Nikon D40x. Can I make a professional portfolio with this camera?

I have a Nikon D40x… Can I make a "professional" portfolio with this camera? Or will my work appear inferior? What are my limitation as far as presenting a finished product with this camera? Also, when I make my next photography purchase what should I do first.buy my first "pro" lens or it is imperative that I up grade the camera? I want to be a contender not a pretender.

With a good lens, a command of the camera and decent lighting there's no reason you could not accomplish this.

If you think that a new camera body will dramatically improve your photography, you may find that you wasted money.

It has more to do with your skills than it does with the camera body. To me, photography is roughly 70% photographer skill, 20% lens quality, and 10% camera body.

I have seen experienced photographers turn out better shots with an entry level camera than an inexperienced person with a "professional" grade camera. I know one photog that can take better shots with his homemade pinhole cameras than a lot of people can do with regular cameras (of course, he has been doing it for 60 years).

Are you a professional? Then I would say you can.

Are you an amateur photographer? (amateur does not mean inexperienced).

Keep in mind, professionals typically make money, or do what they do (in the case you refer to, photography).

I would say you could make a portfolio with a Nikon D40. Or any other camera you know how to operate. The results are decided by how well you can use that camera.

If you have a good lens and know how to use your camera to its fullest and not have to use auto mode then yes.