D40 users come in!

[geraldkhoo]

I am always using ISO 1600, coz I'm shooting my dogs... find it a lil blur/grainy when enlarged.

When you reach ISO1600, you will see that it gets a bit grainy. There are a few alternatives:

1. You can turn Nise Reduction ON in the camera, which would slow down each shot as the camera has to process the pic, which may take a few seconds.
2. Use Nikon's Capture NX to process the noise.
3. Use a fast lens (Buy... buy... buy!!!).
4. Lower ISO and use better lighting or flash.
5. Do all of the above :bsmilie:

Blurring and grainy are 2 different things. If the picture is blur, it can be:

a. You shook the camera while the shutter is open.
b. The subject moved while the shutter is open.
c. Both the photographer and subject moved while the shutter is open :bsmilie:

So you can try to do the following:

i. use a tripod to remove movement by the photographer.
ii. increase shutter speed (which then you need to adjust lighting, aperture, ISO, etc).
iii. use picture sharpening on camera and software (which does not help much if it is very blur).
iv. use a fast lens (Buy... buy... buy... again!!! ).
v. do all of the above

You can try out the above and see how it goes...

 

[lukesky]

do you know how much I can sell the Nikon bag included in the package? it's too big for me. I think it can fit D40 kit + 3-4 lenses and flash.

I need smallest one that can fit D40 kit and 55-200 lens. Crumpler 2 million dollar can? or any suggestions?

u wana sell off the bag? Take a pic n PM me can? Might be interested in it.

 

[coolride]

Hi,

Have anyone tested the Sigma 18-200mm OS HSM lens on your D40/D40x? Any comment?

 

[chanjyj]

When you reach ISO1600, you will see that it gets a bit grainy. There are a few alternatives:

1. You can turn Nise Reduction ON in the camera, which would slow down each shot as the camera has to process the pic, which may take a few seconds.
2. Use Nikon's Capture NX to process the noise.
3. Use a fast lens (Buy... buy... buy!!!).
4. Lower ISO and use better lighting or flash.
5. Do all of the above :bsmilie:

Blurring and grainy are 2 different things. If the picture is blur, it can be:

a. You shook the camera while the shutter is open.
b. The subject moved while the shutter is open.
c. Both the photographer and subject moved while the shutter is open :bsmilie:

So you can try to do the following:

i. use a tripod to remove movement by the photographer.
ii. increase shutter speed (which then you need to adjust lighting, aperture, ISO, etc).
iii. use picture sharpening on camera and software (which does not help much if it is very blur).
iv. use a fast lens (Buy... buy... buy... again!!! ).
v. do all of the above

You can try out the above and see how it goes...

Noise reduction DOES NOT reduce noise lah... :nono:
anyway noise reduction only kicks in arfter 1/21 sec, if I'm not wrong (not 100% sure of the timing, 1 sec or 0.5sec)

 

[DiGdUb]

got my d40x and a sb400 flash. still learning.

a pic of my dog with flash.

 

[mechattax]

