[Uncle Erik]

What about your headphone fund?

In what ways have you outgrown your D40? I got my Dad one for Christmas and think it's a very capable performer. Not terribly different from my D70s, either.

Unless you're doing heavy professional work or need a new feature, I think you're suffering from upgraditis. That's OK; we all do. Why not try a new lens? And it takes all the Nikon flash systems, I believe.

Something to keep in mind is that a lot of the great photographers did their work with cameras nowhere near as good as a D40. They would have killed to have 2,000 exposures on one chip, not to mention doing away with light meters and physically carrying film.

If you really want an upgrade, take a photography course. Buy a book on composition and better your skills. A few hundred hours devoted to compensation will make much more of a difference than a few more megapixels or a more sophisticated autofocus will.

The D40 is a good camera that takes great photos. Use the hell out of it and make yourself a better photographer. When it breaks or you really need the features, get a new one.