To anybody with a Nikon D40 / D40X

[Louisa911]

I'm looking at the Nikon D40X as a beginners DSLR- I'm doing an art foundation and have just done a photography workshop using a very basic manual film SLR, but don't have access to darkroom facilities outside college hence looking at a digital.

Does anybody here own one, and for example have any sample shots taken with one? Any car shoot type shots as an example would be good, as its a subject I've worked with quite a bit, so good for comparison and ideas as to what can be achieved.

So yeah- anyone got any example shots from a D40X (or D40) especially car related shots? (still shots, or racing etc)


Thanks so much

[Louisa911]

Haha glad to hear it.... I'm waiting

[oldskool]

D40 is a good beginner DSLR. Very happy with mine...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldskool777/sets/7215...

[andyquantum]

You need to see the large versions of images really to see what you're getting. With PH squish, I've linked to images instead

1) http://www.flickr.com/photos/23204281@N02/23744529...

2) http://www.flickr.com/photos/23204281@N02/22896481...

3) http://www.flickr.com/photos/23204281@N02/23594151...

4) http://www.flickr.com/photos/23204281@N02/24078850...

5) http://www.flickr.com/photos/23204281@N02/24092345...

6) http://www.flickr.com/photos/23204281@N02/24098798...

7) http://www.flickr.com/photos/23204281@N02/24098821...

8) http://www.flickr.com/photos/23204281@N02/23594177...


And I dont have a clue what I'm doing, a good picture is camera ability, luck and an ounce of judgement

Edited by andyquantum on Wednesday 1st October 20:31

[craig_s]

I've got a D40 and am very happy with it. I'm no expert but it does what I need it to do. Some of my pictures here.

[Cuban]

Hi Louisa

It is a brilliant entry level, it's taught me so much in the year since I moved to my first DSLR.

Every image taken on our sports car tours this year was taken on the D40.

There are around 1000 or more images on this link www.driving-adventures.co.uk/galleries/2008/
and the majority were split second shots taken at speed just hanging out of a window.

Please remember that naturally all are very heavily compressed for the web Gallery so the
sharpness is totally lost.

Here are a few racing or general car shots from my D40.





















I'm still very much a beginner with much to learn, but I love my D40.

I have also just bought the D90 to help me move forward and will start with it
on tour in America this month - can't wait for that!

Good luck with the art foundation !

[Louisa911]

craig_s said:

I've got a D40 and am very happy with it. I'm no expert but it does what I need it to do. Some of my pictures here.

Some of those pictures are rather stunning

Did you use a mobile phone light for the acoustic guitar ones? What approx exposure settings?

[Louisa911]

Cuban- again, more stunning photos! I think the camera may be the one for me, you've pretty much sold it to me. unless anyone else has any other reccomendations / more pics?

[andyquantum]

Other than a D80 so you have greater flexibility and choice of lenses, no

Here's a small apple in New York (Strawberry Fields)

[craig_s]

Louisa911 said:

Some of those pictures are rather stunning

Did you use a mobile phone light for the acoustic guitar ones? What approx exposure settings?

I was inspired by some similar pictures in the Random Photos thread for the guitar ones. I just used a pair LED backup lights that I have for my bike and messed around with different exposure lengths, between 10 and 30 seconds, ISO-200 and f/4.5. Glad you like the pictures!

[CivicMan]

D40 with 55-200VR lens.

[Volante]

I got my first SLR couple of weeks ago and went for the D40. Go for it, you won't be disappointed.

Another sample shot, I'm still learning though. And haven't had a chance to take any photos of cars yet but here's a cute doggy anyway...

[Adz The Rat]

Cuban those pictures are amazing!
Have they been edited at all or is that how they came straight off the camera?
Im getting a D40 for xmas so looking forward to attempting some nice shots like those

[VxDuncan]

Quality Wise the D40 won't let you down, and will give you great results. For flexibility, the D80 (or canon 350/400/450D) will give you a far wider range of lenses to choose from.

D40/D40x lacks an internal motor for the autofocus, which is fine, but means you have to buy lenses that have a motor inside (rather than being driven from the camera). This restricts your choices a bit, and can mean they are a bit more expensive. I own seven lenses, only three of which will work fully on the D40 because of this.

Main problem you'll find is you won't be able to use a cheap 50mm F1.4/F1.8 lens, as non of the nikons have AF motors. These lenses are wonderful of lightweight and shallow depth of field (ie subject in focus and everything else blurry) "arty" shots.

you'll probably find this lens is most people on heres favorite - I know it's mine...

[beano500]

VxDuncan said:

This restricts your choices a bit

Or liberates you if you were going to focus manually anyway - e.g. landscapes, pre-focus situations, macro et cetera.

[Cuban]

Adz The Rat said:

Cuban those pictures are amazing!
Have they been edited at all or is that how they came straight off the camera?
Im getting a D40 for xmas so looking forward to attempting some nice shots like those

Thanks for the kind words.

These were right out of the camera and have not been near Photoshop (apart from resizing) as I try to never use enhancements.

Some are with the stock 18-55mm lens and the close ups with a Sigma 150-500mm.

It's a great first base camera.