breaking the bank." I've been thinking of getting a used D3200 from MPB Camera Store (https://www.mpb.com/en-us/used-equipment/used-photo-and-video/used-digital-slr-cameras/used-nikon-digital-slr-cameras/nikon-d3200/ ). MPB has a great reputation.

As to the kit lens, I did an experiment (far from scientific) with the 18-55 kit lens and was surprised with it's sharpness.

As to losing focus, look up back button focus on Youtube and start using it. I started using it years ago and haven't gone back because I never lose my focal point anymore.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

IMHO D5600 is far superior, cheaper, has more fuctionality, and takes same images. Much easier to operate with touch screen, for example. Ther are many other advantages.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

D5100 is great camera but 16MB sensor. Later D5xxs have 24MB sensor.

However, OP should jump on your kind offer!

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Alas I find BBF incredibly annoying. Recently thought my Z6 had died because focus sucked. Then I remembered I had configured it for BBF. But not my Z50, which I find myself using most of the time and especially previous few days.

Anyhow, now fixed. I gave myself the dumbshit award.

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

Good suggestion. With PhotoPills you can actually use their augmented reality to locate an object at the hyperfocal distance to focus on. And augmented reality is a cool “in” thing. You can toss the term around.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

In order to upgrade your D40, your going to have to 'brake the bank' a little bit. your D40 has only 6.1 pixels, any used entry level D3200 on up has 24 pixels...that's a big upgrade from your D40 since you like to shoot landscape. Hope this helps.

alawry Loc: Timaru New Zealand

You're quite correct CO and I have reread your posts. I thought about the fact that there is a sweet spot and thought that might be too much information, I've not heard much about that for years. My main point was to study what camera settings were involved in previous success and try to learn from that. Thanks for chiming in one the thread, and sharing ideas. Best wishes, Andrew.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Tay asked: Can someone please help me with getting tack-sharp focus on my landscape shots?

Tay do not get hung up in big expensive cameras and difficult education. Enjoy photography, let the camera do its stuff, it is connected directly to a big brain in Japan! Seriously, my now old Panasonic TZ100 with a one-inch sensor and a great zoom lens has many abilities unthought-of years ago. I can set my camera to take multi-focus shots, one or more will be the tack-sharp image[s] you are looking for. My camera is 5 y old and surely improvements have been made. Learn to view the landscape thru your fingers tightened to a square view to limit and select the area for the photograph.

The TZ100 In a review [Sony, Canon also have their 1" models]:

"The integrated Post Focus mode is another great addition; it enables the TZ100 to take several different pictures with varying focus distances. You can pick your favorite from the spread after examining them all. Making perfect instrument photos has never been easier. Add to that 4k cropping capability and you’ve got most of the features included in most larger cameras." Also you can do a video scan of the landscape and select an 8 mp still from the array.
https://ite.st/g/panasonic-tz100-review/

Remember two important edit tools straighten and crop. Being human we take photos a little catawampus and so straightening is needed; we look for a level or vertical to reference our view. Crop to the story once you end the story on the right side, do not continue with garbage bags on the far right. Clone can help fill in bare spots. Horizontal flip can make the photo read better; we in western culture read from left to right. Foreground and sky also are often in excess; crop. Crop to 8x10 if you print at a local drug store.

If the image is not quite right, try a download of an almost magic Ai quick helper [$29]:
https://www.pixarra.com/luminance_studio.html

Keep a camera in your pocket 24/7 events happen and that 40 pounds of expensive DSLR on the closet shelf is not there when needed. Cellphones, OK, but not as versatile as the pocket 24/7 camera.

ecommons

It's the end of a bad years for stores. There may be some deals out there.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

OOPS, I misdirected not Luminance studio, rather I should have said Photolemur 3 for $35
https://photolemur.onfastspring.com/session/OwuzUfbARJ2J5QGG__a8_Q

For basic edit, there are many free programs and some lower cost as Paintshop Pro 2021 Ultra which has some Ai, also there is PSE 2021.

Try to stay uncomplicated, there are many who suggests you sign on to ransomware such as PS and LR and pay monthly while climbing a steep learning curve ... to achieve what? Better to use that money for fun quick plugins.

Keep it simple, KIS, and enjoy your photography

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

The 6MP D40 is pretty "ancient" for a digital camera. It was great in its day, but a lot has changed in the 14 years since the D40 was introduced. There are any number of more recent camera that would have much better image quality potential. HOWEVER, lenses actually matter more than the camera they are used upon. If all you ever use is the kit lens that came with the camera, chances are that lens is holding you back more than the camera. But, the D40 also has it's limitations in what lenses it can use. For example, there are modern "AF-P" Nikkor lenses that won't work on it.

I agree with other responses about your focusing technique. It's incorrect to focus on the most distant object. You need to learn to use "hyperfocal focusing distance" for landscape shots.

It's optional, but I'd also recommend getting out of the camera's highly automated "Landscape" mode, which is probably limiting you in various ways. Those "presets" are some programmer's idea of how a camera should work and can be wrong as often as they're right (as you've seen). They also typically automate far more than just the exposure mode... Might override your autofocus, white balance and other settings, as well as force you to save JPEGs (no RAW image files). These are "point n shoot" or "snapshot" modes. It sounds as if you want to move beyond that and take more control of the camera to be able to get better shots.

