SLR camera,Which one to choose?

manuvikraman

manuvikraman

Forerunner
Nikon D40 Or D40x?????

Am planning to buy any of this model with in a month or so... bit confused between these two models...and do u have any idea hw much it will cost in chennai including tax........i checked in ebay there its around 30k:)
Thanking u in advance
Manu:)
 
I would suggest you get the Canon D450 instead. Or if you want Nikon at all costs, get the Nikon D80 for about 29k (grey market). The Canon D450 has a lot of advantages over the D40x like Live view, 3.0" screen, built in AF motor, etc.

The reason I will not suggest either the D40 or the D40x, is because they do not have a built in AF motor and you can only use DX lenses to get AF functionality. If you use any of the older lenses like the cheap but highly useful 50mm f1.8 lens, it will only work with MF. Also all older lenses will work only with MF, no AF option. The D80 does NOT suffer from this problem and it will AF with all AF lenses.

The D80 also has one of the best viewfinders in a DSLR. And at 29k, it is much better than the D40x. If you are on a tight budget, then get the D40 only as the 40x just has more memory card clogging pixels.

Otherwise a Canon 350D/400D is a better option, but you need to ditch the useless kit lens and get the 18-55mm IS lens if you want decent snaps.
 
^^The canon doesn't have a built in camera lens motor. All canon lenses have the motor in them unlike Nikon. You can also look at the entry level 1000D that Canon recently launched. Its expected to be one of the cheapest SLRs on the block.

If you must have D40 or D40x, I'd suggest the D40. D40x/D60 just has more pixels which means more noise. Also it only has a 1/100 flash sync speed whereas the D40 has the standard 1/200th.
 
For nikon reviews I mostly look at Thom Hogan's reviews -> Nikon Field Flash Digital Guide photography by Thom Hogan

D40/D40x review -> Nikon D40 and D40x Review by Thom Hogan

If you are confused on what brand to go for, this is what I would do -

1. Make a list of things which I really love shooting

2. Figure what kind the above would be - for me its mostly Macro and portraits

3. Make a list of Camera features you absolutely need for the above things

4. For Nikon/Canon/otherbrand - Make a list of cameras and lenses you would eventually want to get (Not just now, think about the future)

5. Read reviews of all those and focus on the things you need

6. Make a spreadsheet kind of thing and note down +/- ves and weigh in your constraints (budget??)

7. All these will definitely lead you to the right system you need
 
well i havent seen the nikon D80 for 29k yet ,the best price i have seen in the grey are 38k.also the price for the canon eos 450d(Rebel XSi ) is 38k with kit lens.
 
Chaos said:
Nikon D80 body only is around 29k in grey. If you want one, go to Photo Circle at Chickpet, Blore.
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well thanks, but i still got time till february for the air show ,for now i will just have to use sony h5.
 
u can also consider the Sony A300K DSLR for around US$599. comes with a kit lens. cost me Rs29k for KMD to get it for me from Crutchfield.com
 
^^ Hmm not a bad buy at all. The only negative I can think off is that you won't find too many service centers who could repair the cam. (Spare parts will be a real problem)

But still in built IS (that works with EVERY lens you attach to your camera !) and Live View without AF delay are killer features. Highly recommended camera. And though the Kit lens isn't a great lens, it is reasonably good and whats more important it that it is an 18 - 70mm lens unlike most kit lenses that do only 18-55mm.
 
^ yeah, the in-body IS and Sony's Live View implementation were the key factors that convinced me to get it, after comparing with the Nikon and Canon models.
 
^^ Though the A200 makes up for that slightly by providing a brighter and larger viewfinder. IMHO I really don't know how people can use only the viewfinder all the time.

Sure it helps in stabilizing the camera, but I hate it because it doesn't provide a 100% field of view but between approximately 91 - 95% on budget SLRs. So the picture you click is not the same picture that you see in your viewfinder.

I just wish the Pentax K200D had Live View. It would have solved all my problems ! It has one of the better kit lenses and it is weather sealed to boot.
 
burnz said:
^ yeah, the in-body IS and Sony's Live View implementation were the key factors that convinced me to get it, after comparing with the Nikon and Canon models.
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Agreed the live view is awesome but the normal optical viewfinder which essentially is the heart and soul of the camera is absolute rubbish compared to the Canikons.
 
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