Nikon d40 /d40x

[Knick Pee]

ok....following on from my "what starter camera" thread and all the advice i was given, i have come to the conclusion that i will probably purchase a d40 or d40x.

I'm on a tight budget as the missus doesn't want me 'going mad'

however, i have a couple of issues:

is the extra money for the 'x' worth it?

What is the 'lens issue' I have seen discussed with both these? something to do with auto focus?

Please bear in mind I am a total camera buffoon who has only ever 'pointed and shot'!!!

I have come to that stage in life where I totally resent paying £30 for a school photo when I think that I could probably take the same standard picture with a half decent camera!!!

Edited by Knick Pee on Thursday 13th December 09:39

[miniman]

Knick Pee said:

What is the 'lens issue' I have seen discussed with both these? something to do with auto focus?

The lens issue is that some of the Nikon lenses have a built-in motor for auto-focus (AF-S), and others don't (AF). Some Nikon bodies have an AF motor within them to work the lenses that don't have a motor, but the D40 doesn't have one. This limits it to only supporting lenses with a built-in motor.

So in brief, if you go with the D40 / D40x you will be limited to AF-S lenses.

IMHO you would be better off with a second hand Canon 350D and put any savings towards some nice lenses, e.g. the fantastic 50mm f/1.8 which is only £50 or so.

Edited by miniman on Thursday 13th December 09:59

[oldskool]

miniman said:

Knick Pee said:

What is the 'lens issue' I have seen discussed with both these? something to do with auto focus?

The lens issue is that some of the Nikon lenses have a built-in motor for auto-focus (AF-S), and others don't (AF). Some Nikon bodies have an AF motor within them to work the lenses that don't have a motor, but the D40 doesn't have one. This limits it to only supporting lenses with a built-in motor.

So in brief, if you go with the D40 / D40x you will be limited to AF-S lenses.

IMHO you would be better off with a second hand Canon 350D and put any savings towards some nice lenses, e.g. the fantastic 50mm f/1.8 which is only £50 or so.

Edited by miniman on Thursday 13th December 09:59

That's a bit misleading. The D40 is compatible with all Nikon lenses produced from the 1960s to present day. However although as stated, it will only auto focus with those that have a built in motor, it will also happily auto focus with third party lenses that have a built in motor, eg Sigma's "HSM" lenses. Any non-AFS Nikon mount lenses will also work fine, but you would simply have to focus and/or meter (if the lens is more than about 20 years old) manually.

Edited by oldskool on Thursday 13th December 10:13

[miniman]

oldskool said:

That's a bit misleading. The D40 is compatible with all Nikon lenses produced from the 1960s to present day. However although as stated, it will only auto focus with those that have a built in motor, it will also happily auto focus with third party lenses that have a built in motor, eg Sigma's "HSM" lenses. Any non-AFS Nikon mount lenses will also work fine, but you would simply have to focus and/or meter (if the lens is more than about 20 years old) manually.

True, but he did say that he's a beginner and I would doubt that starting out with no AF would be ideal...

[GetCarter]

If you're happy to leave the kit lens on a D40, then it's a great buy. If you want to start building up a collection of lenses (for motorsport etc), either move up to the second-hand D50 or buy a Canon.

The D40X has a bigger sensor than the D40 and produces better photos.

£269 with 18-55 lens is storming value for a D40
£359 with 18-55 lens is even better for a D40X
If you can possibly stretch - £591 for a D80 with the 18-70 is FAB

all from www.Warehouseexpress.com

ETA I don't know Canons but £399 for a 400D woth 18-55 looks good.

Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 13th December 10:50

Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 13th December 13:01

[Knick Pee]

all good stuff that is helpful chaps, thanks.

keep it coming. I'm using it all for ammo with the missus.

[Cuban]

I was pretty much in the same place as you and went with the D40.

I added the 55-200mm f/4-5.6 AFS G lens and that gives me the 2 options I feel
I only need at this stage.

Been totally delighted with the camera and lenses, so a big thumbs up from me.

[Gingerbread Man]

GetCarter said:

all from www.Warehouseexpress.com

ETA I don't know Canons but £399 for a 40D with 18-55 looks good.

£399 for the 400D not the 40D.

Had me excited there at a cracking deal.

[GetCarter]

Gingerbread Man said:

GetCarter said:

all from www.Warehouseexpress.com

ETA I don't know Canons but £399 for a 40D with 18-55 looks good.

£399 for the 400D not the 40D.

Had me excited there at a cracking deal.

Sorry... Canon's are a dark art to me

[Elderly]

GetCarter said:

The D40X has a bigger sensor than the D40 and produces better photos.

£269 with 18-55 lens is storming value for a D40
£359 with 18-55 lens is even better for a D40X
If you can possibly stretch - £591 for a D80 with the 18-70 is FAB

Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 13th December 10:50

Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 13th December 13:01

Does it have a bigger sensor or are there just more pixels?

I would go for a S/H D80 and feel that it will satisfy your growing photography skills
for a good long time; or I would go for the D40 .... it's SO cheap, that after some experience when feel you know what DSLR you really need/want, you won't feel any buyer's remorse about up-grading from it.

[Knick Pee]

Elderly said:

GetCarter said:

The D40X has a bigger sensor than the D40 and produces better photos.

£269 with 18-55 lens is storming value for a D40
£359 with 18-55 lens is even better for a D40X
If you can possibly stretch - £591 for a D80 with the 18-70 is FAB

Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 13th December 10:50

Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 13th December 13:01

Does it have a bigger sensor or are there just more pixels?

