Is d40 still a good buy?


Status
Not open for further replies.
just to let u know if u getting a grey set, orient photo only $680 for D40 grey set..
 

get the d60. it will have all the correction when using nikon lens. My setup is a d40 with nikon 50mm f1.2. i tried the newer cameras, they look better and the d light is really a plus..
 

just to let u know if u getting a grey set, orient photo only $680 for D40 grey set..

thx for ur info robin, i had taken note :p

get the d60. it will have all the correction when using nikon lens. My setup is a d40 with nikon 50mm f1.2. i tried the newer cameras, they look better and the d light is really a plus..


oh yea u got the MF 50mm f1.2?! how much u got it for? and where u got it? is it the ai version?
 

if i am not wrong, those reputable shops that are always mentioned are not carrying d40 anymore... give them a call to confirm. If you want, you got to try Challenger as nic mention it will be $749(member price).

disclaimer: i am not from Challenger
 

hmm dats means i hafta save the money fast!!!!!!!!!!! omgomgomg pls wait for me!
 

Good choice to choose D40... the reasons i choose D40 over other models is because..

1) I just started on a DSLR.. thus no existing lens.. if i have lens i would probably go for D50, D70 or D80
2) The D40 have better ISO performance then D80 and D200
3) Very value for money because the camera body & kit lens are both better build then Canon's entry DSLR..
4) Small and light
 

haha thanks for your enlightening nic.. the fella kcuf2 who replied me earlier made me worried haha.. so.. the prime lens is sure to work on the d40 right?

I never make u worry, wat i stated is the truth...

ur prime lens will work on the D40/D40x/D60/D70/D70s/D80 but u won't be able to meter with tat manual prime lens on the D40.

In very simple terms, metering is that the camera will help u to determine wat shutter speed and apeture to use based on the iso selected in ur cam so that the scene image will come out properly, so tat it wont be too dark or too bright.

Without metering, U can only use ur D40 in manual mode, and trial and error the different values of shutter speed and apeture and iso, so that the image will come out nicely.
Alternatively, u will have to buy a lightmeter to help u meter using ai or ais lens. This is so troublesome becos the inbuilt lightmeter of D40 works with AF and AF-S lens.

Some threads out there in the jungle which I search using google words "D40 won't meter with ais lens"

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00Is1a
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1034&thread=23151194

In case u are still confused, this website version of the D40 manual from nikon will clear ur doubts:
http://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/manuals/noprint/D40_noprint.pdf
Go to page 97

let me extract for you:

The non-CPU lenses listed below may be used, but only when the camera is in mode M. Selecting another mode disables the shutter release. Apeture must be adjusted manually via the lens apeture righ; the camera autofocus, metering, elecronic analog exposure display, and TTL flash control can not be used.
- AI-modifiend, AI-, AI-S, or Series E Nikkor.
- AI-type teleconverter.

but if u still dunno wat the paragraph above means, buy the D40 and buy the manual AI lens, play with it a while, and then u will realise totally wat i meant, no harm learning the hard way :)
 

get the d60. it will have all the correction when using nikon lens. My setup is a d40 with nikon 50mm f1.2. i tried the newer cameras, they look better and the d light is really a plus..

get the d60 body for the range finder function cos you seriously don't really want to try and hope with the M mode.
the range finder will help you save some time in focusing.
 

i'm still confused on the metering thing


Metering thing is something which you read of to know whether the picture is too bright or too dark. Too bright means overexpose = too white, face too white, etc too white. Too dark means underexpose, meaning, everything looks darker then you normally sees it, much like turning down the incandescent light ( if you have one ) in your room. Difficult to see. =)
Check out the metering bar ( Number 7 )in the photo. That's how it look like. =)

viewfinderdiag.jpg



this should cost over a thousand i suppose?! wow!

safe to say the tokina 12-24mm is slightly more than half of a thousand. =)

To chip in alittle of what I think abt cameras, and I concur with what some bros mentioned, handling and ergonomics of an item is very important althought often an oversight. Buy something which you want to bring out everyday, something which you feel comfrotable holding on to, easy assess to the functions. No point getting a camera which you dun feel like using it becoz it's a hassle making changes on the camera or the mere feel of handling feels weird. you would want to hold it and use it any longer than you need.

Not being brand partial here, but somehow Nikon manage to get these things correct. =)
 

hmm wow thx for fellow cs members' effort!!!!!!

thx kcuf2 and fabianaino!

i understood quite abit already

am i right to say its only the exposure values the metering does change automatically if needed to compensate?

the aperture & the shutter speed values are normally set manually by the user him/herself rite? :think:

but the aperture & the shutter speed is inversely proportional rite?
 

i'd like to take portraitures, street candid and landscapes

If metering is a concern to you, perheps look at the Voigtlander 40mm F2 SL2 which will meter on D40.
IQ & Bokeh Samples

I mentioned this lens because you state you would like to do street candids. If that is the case, the D40/60+pancake lens is one of the better choice, because it's a relatively small setup that allows you to blend in with the crowds. In all honestly though, street candid requires you to react faster than your subject, most of the time you need to pre-determined your settings which can be easily done using the sunny 16 rule.
But it's intimacy can only be achieve with a wider lens, for beginners which I am not sure if you are one, I feel 40-50mm on a 1.5x crop sensor is just right.

