D40

[Wowee]

You will be very mistaken about the quality and price of the D40. Today, I bought a D40.. not for myself though.

940 with 5% GST is going to bring you to about 980.00. NIkon's cost to the shops is about 940.00-960.00. You must not forget the other costings like importing cost and other cost.

I would think that for 980.00-1080.00 its a good price. Before you make a comparison with the D50.. I would suggest you go and feel the D40.

Its a really amazing camera, for its size. It comes with a free 1GB Sandisk standard SD-Card.

So all in all I think its a great price. its about 250.00 dollars more expensive then some of the 7MP P&S.

Cathay's price was 1080.00, I am sure that if you have some good relationship with them, the price can go down to who knows how much.

Also.. lets say with 12month interest-free credit, that about 80.00 per month.

Why get a second hand camera, when you can get a brand new camera.

Normally their list price is normally mark up by at least 30% minimum...

You must ALWAYS bargain as their profit margin is very very high...

 

[chantony]

I am thinking of buying either D40 or K100D.

Best price D40 = $950
Best price K100d = $1120

which one is the better value?

cheers.

 

[noelleong]

where for 950?

 

[lastboltnut]

Exhibition is good. They offer the freebies. Then you go to the usual retail shops like MSC, CP, TCW, AP, etc, they will probably match the freebies with their lower than RRP price! So exhibition time is still the best time to buyk, but not at the exhibition lah.:bsmilie:

Lol... I would probably never buy another camera from exhibitions liao... I always thought such events would give extra discounts...

 

[lastboltnut]

John 3:16, but that was in Oct.

hello,

Which shop to get D50 at $1100? with kit?

I was at the sitex and the D40 kit is at $1088 neg...

cheers.

 

[lastboltnut]

Did you see the SB400? Any price indication?;p

Today, I bought a D40.

 

[noob777]

Did you see the SB400? Any price indication?;p

I think SB-400 will only be release for sale after 22 dec...not sure how true but this is what i got off the net...

 

[tanjonhan]

i got quoted 900 for d40..at simlim..not alan photo though..one of the corner shops outside..

 

[ernie1984]

hopefully, people who have bought D40, will post some pictures here taken by that camera.

 

[ReiszRie]

Well I believe you paid the list price of $1088. Good for you.
Sure the D40 is gonna be different from the D50, it's a newer model. However looking at the camera's specifications versus the present retail price, I can't help feeling the D50 offers better value despite the fact it is model that's been around since it's introduction in mid-2005. And if you compare the D40 to the current Pentax K100D, another 6 mp camera that is rumoured to have a similar sensor as the now discontinued D50, the Pentax can be obtained cheaper, shoots nice images as well and one gets vibration reduction thrown in. "More bang for the buck" as the saying goes.

Incidentally don't know where you got the idea that Nikon's cost to the shops is "about 940.00-960.00"? That's about just under 15% margin from the list price. How can any shop survive with that kind of margin? It's too low. Whatever price consigned by the shops is definitely lower than that, not to mention any trade allowance offered by Nikon. Anyway good luck on you new purchase.

Nikon's cost to retailers for the D40 is at $850 SGD w/o GST

 

[ReiszRie]

based on sample photos , i must say that the D40 is an underestimated beast, many put down the D40 for its lack of AF motor drive but i think that for the majority of the users the D40 is targetted at, its not going to be of any disadvantage. There are those users who survived with 18-55 Canon kit lenses for years without having even the intention to get another lens and those who only possess a couple of newer lenses with AF motors, so the point of the D40 not being able to AF on lenses without AF motors can be considered to be an isolated issue.

image quality wise, the D40 resolved a great amount of detail in its images from the test shots i've done, excellent noise control at high ISO settings and accurate metering. It also sports a brand new interface that is very easy to use and it even comes with short tutorials on photography. Overall, i think it might be a worthwhile replacement to the D50 with a smaller build which would suit those who wants a small and lightweight dSLR

 

[ReiszRie]

Normally their list price is normally mark up by at least 30% minimum...

You must ALWAYS bargain as their profit margin is very very high...

that is so not true, in fact their profit margin is usually at around $100+ and i personally think that is not an unreasonable amount, unless you're the kind that is only willing to let a company profit like $30 for all the effort it has done to get the camera to you.

