genevh wrote: they all have the same easy point-and-shoot mode as the little p&s cameras.
uh..my D300 doesn't. I've got Manual, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Program modes. Program is probably closest to full Auto that I have, but it doesn't compensate for whether I'm shooting portraits or action shots, or any of the other auto modes that some of the P&S cameras come with. Now, my D70s does have a few of the auto modes (action, macro, landscape, and portrait) along with a full auto mode, along with the Manual, Shutter, Aperture, and Program modes. But I haven't shot with it since I got my D300.
Yep, I was talking about P, Program mode. It's totally automatic, point and shoot. I did not mean any of what I consider special modes, like Sports or Portrait or Landscape.
I had something kind of funny happen the other day. I was out with DD, DM, and DS and wanted a photo of the 4 of us together. I handed my p&s to a stranger and asked her if she'd take our photo. She said sure but as she was getting ready she stopped and said, "Oh, oh, it's in P, not auto mode." I assured her that was OK and she could go ahead and shoot. And we actually all ended up with nice smiles in that one, amazingly.
Courtney