D40X users!

[BabyBob]

Guys, I'm making a decision to buy one of these 2 cameras. Either D40 or D40x. It boils down to these differences that bother me.

1. D40 has a faster flash sync speed than D40x.
Beside knowing that sync speed is the fastest shutter speed you can use with flash. What else does it really help in?

2. ISO 100. From a magazine I read, it said it's better for long shutter speed or studio flash. So what say you guys?

3. Shutter:
D40: Combined mechanical and CCD electronic shutter, 30 to 1/4000 s. in steps of 1/3, bulb
D40x: Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal plane shutter, 30 to 1/4000 s. in steps of 1/3 EV, bulb
What is the difference between these 2? Which is 'better'?

okl, please tell me if I'm hijacking your thread. Will remove my post.

Hi! I'm a real starter to this. Like mickie, it's frustrating. They tempt you with that seemingly small improvement but yet it seems they make world of a difference! For real?

Any advise to this config as a start off? D40X + 18-200mm VR + SB600? Can I understand 18-200mm VR as a 1 size fits all? I will mostly take my kids, mostly indoor, animals (again for my kids) and maybe scenery when I go on business trips.

Also, what to look for in tripod? Thanks!

 

[okl]

Hi! I'm a real starter to this. Like mickie, it's frustrating. They tempt you with that seemingly small improvement but yet it seems they make world of a difference! For real?

Any advise to this config as a start off? D40X + 18-200mm VR + SB600? Can I understand 18-200mm VR as a 1 size fits all? I will mostly take my kids, mostly indoor, animals (again for my kids) and maybe scenery when I go on business trips.

Also, what to look for in tripod? Thanks!

bob, maybe you can read the D40x review here, here, here and here too to decide....thats all i can help.

18-200mm VR is a general purpose sharp lens , so yes it is 1 size fits all.

If budget not constrain, i will also get d40x+18-200mm VR+sb600. 18-200mm VR costs more than d40x

I recommend you to get the d40x/d40 kits as a start off first and from there you find out what you actually need....b4 dump all money in.

 

[spazzer]

Hi! I'm a real starter to this. Like mickie, it's frustrating. They tempt you with that seemingly small improvement but yet it seems they make world of a difference! For real?

Any advise to this config as a start off? D40X + 18-200mm VR + SB600? Can I understand 18-200mm VR as a 1 size fits all? I will mostly take my kids, mostly indoor, animals (again for my kids) and maybe scenery when I go on business trips.

Also, what to look for in tripod? Thanks!

tripod? u mean ball head tripod? or wat?

 

[calebk]

Hi! I'm a real starter to this. Like mickie, it's frustrating. They tempt you with that seemingly small improvement but yet it seems they make world of a difference! For real?

Any advise to this config as a start off? D40X + 18-200mm VR + SB600? Can I understand 18-200mm VR as a 1 size fits all? I will mostly take my kids, mostly indoor, animals (again for my kids) and maybe scenery when I go on business trips.

Also, what to look for in tripod? Thanks!

For animals and (hyperactive) kids, especially if you're shooting indoors, the 18-200 may be a bit of a limitation when you require motion-stopping shutter speeds, as the max aperture is not very wide at all focal lengths. Remember that VR can never compensate for a faster shutter speed when it comes to stopping subject motion.

 

[damkuff]

Forgive me if this sounds silly. I have no previous experience with a dSLR (currently using Fujifilm F31fd compact) and I am planning to buy the D40X and the AF-S 55-200mm f/4-5.6G DX VR IF-ED lens with Nikon SB-400 flash. Would this combo be good enough to shoot indoor of kids? Of course there are better lenses, cameras, etc... but like most things, it all boils down to how much we are willing to or able to spend. Cheers!

 

[Ambious]

Got a few people here mention that the D40X has some technical error such as auto shut off and some others. Did anyone here that owns D40X can verify if there's any problem with ya camera?

Michael

 

[okl]

Got a few people here mention that the D40X has some technical error such as auto shut off and some others. Did anyone here that owns D40X can verify if there's any problem with ya camera?

Michael

no problem with my d40x.

