I'm looking at buying a DSLR for myself?

I have shortlisted Nikon D40, Nikon D90 & Nikon D5000. I'm an armature photographer who wants to move from my Fuji FinePIX S1500 to a full DSLR.
Please suggest which one should be a good camera.

Does an armature photographer only take photos of electrical wiring coils?

On the other hand be careful buying Nikon or Canon, you are paying in part for the names. Have a look at Sony DSLRs where you get more for your money.

I was in the same position as you last year and i went for the D90.It was a great choice, the camera takes great pics and you can customise it to your needs.

Review can be found here http://www.kenrockwell.com/...on/d90.htm

The D40 is a discontinued entry level DSLR - can be had easily enough second hand. Depending on your budget, you might want to get something a little newer.

The D5000 is a replacement for the D60 model and again is a slightly higher spec, yet still entry levels DSLR.

The D90 is a higher spec still and is the most expensive of the 3. You may find it a little too much for your needs.

Nikon have also recently introduced 2 new models - the D3100 (will replace the D3000) and the D7000 (will fit between the D90 and the D300).

I would suggest either the D5000 or the newer D3100, depending on your budget.

Also consider the canon range

D40 is a really good option if you're on a tight budget. You can get one for as little as £150 used. Problem is it doesn't meter with non AF/AF-S/AF-I lenses, and only AF's with AF-S and AF-I lenses.

D5000 still doesn't have an AF motor, so that ends up being more expensive in the long run.

The D90, now thats a proper camera, with twin control wheels, a pentaprism, wireless CLS, and an AF motor.It'll be good as you expand beyond the beginner stage.

You could also consider a Pentax K-r or K-x. If you want a prosumer camera on the cheap have a look at the Nikon D70s (a D40 with all the good bits of the D90) or the D80 or the Canon 20D or 30D.