I would go for a S/H D80 and feel that it will satisfy your growing photography skills
for a good long time; or I would go for the D40 .... it's SO cheap, that after some experience when feel you know what DSLR you really need/want, you won't feel any buyer's remorse about up-grading from it.

I'm in negotiation with Mrs Pee at the moment as to which one to get. She obviously wants me to go for the cheaper one, but I feel if I went for the lower grade option I'd regret it. Especially as the D40X apprently takes better pictures.

I wouldn't be upgrading either as this would be considered as quite an outlay in the first place.

Also, what 'zoom' lenses would be recommended? Again, on a sensible budget and would be considered 'good' for a beginner.

[RobDickinson]

D40x has more megapixels, but the same sized sensor.

I'd say the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Lens as a good starter tele zoom but unfortunatly wont autofocus.

Some 3rd party lenses re being update to work(af) with the D40(x) now and as time goes on the lens issue will be less, tho nikon are much slower and theres only one prime that will work.

As to general lens compatability, yes you may be able to bold any old nikon lens to the front, but a 350d with nikon convertor will work with more featuers(meetering etc) with more nikon lenses than the D40(x).

D40(x) also doesnt do bracketing, DoF preview or mirror lockup either.

[Bacardi]

I don't think Nick is worried about DOF and bracketing.... as long as he can snap his beloved Norwich City FC in action he'll be happy .

Nick old bean, if you carry on the argument of possible regret by going for the lower grade option, you might as well carry on up the ladder, you'll never be happy .

I'm not really up with the cheaper cameras but for what it's worth, a mate's wife has a D40 and it takes pretty good shots very easily in program mode (although for some reason harder work in manual mode). I suspect the D40X doesn't take pictures that are any better, just bigger. So if you want to knock out large posters then go for the X, If you'll be happy with 12x10 prints then the 40 will do.

One thing I would say is the D40 does feel mighty small in the hands and you may not find it comfortable. I think the next one up the ladder, the D80 is bigger, but haven't played with one.... and it's only a couple of hundred more . The best thing is to go and play with them in a shop, you may just like one more than another. Play with the Canons too, the same arguments apply and at a given price they are all about the same in their capabilities. Again, the D40 (or 350) is great value for money, a step up from a point and shoot with better lens options, and, if you get the bug, you'll want to upgrade anyway .

HTH

[Felters]

I've had a D40 - now have a D80.

If you're going to take sports photo's then you'll need a bigger lens and ideally a body with a high fps (frames per second) rate. Get a D80. It'll save money on lenses, has a higher fps rate and is more substantially built than a D40.

If you're just taking family snaps then a D40 will do just fine with it's kit lens. Don't be scared of ebay either - try this...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nikon-d80-professional-camer...

[TheCaseAce]

I had a dilemma like this recently... and actually bought a second hand D70! Don't regret it at all - I was only allocating myself a small budget (the proceeds of the sale of my old Fuji s7000 and my PS2). Came with a 28-80 kit lens (which is obviously slow and crap) and I got a 70-300 G lens for £50 (which is also pretty slow, and hard to get crisp shots in low light) Got the lot for £300 though.

FWIW...

I was a whisker away from getting a 350D/XT but eventually wrote Canons off the list simply because I hated the handgrip. It's really thin and I thought it was uncomfortable.

I discounted the D40/x because of incompatibility with lenses that aren't AF-S. AF-S lenses are newer, and more expensive, and didn't fit in with the "get a setup as cheap as poss" ethos.

After christmas I am getting myself the Nikkor 18-200 AF-S VR f3.8/5.6

Dunno if that helps at all but its useful to see others' thought processes.

My advice?
1) Hold the cameras in a shop and see what you think.
2) if you can't take a good picture at 6Mp, having 10Mp is not going to help.
3) Skimp on the body and spend on the lens

[Knick Pee]

all good advice lads, thanks.

I'm now really torn as to what to do.

I think the D40 may be adequate for me.....i just have this devil on my shoulder saying "dont get 6 megapixels, get 10!!"......

Dont know what to do!!!

I think the sensible thing is to go for D40 kit, with a bit of dosh on a decent zoom lens perhaps? To be honest I'll be using it for family snaps, pics of the car and the odd sports event/ school play. So maybe I should learn to walk before i try to run.


ETA: Bacardi Paul, I'll let the dig about Norwich go, this time!!

I was down at Ipswich a couple of weeks ago, but I've stopped going as I'm a jinx!! I spoilt their 100% home record

Edited by Knick Pee on Friday 14th December 09:37

[GetCarter]

Knick Pee said:

I think the sensible thing is to go for D40 kit, with a bit of dosh on a decent zoom lens perhaps?

If you do, make sure you get one with an auto-focus motor built in.

[Knick Pee]

GetCarter said:

Knick Pee said:

I think the sensible thing is to go for D40 kit, with a bit of dosh on a decent zoom lens perhaps?

If you do, make sure you get one with an auto-focus motor built in.

:thanks:

Nikkor? or whatever the make is!!! Or go for something else out there....any suggestions?

Sorry to be a complete infidel, but I know less than nothing about all this

[CivicMan]

This may help you decide!

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/recommended-camera...

He likes the 40.

[Zad]

Yes, but Ken Rockwell is a bit... erm.

>Tries desperately to think of a term that won't get him sued<

Isn't he?