Is a Nikon D40 OK for a beginner?

LordSplodge · 20 Jan 2008 at 19:16

I fancy a DSLR and can get a D40 + 18-55mm lens kit for £300.

The D40 is only 6MP but I really don't have the money to stretch to a D40x.

Is this OK for a complete n00b who wants to learn how to take great shots like those I see on tis forum?

PardonTheWait · 20 Jan 2008 at 19:34

I have one as my first SLR, it's a cracking camera if you ask me. 6mp's not a huge drawback to be honest. I really like mine, and like you said, really good price

Mine was less than £300 after rebate and that was off the High Street!

robertgilbert86 · 20 Jan 2008 at 19:39

Get a second hand D50, you get an internal AF motor then which gives you autofocus with more (cheap) lenses.
(Also included with a D50 is 2 more AF points and bracketing!!)

Droolinggimp · 20 Jan 2008 at 19:40

I have the D40x and if thats anything to go by you will be happy with the D40. Easy to use but hard to master (Photo-wise).. I think thats the right terminology to use there..?

LordSplodge · 20 Jan 2008 at 20:20

robertgilbert86 said:
Get a second hand D50, you get an internal AF motor then which gives you autofocus with more (cheap) lenses.
(Also included with a D50 is 2 more AF points and bracketing!!)

Where would I get a second hand camera from? Er, what a mean is where is a reputable place I can get a second hand one from?

robertgilbert86 · 20 Jan 2008 at 20:27

Nothing wrong with auction sites. Also maybe check out talk photography forum market. Or the marketplace on OcUK?

The D40 is fine.
But the D50 is better; more features, easier to use, and full lens compatability.

Most of the people I've met with a D40 are fairly annoyed by the lack of AF.

Also another awful failure by Nikon on the D40;
Lack of LCD sensor-
If you have the rear display on and look through the viewfinder you get blinded. Unlike the Canon 400D, or Sony Alpha 100 which have little sensors under the eyepiece to detect when you look through.

Also, the display doesn't refresh quickly when changing settings, unlike the 400D, or the top LCD on most cameras (eg D50)

LordSplodge · 21 Jan 2008 at 14:14

robertgilbert86 said:
Get a second hand D50, you get an internal AF motor then which gives you autofocus with more (cheap) lenses.
(Also included with a D50 is 2 more AF points and bracketing!!)

Does the D50 have a bulb option for the shutter speed? I will probably will use the camera to attach to a telescope to take pictures at some point in the future and would like to be able to keep the shutter open for as long as possible.

robertgilbert86 · 21 Jan 2008 at 14:20

LordSplodge said:
Does the D50 have a bulb option for the shutter speed? I will probably will use the camera to attach to a telescope to take pictures at some point in the future and would like to be able to keep the shutter open for as long as possible.

Yep, every DSLR I've seen has a bulb mode, just go into S or M mode and scroll pasts 30 seconds, then it'll say 'B' for bulb.

It's worth getting a remote for the camera if you plan to use it for long, otherwise you have to keep the shutter held down through the whole exposure.
(A remote is click on click off for shutter)

LordSplodge · 21 Jan 2008 at 14:26

robertgilbert86 said:
Yep, every DSLR I've seen has a bulb mode, just go into S or M mode and scroll pasts 30 seconds, then it'll say 'B' for bulb.

It's worth getting a remote for the camera if you plan to use it for long, otherwise you have to keep the shutter held down through the whole exposure.
(A remote is click on click off for shutter)

Yeah I knew I'd need a remote. Wobbling the telescope never mind the camera would be a big problem.

Can you tell me, in laymans terms, what makes a D50 better than a D40 apart from having an AF motor in the body, please? Also how much should I be looking at spending for one in good nick with the kit lens?