Still, as a practise lens, I think the 40mm will suit you so much better. Just imo. Either way, you will not regret a D40 purchase.
 

I think the sigma 30mm F1.4 is a better buy but u have to check the lens and make sure u got a sharp copy
 

Good choice to choose D40... the reasons i choose D40 over other models is because..

2) The D40 have better ISO performance then D80 and D200

hi, i can't understand what is meant by "D40 has better ISO performance than D80/D200" ? Are you trying to say, at the same ISO setting, D40 has better result?
 

just got a verbal quote from MS Colour, D40 is selling at $750 (wif 2GB) & D60 at $960.
 

hi, i can't understand what is meant by "D40 has better ISO performance than D80/D200" ? Are you trying to say, at the same ISO setting, D40 has better result?

yup.. go and compare the shots at ISo1600
 

I'm using the D40 and I find it really gd. Lightweight, cheap, and not too demanding on the memory card. I dunno about u but 6mp is more than enuff for me :) I use the D40 mainly for travels where I dun wanna carry too much weight.
And one more thing abt the D40 is the flash sync speed of the internal flash can sync at 1/500s, which is rather remarkable.
There are some primes that work with D40 but they are mainly from Sigma. I have the Sigma 30mm F/1.4 and it works really well together.
 

hmm i think i have to wait till near end of the year to decide.. cuz there might not be d40 stock.. i saw from other thread that the nikkor AF 50mm f/1.2 MIGHT be comin out at near end of the year.. so by than i can make better choice ! :cool:

might get the d60 if d40 is gone or the d80 when it is discontinued. haha. thx for all buddies' help ;)

and something happened to the forum yesterday? i couldn't get in o.o
 

Hi there, 1 MP, i just bought my d40 @ $749 from Challenger, and somehow the salesperson convinced me to buy along with Sigma lens - 70-300mm f4-5.6 @ $400.

I'm quite new to all these stuffs too, but as what the other photog friends have said, start with what we can afford, and slowly climb up; rather than getting the top end, but we know nuts about using it. So here I am, so far satisfied with what I have for now.

One of the first shot, straight out of the box:
2499277923_9962e70374.jpg
 

I walked past HN at Funan just now and there is an offer for D40 (they did not put that it is a D40 in their advert but it is a branded 6MP camera and has the read thing which distinguishes it is a Nikon) for about $688 or $699 (can't remember which is the price).

If you are using a manual lens on a D40, don't worry about metering. Long time ago, when policemen wear shots... there was no metering in cameras... and yet photographers can take pictures. The advancement of cameras have made shooting easier, but do photographers know more about what is happening? I am actually going backwards to manual stuff to personally learn more. In anycase, after awhile, you will know what to adjust. I used a 105mm f/2.5 AIS lens on my fren's D40x without a problem. I just needed to set the aperture and shutter speed manually... and with a bit of practice, you would get used to it.

In fact, whether it is AI or AIS does not matter today on DSLRs. As long as it is the correct mount, you can use the lens.

I have not tried the D60 rangefinder, but on the D40/x, when the area is in focus, you will see the green dot appear (see above picture labeled #1).
 

Hi there, 1 MP, i just bought my d40 @ $749 from Challenger, and somehow the salesperson convinced me to buy along with Sigma lens - 70-300mm f4-5.6 @ $400.

I'm quite new to all these stuffs too, but as what the other photog friends have said, start with what we can afford, and slowly climb up; rather than getting the top end, but we know nuts about using it. So here I am, so far satisfied with what I have for now.

One of the first shot, straight out of the box:
2499277923_9962e70374.jpg

wow! nice! yea quite true! start from what we can afford.. so.. must faster save 750 bucks den chionggggggggg and pray that d40 is still in stock and buy!!!!!!!!

I walked past HN at Funan just now and there is an offer for D40 (they did not put that it is a D40 in their advert but it is a branded 6MP camera and has the read thing which distinguishes it is a Nikon) for about $688 or $699 (can't remember which is the price).

If you are using a manual lens on a D40, don't worry about metering. Long time ago, when policemen wear shots... there was no metering in cameras... and yet photographers can take pictures. The advancement of cameras have made shooting easier, but do photographers know more about what is happening? I am actually going backwards to manual stuff to personally learn more. In anycase, after awhile, you will know what to adjust. I used a 105mm f/2.5 AIS lens on my fren's D40x without a problem. I just needed to set the aperture and shutter speed manually... and with a bit of practice, you would get used to it.

In fact, whether it is AI or AIS does not matter today on DSLRs. As long as it is the correct mount, you can use the lens.

I have not tried the D60 rangefinder, but on the D40/x, when the area is in focus, you will see the green dot appear (see above picture labeled #1).

yea i oso tot of doin that thats why i wanted the MF lens.. i oso almost wanted to go for film type however abit of troublesome..

OT: oh yea i went to paradiz area and saw one shop.. near the place got nice wanton mee, and a hobby shop with those car model and fighter aircraft model, theres a shop full of slr. but i don't know what are those cam. so many people inside haha abit scary.. anyone went there before? whats that shop abt? :think:
 

Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top