Entry level question - Upgrade Nikon D40 to what?

[Ray Singh]

I have had my Nikon D40 for a few years now and am still very pleased with the shots acheived. Primarily, the camera was purchased to capture photos of my children growing. When i purchased it, it came with the stock 18 - 55mm lens, which had little reach especially when taking pictures of my children performing in school plays etc. I opted to purchase a 55 to 300mm Nikon lens to add to my reportoire.

Now I would like to update the body as I would like to be able to take movies of the children as well as stills. I have seen that more and more people are using DSLRs as video cameras. Is there a Nikon equivalen that I could buy that wouldnt break the bank and allow me use of my lenses?

Thanks for the help.

[SheriffAds]

Personally I would suggest that an upgrade depends on your ability. Are you using all of the functions on the D40 i.e. in manual modes etc? I mean no disrespect but if you are shooting on auto mode then I would say invest in a dedicated video camera for filming and keep the D40 for stills/holiday snaps etc.

However if you are using the D40 to the full extent where you are probably feeling restricted then upgrading the body will probably be welcomed and should you want to step up a notch to something like a D7100, all the extra buttons will be a god-send. In addition it will work with your present lenses and on older lenses too which your D40 wont. If that is a bit out of your price range then check out a D7000 which certainly still be leaps ahead of the D40.

Likewise depending on how you use the camera and your price range then perhaps a D3200 is worth considering - Camera World are presently doing a refurbished one: http://www.cameraworld.co.uk/new-equipment/cameras...

Also check out the D5100 with the flip out screen which would be useful for movie mode: http://www.cameraworld.co.uk/new-equipment/cameras... ignore the lens as it is for the body only.

All will be compatible with your old lenses

[budfox]

DSLRs do shoot good video quality video, but they are cumbersome, slow to focus and the video facility has always been an add-on.

As has been said, look at a dedicated video camera too.

However, a good upgrade from the D40 would be the D5200. It will produce great photographs of course, but it also has a flip out screen which is pretty important if you're going to shoot video on it.

If you go with the separate video camera then a D3100 or D3200 is all the camera most people will ever need.

Finally, in your quest, ignore the megapixel figures on new cameras. In this day and age they are utterly irrelevant.

[Ray Singh]

Thank you for your suggestions. The D3200 looks a good deal. I would want body only, so the refurished model shown in the link is ideal.

I appreciate the help. Thank you.

[R32]

If I were you I'd look at a separate video camera.

I upgraded from a d40x to a d5100 with similar ambitions, but soon realised that shooting video on a DSLR isn't all it is advertised to be.

The worst problem is focussing, which is a) noisy and captured on the audio of the video and b) slow and rarely focusses on what you want it to!

So I recently bought a Panasonic hd camcorder and whilst its a pain carrying two items around, at least I get usable video now!

[andy-xr]

I have video on the D7000, which come up on the bay quite cheap now. It's great quality, but suffers from focus problems and noise - you can hear lens zoom on the video if not using an external mic. There is a mic that sits on the hot shoe that's supposed to take away some of this noise, but some still stays.

Guess it's up to you what you want to do, there's always the option to use a prime and manual focus it

[budfox]

andy-xr said:

I have video on the D7000, which come up on the bay quite cheap now. It's great quality, but suffers from focus problems and noise - you can hear lens zoom on the video if not using an external mic. There is a mic that sits on the hot shoe that's supposed to take away some of this noise, but some still stays.

Guess it's up to you what you want to do, there's always the option to use a prime and manual focus it

Yes, I've shot video on my D7000 and you really do have to pre-focus and shoot accordingly. Primes are ideal for this. I also have a decent mic that sits on the hot shoe and works very well.

[ExPat2B]

I find the best way to get useable video on a DSLR is to pick a wide angle lens ( less that 20mm ), to set to to f8 for maxiumum depth of field, and use manual movie mode to pick the iso that gives the right exposure. Then focus the subject and and lock to manual focus.

This gives you nearly infinite depth of field and no focus problems. but you do have to be close to the subject and accept some distortion.

[Ray Singh]

I am really pleased with the reviews on the D3200 and am almost ready to press the buy button.

A couple of questions though.

I have read about an autofocus problem with this model - is it worth asking about the SW on the camera?
Does the re-furbished quote mean that the shutter count will be zero?
I have a standard 15-55mm lens that came with my D40, I presume that this will work with the D3200?
I also have a 55 - 300 mm lens which I purchased. Will this work with the D3200?
If anyone has experience of buying refurbished - does the unit come in a Nikon box with accesoires, such as strap etc? Its just that I will sell my D40 on Ebay in order to help pay for the D3200.

What size of memory card would you recomend for the D3200 - I have a 8GB card in my D40, but obviously that doesnt have to store video. 32GB cards seem reasonable, price wise.

So far, I have been a "Auto mode" photographer. But with the D3200, I plan to attend evening classes to learn how to actually take photos.