1. Zaren
2. Hlyf
3. Psychobiologist (D200, D40/D80 sold)
4. BlueBull
5. IfourDesign
6. Helmiz
7. Six-GHz
8. Matthew1381
9. Samtcy (with one tripod totting hubby!)
10. Benson S A Chua
11. GriGri
12. Wing Oscar
13. geraldKhoo (with D200, sold D40x to friend... but still available for my use )
14. chanjyj (With D2x)
15. Mousedeer213
16. Clubgrit
17. monokydni
18. mysterio506
19. IceMocha
20. PhotoGiant (D40x with AF-S 18-200mm VRII. I lyke~!)
21. Mickie
22. Graphicz
23. Eidja
24. TennoRZ(since Dec'06)
25. anwask (D40 with 18-55,55-200) (Updated by chanjyj 1130H, 7 Sept 07)
26. neverneverever (D40x with SB-600)
27. damkuff
28. JillValentine
29. JeeT77 (since X'mas '06)
30. huoyun (d40 kit since jan 07)
31. czeno
32. vroom
33. kamiru
34. fusetrips
35. Jimny (Bought in Japan kit + 55-200 )
36. lloyds (since july 07)
37. shirak
38. Popeye gal (D40x - 18-200mm)
39. XiaoXian (re-entered by chanjyj)
40. csiwei
41. fungoer (with 55-200mm VR)
42. jeffng28 (D40X with 55-200VR)
43. Stray Sheep (D40 & 55- 200VR) --> from COMEX 07
44. deathwiz (D40 + 18-200VR)
45. KeefeSNAP (due to 1/500 flash sync speed)
46. popiah123
47. konahead (D40 kit + 55-200mm VR + SB400)
48. steadyshot
49. guiii (D40 + 18-135mm)
50. jayzzz
51. danielwu0808
52. tigereye19
53. Starspurz (D40 & 55- 200VR) --> also just from COMEX 07
54. lsisaxon --> Not mine.. Company bought a D40kit and it just arrived this morning.
55. yxannes (entered by chanjyj upon user request 1729H, 11 Sept 2007)
56. dscans (entered by chanjyj 1729H, 11 Sept 2007)
57. augustai (just sold my D40) (updated on 16 Sept 2007 by augustai)
58. redpills (Sigma 30mm f/1.4) (entered by chanjyj 2212H, 11 Sept 2007)
59. kudos
60. Daneal79 (entered by chanjyj 1314H, 14 Sept 2007)
61. Astroman (entered by chanjyj 2057H, 19 Sept 2007)
62. Amaury
63. Lukesky
64. snapperz
65. Maxe (D40 + 55-200mm VR) from Comex too....
66. lingaowei (fixed by chanjyj 2125H, 27 Sept 2007)
67. tungsol (D40 + 18-70mm, and also D80 )(fixed by chanjyj 2125H, 27 Sept 2007)
68. fanyong (D40x & 18-135mm)
69. Maletoth2000 (added by chanjyj 1949H, 28 Sept 2007)
70. evopilot (D40 + 55-200mm VR)
71. mechattax

 

[mechattax]

Hi guys, a noob here. Juz bought my d40 at CP juz now. Been stalking as a guest into this thread for quite a while and feels great to put my name into the list finally.

Hopefully, i can put into practice the stuff dat had been read here.

Btw to DiGdUb, cool foto of ur dog there. It's really clear and sharp. Juz a quest: do u bounce the light 90 degrees up? I bought the sb400 too so hopefully can learn some techniques on using the flash too.

Kay peace out!

 

[chanjyj]

Hi guys, a noob here. Juz bought my d40 at CP juz now. Been stalking as a guest into this thread for quite a while and feels great to put my name into the list finally.

Hopefully, i can put into practice the stuff dat had been read here.

Btw to DiGdUb, cool foto of ur dog there. It's really clear and sharp. Juz a quest: do u bounce the light 90 degrees up? I bought the sb400 too so hopefully can learn some techniques on using the flash too.

Kay peace out!

Yes, he bounced it 90 deg. But as his camera was tilted at an angle, the light hit the opposite (wall?) and part of the ceiling, so it;s not really a 90 degr bounce. but doesn't matter much. Me myself sometimes bounces the flash BEHIND me, on a wall or ceiling. (his is for SB-800

 

[lukesky]

Noise reduction DOES NOT reduce noise lah... :nono:
anyway noise reduction only kicks in arfter 1/21 sec, if I'm not wrong (not 100% sure of the timing, 1 sec or 0.5sec)

sorry for my noob qn, if noise reduction doesnt reduce noise, then wat does it do?

 

[geraldkhoo]

Noise reduction DOES NOT reduce noise lah... :nono:
anyway noise reduction only kicks in arfter 1/21 sec, if I'm not wrong (not 100% sure of the timing, 1 sec or 0.5sec)

Really? My understanding is that it does reduce noise. I don't have a D40/x manual with me, but isn't this to process pics taken in high ISO and/or long exposure? In the D200, it is 2 different settings, i.e. Long Exposure NR and High ISO NR.

 

[chanjyj]

Really? My understanding is that it does reduce noise. I don't have a D40/x manual with me, but isn't this to process pics taken in high ISO and/or long exposure? In the D200, it is 2 different settings, i.e. Long Exposure NR and High ISO NR.