 

[gadrian]

Incidentally don't know where you got the idea that Nikon's cost to the shops is "about 940.00-960.00"? That's about just under 15% margin from the list price. How can any shop survive with that kind of margin? It's too low. Whatever price consigned by the shops is definitely lower than that, not to mention any trade allowance offered by Nikon. Anyway good luck on you new purchase.

If anyone here remembers the D70 kit was sold at 2100 list when it was first launched too, and pricing was controlled by Nikon.

Yes. 15% is the reality. If you are close with any shop owners, ask them what is their cost.

 

[gadrian]

hopefully, people who have bought D40, will post some pictures here taken by that camera.

Well here are some photos.

Taken with the AF-S 18-55 kit lens, AF-S 17-35, AF-S VR 70-200 and AF-D 28-105.

All taken today with the D40.

 

[gadrian]

Sorry.. here is the link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gadrian-snauzzer/sets/72157594402041455/

 

[gadrian]

that is so not true, in fact their profit margin is usually at around $100+ and i personally think that is not an unreasonable amount, unless you're the kind that is only willing to let a company profit like $30 for all the effort it has done to get the camera to you.

I really agree with you. Moreover if you pay by CC, the company will usually absorb the 2-3% CC charge. Thats why companies like Cathay are sometimes more expensive.

 

[milamber]

based on sample photos , i must say that the D40 is an underestimated beast, many put down the D40 for its lack of AF motor drive but i think that for the majority of the users the D40 is targetted at, its not going to be of any disadvantage.

Overall, i think it might be a worthwhile replacement to the D50 with a smaller build which would suit those who wants a small and lightweight dSLR

Yes i agree, the D40 is an excellent camera for those who want to go into DSLR photography. It takes excellent photos without a doubt. However, for long time Nikon DSLR users who have accumulated many AF-D lenses and equivalent 3rd parties, it is not a viable alternative for a second body. Anyway, i'm still waiting for the glut of second hand D50s to enter the market (like the D70/D70s cameras after the release of the D80/D200), but have yet to see many offers in the B&S forum yet. FWIW, the D50 takes great pics too and would make an excellent backup.)

 

[gadrian]

Yes i agree, the D40 is an excellent camera for those who want to go into DSLR photography. It takes excellent photos without a doubt. However, for long time Nikon DSLR users who have accumulated many AF-D lenses and equivalent 3rd parties, it is not a viable alternative for a second body. Anyway, i'm still waiting for the glut of second hand D50s to enter the market (like the D70/D70s cameras after the release of the D80/D200), but have yet to see many offers in the B&S forum yet. FWIW, the D50 takes great pics too and would make an excellent backup.)

Actually its not all that bad. I was testing the D40 with AF-D and AI-S lenses. You only loose AF capability. Actually this is again, not that bad. As eventhough you have to manual focus, you can use still use the electronic rangerfinder that is built in, to assist with focusing. I dont really think its a crippling handicap.

However if you are a professional photographer, it may not be a viable option. But then again the if you are a professional photographer, you probably will not want to get a D40, you would rather get a D80 backup.

 

[takethree]

Anyway, i'm still waiting for the glut of second hand D50s to enter the market (like the D70/D70s cameras after the release of the D80/D200), but have yet to see many offers in the B&S forum yet. FWIW, the D50 takes great pics too and would make an excellent backup.)

I get this feeling that this won't happen. Remember that the D80 was an upgrade for the D70 while I don't think so this is the case with the D40 and D50. It seems like the D40 is for a new category of users. If anything I suspect D50 users will hang on to their camera (lots more capabilities for a bit more price) and I won't be surprised if the resale price actually goes up after the last stock has been sold.

 

[milamber]

I get this feeling that this won't happen. Remember that the D80 was an upgrade for the D70 while I don't think so this is the case with the D40 and D50. It seems like the D40 is for a new category of users. If anything I suspect D50 users will hang on to their camera (lots more capabilities for a bit more price) and I won't be surprised if the resale price actually goes up after the last stock has been sold.

Yes, i was being a bit sarcastic there (and overly hopeful)! I totally agree with you, the D50 users will stick to their cam (but still, i'm waiting to remove the D50 from those techies who always want the latest technology). D50's expandability in terms of lenses it can take is the "hidden" value of the camera. I read the comparison between the D50 and Canon's 350D in Amateur Photographer. The 6mp D50 pushes Canon's 8mp offering all the way! Excellent cam! There is no need for a D50 user to "upgrade" to the D40. The D40 though will certainly attract the digital P&S users with a DSLR offering at a sub$1000 price.