You weren't specific about what you have to spend on an upgrade, so I'm just guessing here. If I were shopping for a Nikon to travel with, I'd probably give the new Z50 mirrorless serious consideration. The nice thing about a mirrorless camera is that it's more compact and lighter weight than a DSLR like you're using now. But a "problem" is that mirrorless cameras are "hot" and that means manufacturers can practically charge anything they want for them. The Nikon Z50 with 16-50mm "kit" lens is almost $900, which is actually a pretty good deal for a crop sensor mirrorless camera with its specifications. Or, in a kit with both 16-50mm and 50-250mm telephoto zoom (which might be nice for wildlife, but may not see a lot of use for landscape photography) it sells for just under $1100. This ia s fairly new camera, so there it would be rare to find used and there are limited number of them selling at a discount as factory refurbished. There currently isn't a wide angle lens specifically for the Z50, but the Nikkor 10-20mm (see below) can be used on it via an FTZ adapter.

A more affordable alternative might be the D5600 DSLR in kit with 18-55mm Nikkor lens, which is selling new for just under $700 right now. (It's also available in two-lens kit with a 70-300mm added, but that's a pretty cheap lens and there are better options). In both these examples I've mentioned kit lenses, even though I suspect part of the problem you're seeing with your D40 is its kit lens. Kit lenses have improved quite a bit in the last 14 years, so I suspect you'd see much better results with newer lenses... even kit lenses. But, the D5600 is also available with an upgrade lens... a Nikkor 18-140mm. Unfortunately, with this better lens, the price goes up dramatically to nearly $1100.

An even more affordable option is the D3500 DSLR in kit with 18-55mm Nikkor, currently costing around $500. This is a more entry-level camera with more emphasis on automation and less on user control. But it might suit your needs. It also is offered in kit with two lenses, where the same 70-300mm zoom noted above is added to the bundle. That costs almost $600. One of the problems with the 70-300mm in both these kits is that it's Nikon's least expensive telephoto zoom and one of the features omitted is their VR image stabilization (which the kit 18-55mm has). This is opposite what it should be. Telephoto lenses benefit the most from having image stabilization. There is a Nikkor 70-300mm with it, but it costs $50 more and isn't offered in the kits with the camera. AFAIK, the D3500 is only offered in kit with one or more lenses, and there unfortunately isn't a kit option offered with the better Nikkor 18-140mm lens.

Another option and even better DSLR in many ways would be a refurbished D7200, which can be found for under $700, for the body only. This is a more robust and durable camera in many ways. But you'd have to buy a lens separately, and even the most basic 18-55mm Nikkor costs $200 or so, new, though it can be found for under $100 factory refurbished. The better 18-140mm Nikkor sells for about $500 new, but can be found refurbished for about half that amount. The D7200 camera is a discontinued model and is no longer available new. But it is commonly available factory refurbished because it's remained popular because many people consider it in some ways better than its successor.

All the above are 24MP cameras that use CMOS sensors, don't have an anti-alias filter and can produce 14 bit image files. What all this means is that they all will produce better images than your D40. The lens used upon them will be more of a limitation, than the camera itself.

If it were me, and the Z50 were just too much money right now, my first choice would be a D7200 or D5600 with the better 18-140mm lens. That would handle most situations well. For landscape photography, I would then add the Nikkor AF-P 10-20mm DX wide angle lens, which sells for about $300 new (or a bit over $200 refurbished). This wide angle lens is a real bargain!

D5600 (body only): $597 new (B&H), $440 refurbished (Nikon USA).
--- or ---
D7200 (body only). $694 refurbished (B&H)

Nikkor 18-140mm DX VR lens: $250 refurbished (B&H)
Nikkor 10-20mm DX VR lens: $219 refurbished (B&H)

I would also recommend good quality circular polarizer filters for landscape photography. This type of filter can do a lot to improve landscape images. The 18-140mm lens uses 67mm size, while the 10-20mm uses 72mm.

B+W F-Pro CPL 67mm: $69
B+W F-Pro CPL 72mm: $78
-- or ---
B+W XS-Pro CPL 67mm: $89
B+W XS-Pro CPL 72mm: $87

B+W F-Pro and XS-Pro filters are the same in most respects, except the XS-Pro are in "slim" frames and use extra "Nano" multi-coatings that make them more water, oil, dust and scratch resistant, as well as easier to clean.
I know the B+W listed are top quality filters that costs less than the most comparable quality from other manufacturers. There may be some good filters available for less money.

Another accessory popular with landscape photographers is a tripod, which allows longer exposures, can make for better images by eliminating camera shake blur and encourages planning your shots. That might be something to consider in the future.

Except for the D5600 body refurbished, which is only available buying it direct from Nikon USA's website, all the above prices are from B&H Photo's website. There are other reputable stores that offer the same products at similar prices (Adorama, Amazon Direct, etc.), however if you shop online you also may find "bargain" prices on some of these items or "bundles". Beware! Many of those are rip-offs! Frankly, be suspicious of anyone offering prices lower than B&H or Adorama, the two largest reputable and reliable online photography retailers.