D40 NR is the Long exposure NR one. It doesn't have the high ISO one. and it is simply named Long Exposure NR.

Long Exposure NR is for hot pixels, nothing to do with noise.

 

[chanjyj]

sorry for my noob qn, if noise reduction doesnt reduce noise, then wat does it do?

Long Exposure Dark-Frame Subtraction Noise Reduction is the long long version for noise reduction. On the D40/x it reduces hot pixels (which you shouldn't even begin to see until you go to 3min photos).

The camera make a second identical exposure with the shutter closed. This lets the camera know exactly which pixels are hot and exactly how much leakage there is. The camera then subtracts the dark frame image from the shot you just made and saves the result

A second dark exposure is as long as the main exposure. That means you have to wait an extra four minutes after making a four minute exposure, total 8min -a real pain.

 

[geraldkhoo]

D40 NR is the Long exposure NR one. It doesn't have the high ISO one. and it is simply named Long Exposure NR.

Long Exposure NR is for hot pixels, nothing to do with noise.

Ahhh... I see... However, I had a D40x and don't recall it being called "Long Exposure NR", but simply "Noise Reduction". Maybe this is one of the minute differences between D40 and D40x? I'm just guessing that maybe that is why Thom Hogan wrote it in http://www.bythom.com/d40review.htm that "The D40x seems to be very close to the D80 in acuity, though as you bump up the ISO value with noise reduction turned on, the D40x seems to lose a bit of detail that the D80 doesn't (but that detail comes at the expense of slightly more noise on the D80).

Maybe someone who have access to a D40 & D40x can confirm if this is one of the differences between the D40 and the D40x

You can see the following website on D40x noise reduction:
http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=3148

 

[DiGdUb]

ah yes, the flash light is turned to 90 degress upward, but the camera is tilted forward, so the flash is not hitting direct to the roof, but its much better than pointing straight at the subject.

i also only see Noise Reduction on my d40x as well, cannot find the Long Exposure NR. maybe thats also a difference between the x and non-x version.

 

[coolride]

1. Zaren
2. Hlyf
3. Psychobiologist (D200, D40/D80 sold)
4. BlueBull
5. IfourDesign
6. Helmiz
7. Six-GHz
8. Matthew1381
9. Samtcy (with one tripod totting hubby!)
10. Benson S A Chua
11. GriGri
12. Wing Oscar
13. geraldKhoo (with D200, sold D40x to friend... but still available for my use )
14. chanjyj (With D2x)
15. Mousedeer213
16. Clubgrit
17. monokydni
18. mysterio506
19. IceMocha
20. PhotoGiant (D40x with AF-S 18-200mm VRII. I lyke~!)
21. Mickie
22. Graphicz
23. Eidja
24. TennoRZ(since Dec'06)
25. anwask (D40 with 18-55,55-200) (Updated by chanjyj 1130H, 7 Sept 07)
26. neverneverever (D40x with SB-600)
27. damkuff
28. JillValentine
29. JeeT77 (since X'mas '06)
30. huoyun (d40 kit since jan 07)
31. czeno
32. vroom
33. kamiru
34. fusetrips
35. Jimny (Bought in Japan kit + 55-200 )
36. lloyds (since july 07)
37. shirak
38. Popeye gal (D40x - 18-200mm)
39. XiaoXian (re-entered by chanjyj)
40. csiwei
41. fungoer (with 55-200mm VR)
42. jeffng28 (D40X with 55-200VR)
43. Stray Sheep (D40 & 55- 200VR) --> from COMEX 07
44. deathwiz (D40 + 18-200VR)
45. KeefeSNAP (due to 1/500 flash sync speed)
46. popiah123
47. konahead (D40 kit + 55-200mm VR + SB400)
48. steadyshot
49. guiii (D40 + 18-135mm)
50. jayzzz
51. danielwu0808
52. tigereye19
53. Starspurz (D40 & 55- 200VR) --> also just from COMEX 07
54. lsisaxon --> Not mine.. Company bought a D40kit and it just arrived this morning.
55. yxannes (entered by chanjyj upon user request 1729H, 11 Sept 2007)
56. dscans (entered by chanjyj 1729H, 11 Sept 2007)
57. augustai (just sold my D40) (updated on 16 Sept 2007 by augustai)
58. redpills (Sigma 30mm f/1.4) (entered by chanjyj 2212H, 11 Sept 2007)
59. kudos
60. Daneal79 (entered by chanjyj 1314H, 14 Sept 2007)
61. Astroman (entered by chanjyj 2057H, 19 Sept 2007)
62. Amaury
63. Lukesky
64. snapperz
65. Maxe (D40 + 55-200mm VR) from Comex too....
66. lingaowei (fixed by chanjyj 2125H, 27 Sept 2007)
67. tungsol (D40 + 18-70mm, and also D80 )(fixed by chanjyj 2125H, 27 Sept 2007)
68. fanyong (D40x & 18-135mm)
69. Maletoth2000 (added by chanjyj 1949H, 28 Sept 2007)
70. evopilot (D40 + 55-200mm VR)
71. mechattax
72. coolride (D40x + Sigma 18-200mm OS HSM)