Oh and thanks for your help...

robertgilbert86 · 21 Jan 2008 at 14:32

~£200 body only
~£250 with the kit lens.
(BTW I'm selling a Nikon AF-S 18-135mm f3.5-5.6. If you're interested, email me

~£140)

The D40 is just less spec than the D50. Not as nice to use, the top LCD on the D50 is infinitely better than the D40's back LCD.

If you can stretch to the D80 you'll get an up-to-date camera. That's the only downside, the D50 is getting a bit old. But, having said that I haven't received complaints from clients about noise or lack of resolution.

Oh, and you can only get used D50's!

Hmm, laymans terms;
-The D40 is not as flexible as the D50.
-The D50 is easier and faster to use.

I've learnt on a D50 and it's been awesome. Just can't wait to finish uni, get a job and buy a used D200!

LordSplodge · 21 Jan 2008 at 14:45

robertgilbert86 said:
~£200 body only
~£250 with the kit lens.

If you can stretch to the D80 you'll get an up-to-date camera.

Unlikely that I could go as far as a D80 as I have two holidays to pay for. However, if the bug bites I can always upgrade the body at a later date.

Cheers

Domo · 21 Jan 2008 at 14:49

What's the cheapest camera with a CCD self-cleaner? A mate here is into photography and constantly moans about dirt on the CCD!

robertgilbert86 · 21 Jan 2008 at 15:05

Does the 350D have it?
If not the 400D defo does. I guess that's the cheapest.

Sensor dirt is a stress on my D50, but it only became a problem when I started buying more lenses. If you're only going to have one lens, it never needs to come off, so no dirt should get in.

LordSplodge · 21 Jan 2008 at 15:08

robertgilbert86 said:
Does the 350D have it?
If not the 400D defo does. I guess that's the cheapest.

Sensor dirt is a stress on my D50, but it only became a problem when I started buying more lenses. If you're only going to have one lens, it never needs to come off, so no dirt should get in.

Can you not clean the sensor with, say, compressed air in a can?

robertgilbert86 · 21 Jan 2008 at 15:10

LordSplodge said:
Can you not clean the sensor with, say, compressed air in a can?

Yeah...but it's nice how the 400D sensor cleans automatically every time you turn it off.

balls · 21 Jan 2008 at 15:43

It doesn't exactly clean itself in the same way using a sqeeze bottle does

Messiah Khan · 21 Jan 2008 at 15:53

robertgilbert86 said:
Does the 350D have it?
If not the 400D defo does. I guess that's the cheapest.

Sensor dirt is a stress on my D50, but it only became a problem when I started buying more lenses. If you're only going to have one lens, it never needs to come off, so no dirt should get in.

Automatic sensor cleaning helps, but it doesn't remove the need to manually clean it from time to time.

LordSplodge said:
Can you not clean the sensor with, say, compressed air in a can?

You could, but when cleaning your sensor you have to be very carefull. With compressed air you are quite likely to get moisture spraying out which could damage the sensor. Your better off using something like an Arctic Butterfly or Sensor Pen.

V-Spec · 21 Jan 2008 at 16:00

I'd highly highly highly recommend NOT using compressed air out of a can lol, my friend did this and wrecked his camera <despite me telling him not to> he held the can at an angle to get it inside the body and as a result it sprayed the propellant onto the sensor which froze and totally wrecked the filter and the sensor..

robertgilbert86 · 21 Jan 2008 at 16:03

I've used air a few times and it's been fine, just do it a reasonable distance away, and be careful not to drag the mirror down

But sensors are tougher than you think, I poke mine a fair bit just with a lens cleaning cloth. Now, I hear most of the users on this forum fainting right now. But fear not! Everything's fine and clean

I even poke my mirror, and pentaprism with a standard lens cloth to get the crap out.

I just feel the need to point out that most cameras are not made of feathers and pritt stick.

V-Spec · 21 Jan 2008 at 16:06

I use a delkin sensor cleaning kit, its brill because you can see each piece of dust and get rid,
I used to use a rocket blower before, can't really go wrong with one of those, unless the dust is welding itself to the filter