Edited to add - the D40 has a crop sensor, so I assume that the D3200 has similar? The D3300 doesnt have a crop sensor. Am i better off buying the D3200 or the D3300 - considering I have lenses specific to crop sensors (so im told).

Thanks in advance for your kind help.

Edited by Ray Singh on Monday 4th August 21:27

[Gad-Westy]

Ray Singh said:

I am really pleased with the reviews on the D3200 and am almost ready to press the buy button.

A couple of questions though.

I have read about an autofocus problem with this model - is it worth asking about the SW on the camera?
Does the re-furbished quote mean that the shutter count will be zero?
I have a standard 15-55mm lens that came with my D40, I presume that this will work with the D3200?
I also have a 55 - 300 mm lens which I purchased. Will this work with the D3200?
If anyone has experience of buying refurbished - does the unit come in a Nikon box with accesoires, such as strap etc? Its just that I will sell my D40 on Ebay in order to help pay for the D3200.

What size of memory card would you recomend for the D3200 - I have a 8GB card in my D40, but obviously that doesnt have to store video. 32GB cards seem reasonable, price wise.

So far, I have been a "Auto mode" photographer. But with the D3200, I plan to attend evening classes to learn how to actually take photos.

Edited to add - the D40 has a crop sensor, so I assume that the D3200 has similar? The D3300 doesnt have a crop sensor. Am i better off buying the D3200 or the D3300 - considering I have lenses specific to crop sensors (so im told).

Thanks in advance for your kind help.

Edited by Ray Singh on Monday 4th August 21:27

Can't answer all your questions but here goes:

I have read about an autofocus problem with this model - is it worth asking about the SW on the camera?

Not heard of this issue I'm afraid. Do you mean standard warranty by SW? If so, definitely ask.

Does the re-furbished quote mean that the shutter count will be zero?

This will depend who does the refurb and whether it involved a replacement shutter, I've heard of yes and no cases.

I have a standard 15-55mm lens that came with my D40, I presume that this will work with the D3200?

Any lens that worked on your D40 will work on your D3200.

I also have a 55 - 300 mm lens which I purchased. Will this work with the D3200?
Ditto, these are af-s lenses. They have a built in motor so will work just fine.

If anyone has experience of buying refurbished - does the unit come in a Nikon box with accesoires, such as strap etc? Its just that I will sell my D40 on Ebay in order to help pay for the D3200.

No experience with Nikon refurbs. When I bought a Fuji refurb it was as new. I'd be suprised to find anything different.

What size of memory card would you recomend for the D3200 - I have a 8GB card in my D40, but obviously that doesnt have to store video. 32GB cards seem reasonable, price wise.

With a 24mp sensor, I'd look at 16gb minimum, though 32gb is always handy. Go for decent cards though to help with write speed. Something like a sandisk 45mb/s would work nicely.

So far, I have been a "Auto mode" photographer. But with the D3200, I plan to attend evening classes to learn how to actually take photos.

Well worth it, it'll totally change your creativity.

Edited to add - the D40 has a crop sensor, so I assume that the D3200 has similar? The D3300 doesnt have a crop sensor. Am i better off buying the D3200 or the D3300 - considering I have lenses specific to crop sensors (so im told).

All of them are crop sensors. The D3200 and D3300 share the same sensor more or less but the D3300 loses a layer of filtration which can sharpen things up but we're talking very fine margins. There are some additional bits and bobs on the D3300 but we're splitting hairs here. The D3200 is nice bit of kit and a useful step up from a D40.

[Ray Singh]

Thanks for all the advice.

No i have to work out if its better to just stump up the money for a new D3200 which will come with battery etc, or if the refurb and a battery will work out better.

The problem is that if i sell my D40 - whoever buys it will want a battery and charger and strap etc.....

[Gad-Westy]

Ray Singh said:

Thanks for all the advice.

No i have to work out if its better to just stump up the money for a new D3200 which will come with battery etc, or if the refurb and a battery will work out better.

The problem is that if i sell my D40 - whoever buys it will want a battery and charger and strap etc.....

Not sure if I've missed the point here but the D40 and D3200 use totally different batteries. I'd be amazed if a refurbished camera came without a battery and a charger.

[Ray Singh]

Apologies, I assumed a single type of battery for most Nikon Cameras.
I mailed the company selling the refurbished D3200 - no response.

I will call them in the morning.

[Ray Singh]

Good evening.

Thank you to those who advised me above. I have just got back home following a trip to (grotty) Swindon town centre. I purchased a refurbished Nikon D3200 from GW cameras at £199.99.
I was amazed, they gave me all of the boxes and asked me to choose the one i wanted. They were all idenitcal. My choice was a smart looking model with a Nikon box and a shutter activation count of 1!

Battery is already on charge and i am desperate to have a go.

I will put my D40 on Ebay in the morning - unless anyone on here wants to buy it!

Thanks again to all of you and to the wonderful Pistonheads forum