 

[psychobiologist]

d40 and d40x courtesy of dpreview

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/page10.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40x/page10.asp

40

40x

 

[Daneal79]

2 weeks in the Philippines and i finally got a chance to play around with my D40. All i can say, having a DSLR has upped the "fun" factor a few notches compared to when i was just carrying around a PNS.

I experimented with the aperture and the shutter speeds and yes, the kit lens is rather slow. I would love to have a F/2.8 lens. I mostly use my D40 in aperture priority mode unless i want to freeze action or create certain types of photographs. The program mode works well but when there is not enough light, the program mode sets a very slow shutter speed which may or may not be ideal for general photos.

I love the size of the camera. i carried with me the D40 w/kit plus a 55-200 lens and it was a breeze! However, i do find it abit of a hassle to switch to the 55-200 lens so i am considering getting the 18-200 VR as my next upgrade.

I posted some photos on my flickr account. If anyone wishes to have a look, pls PM me. C&C is always welcome and appreciated.

NO REGRETS ON THE D40! :thumbsup:

 

[geraldkhoo]

2 weeks in the Philippines and i finally got a chance to play around with my D40. All i can say, having a DSLR has upped the "fun" factor a few notches compared to when i was just carrying around a PNS.

I experimented with the aperture and the shutter speeds and yes, the kit lens is rather slow. I would love to have a F/2.8 lens. I mostly use my D40 in aperture priority mode unless i want to freeze action or create certain types of photographs. The program mode works well but when there is not enough light, the program mode sets a very slow shutter speed which may or may not be ideal for general photos.

I love the size of the camera. i carried with me the D40 w/kit plus a 55-200 lens and it was a breeze! However, i do find it abit of a hassle to switch to the 55-200 lens so i am considering getting the 18-200 VR as my next upgrade.

I posted some photos on my flickr account. If anyone wishes to have a look, pls PM me. C&C is always welcome and appreciated.

NO REGRETS ON THE D40! :thumbsup:

Sounds like you had great fun with the D40! To me, having fun is one of the most important parts of photography So you kenna bitten by the f/2.8 lens? (BBB virus is on the move!) If you want the f/2.8 lens, they don't come 18-200mm in one piece (how I wish they did!), and you would still need to switch lens. I find it a hassle to do that too... and that is why they call the 18-200mm the lazy lens. The 18-200mmm is almost the same as what you got, i.e. 18-55 & 55-200, but with the additional VR. So... you may want to skip the 18-200 and get the 17-55 f/2.8 instead But I must say that the 18-200 is a great lens to travel with.

BTW... what is the link to your Flickr page?

 

[geraldkhoo]

got my d40x and a sb400 flash. still learning.

a pic of my dog with flash.

That is a great pic of your doggie

Definately not blur... clear as can be I see that you used:

- Aperture mode with f4
- Shutter at 1/60s
- ISO 100
- Focal length = 26mm (39mm on 35mm format)

 

[yxannes]

For people using Firefox, this plugin enables you to view EXIF data directly in your browser.

http://ted.mielczarek.org/code/mozilla/fxif