 

[okl]

For animals and (hyperactive) kids, especially if you're shooting indoors, the 18-200 may be a bit of a limitation when you require motion-stopping shutter speeds, as the max aperture is not very wide at all focal lengths. Remember that VR can never compensate for a faster shutter speed when it comes to stopping subject motion.

what lens would you recommend for such purpose?

 

[mickie]

Do you guys use LCD protector for your camera's LCD?

 

[spazzer]

Do you guys use LCD protector for your camera's LCD?

up to u lar i can verify the prob with d40x for auto shut off cause my friend camera is experiencing it.... but now solved le it was some firmware corrupted.... thats y

 

[spazzer]

a screen protector is used so that u wont want ur screen to get scratched marks or stained wat camera model u using? can go cp and buy lar kinda cheap

 

[BabyBob]

For animals and (hyperactive) kids, especially if you're shooting indoors, the 18-200 may be a bit of a limitation when you require motion-stopping shutter speeds, as the max aperture is not very wide at all focal lengths. Remember that VR can never compensate for a faster shutter speed when it comes to stopping subject motion.

Appreciate your comment. Please recommend.

 

[BabyBob]

tripod? u mean ball head tripod? or wat?

Ball head tripod? What's that? Know next to nothing on tripod. I hardly come across any article on tripod. Maybe there is really nothing about it ... other than being a 3-legged piece of tool. Any suggestion on where to look other than in shops?

 

[spazzer]

try manfrotto web lar i think shop still the best

 

[BabyBob]

Thanks Spazzer

 

[calebk]

what lens would you recommend for such purpose?

A large aperture prime, such as 50mm f/1.8. The problem is that D40x has no screw-slot AF drive, and so, you'll have to perform manual focusing with all primes; I believe the only exception right now is the Sigma 30mm f/1.4, as it has HSM (their version of SWM).

 

[psychoatom]

Forgive me if this sounds silly. I have no previous experience with a dSLR (currently using Fujifilm F31fd compact) and I am planning to buy the D40X and the AF-S 55-200mm f/4-5.6G DX VR IF-ED lens with Nikon SB-400 flash. Would this combo be good enough to shoot indoor of kids? Of course there are better lenses, cameras, etc... but like most things, it all boils down to how much we are willing to or able to spend. Cheers!

For indoor, you will be better off with a wider lens, eg. AFS 18-70mm or AFS 18-55mm.

Do note that the D40x does not auto-focus with non-AFS Nikon lenses, so you will need to focus manually if you get an AF 50mm f1.8.

Ideally, if you have the moola, AFS 18-200mm VR would be great.

You should try out the lenses in the confines of the shop you are buying first to get an idea of the kind of working distance you need. Most good shops will allow you to do this I think.

My 2c and good luck on your purchase decision.

 

[calebk]

For indoor, you will be better off with a wider lens, eg. AFS 18-70mm or AFS 18-55mm.

Do note that the D40x does not auto-focus with non-AFS Nikon lenses, so you will need to focus manually if you get an AF 50mm f1.8.

Ideally, if you have the moola, AFS 18-200mm VR would be great.

You should try out the lenses in the confines of the shop you are buying first to get an idea of the kind of working distance you need. Most good shops will allow you to do this I think.

My 2c and good luck on your purchase decision.

18-200 (or any f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens) can turn out to be quite a disastrous lens indoors, as the aperture just isn't fast enough to give you motion-stopping shutter speeds.

 

[psychoatom]

18-200 (or any f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens) can turn out to be quite a disastrous lens indoors, as the aperture just isn't fast enough to give you motion-stopping shutter speeds.

That's true, but as damkuff said so himself/herself, it all boils down to how much you want to pay, plus he/she mentioned that SB400 will be purchased, so speed may not be an issue vs. versatility.

 

[calebk]

That's true, but as damkuff said so himself/herself, it all boils down to how much you want to pay, plus he/she mentioned that SB400 will be purchased, so speed may not be an issue vs. versatility.

Hohoho, discover the wonders of available-light photography. I'm in that process again, coming full circle from using flash almost all the time.