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Film or Digital?
Nikon makes a full line of SLR cameras in 35mm film format or digital cameras. In film format, Nikon offers the F-6 and the FM 10. Nikon's digital offerings include the D series of cameras, a line that includes about 10 models. Although features vary from model to model, all SLRs have similar characteristics.
Lenses
One of the defining features of an SLR camera is that the lenses are removable. You can purchase multiple lenses for use with an SLR camera to increase the camera's versatility. Nikon's lenses for its film cameras are interchangeable with its older, manual film line of cameras. However, its digital line of lenses is manufactured exclusively for use with Nikon digital cameras. To change a lens, remove the front cap from the Nikon SLR and the back cap from the lens. The lenses are bayonet-mounted, which means you line the mountings up and twist them to snap them securely in place. Always line up the mounts so that an indicator dot on the lens matches an indicator dot on the camera. Never force the lens onto the camera.
Automatic Features
For photographers who don't wish to set their own shutter speeds (ss) and aperture modes (f-stops), or who haven't learned these features, many Nikon cameras come with settings preset into a control wheel. The wheel has a green indicator setting that turns the camera on to fully automatic. For many Nikon cameras, this wheel is on the top left side of the camera. Other features on this wheel include a fully manual setting (M), aperture priority (A), Shutter priority (S), and a host of "creative modes" that are pre-programmed for taking photographs under specific conditions, including portraits, landscapes, backlit pictures, action and closeups.