Nikon's first generation of digital SLRs started with the D1 of 1999 and continues in 2008 with the D40. The first generation has only primitive picture and white balance adjustments. If you're a pro who knows how, and actually controls his lighting perfectly, then you can get great results on Gen 1 cameras, but for most people who don't, Gen 2 cameras will give significantly better pictures. There are vast differences in real image quality between Nikon's two generations of digital cameras. Because camera makers have the masses worrying about pixels and bit depths, when Nikon makes significant advances, they're usually not obvious behind all the fluff. Like most marketing organizations and repressive governments, camera makers keep most people in the dark by keeping them worrying about easy-to-understand things which make no difference, like pixels and ISOs which are easy to describe with just one number, instead of trying to teach people what really matters,
