Canon 400D or Nikon D40

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groovemaster

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Hi,
I’m completely new to DSLR's and have only ever used standard middle of the road digital cams.

Soooo... I’m looking into buying my first DSLR in January with some xmas money and so far I’ve found these two to be the most talked about cameras for the first timers.

I have managed to find great deals on eBay for package deals on both camera averaging 250/300 pounds. Don’t have shops close by and wanting to find a bargain since I’m on my student budget so ebay looks to be my best bet :D

Which one would you suggest?

Cheers :)
 
That's not an easy one to answer :razz: :lol:
However, I'll try, as I've owned them both.

The D40 has one major issue, which forced me to sell it eventually. It doesn't have a focus motor in the body. What this means is that you will only be able to use lens's that have a motor.
But if you can live with this, then it takes a STUNNING shot, and I still miss it today, due to it's size, ease of use and image quality.
After saying this, lens manufacturers are producing more lens's with motors in them, so don't be too put off by it......

As for the 400D, I wouldn't touch another one with a barge pole.
I'm fully aware people are going to pounce on me and hurl abuse and all sorts for saying that, but I had a very bad time with my 400D.
No matter what lens I use, image quality was always crap. Pictures were soft, dull and life-less.
I accept that most (or maybe some :naughty:) of the blame laid with me, but I spent allot of time and money on this camera, and never got any joy from it.

As soon as I switched to Sony, I was where I wanted to be. It produces stunning shots, every time, without having to post process every shot to make it good.
So don't rule out a Sony (or any other make for that matter).

I have 'heard' there were quite a few dodgy copies of the 400D, and I'm 100% certain I had one.

But having said all that, it was a good camera. Again easy to use, nice to hold and had some good features.

GOOD LUCK :thumbs:
 
One word of warning...don't buy a "new" camera from Ebay - 90% chance it will be a grey import and therefore have no manufacturer's guarantee.

Have a look at Jessops' website, I think they are doing free delivery at the moment and you get a 28-day return option if you change your mind
 
Get a USED Nikon D50? Cheap as chips, has the in body AF motor, so will run any Nikon AF lens, and spend the money saved on lenses.

Simple.

Whatever, TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! Some find one or the other hard to hold.

Also, don't forget Olympus E420 and Pentax K200? Both are in your budget area if you shop around...

Go see the bunfights on this very question over in www.dpreview.com.
 
Thanks for the in-depth and honest advice folks.

I will look into the other brands in my price range and post my decision on here before I run out and buy anything.

I have a good month to think about it and research so no doubt I’ll be asking a few more questions lol

I was told Jessop’s would be out of my price range online but there actually as cheap as eBay! ooops :eek:

I will definitely buy from there. I’m favoring the D40 at the min and it comes with a great bundle kit on the site:D Im off to research some other brands now, chow for now

Thanks!
 
Check parkcamera, lce, digital depot, as well as jessops. I find Jessops pricing to be on the hilarious side of expensive!
 
When you buy a DSLR you're potentially buying into a system, and it might be worth looking at the strengths and weaknesses of that system.

Look at the ergonomics of the cameras and which one seems more intuitive to you. I personally wouldn't pay too much attention to the size / shape / weight because all the manufacturers do a range of bodies and your second one won't be the same. But things like the control layout and menu structure do persist from one body to the next. It's a personal thing. I have a Canon 350D and a Nikon D70, and I find the Canon much more intuitive; some other people would have the opposite view.

As a beginner I personally would not worry too much about the specific capabilities of any given body. They're all good these days. Again, your first DSLR is unlikely to be your last, so buying a "Brand X" camera because it has some specific feature that the equivalent "Brand Y" camera doesn't may be short-sighted. (The exception to this would be system-wide features; for example Canon and Nikon favour lens-based image stabilisation and the others favour body-based image stabilisation. That won't change any time soon.)

Look at the range of accessories and lenses available. Canon and Nikon have much broader ranges than the other manufacturers, and bigger second-hand markets. That may change over time as the other manufacturers (particularly Sony I think) gain market share, but it won't change fast. The two big manufacturers will continue to dominate the market for years yet.

Look at the capabilities of the lenses and other accessories such as flashes. Comparing Canon and Nikon (the only two I know about), I'd say that:
* they both make some stunningly good lenses and some not-so-good ones;
* Canon have a better range of telephotos;
* Canon have a better range of fast prime lenses;
* Nikon's build quality is better for 'consumer' lenses (though both have excellent build quality for 'professional' lenses);
* Nikon lenses tend to be (but aren't always) a bit more expensive than their Canon equivalents;
* Nikon's flash system is easier to control than Canon's.

And finally ... look at what your friends / family / colleagues have. It's much easier to borrow / swap bits of kit if you have compatible systems!
 
Theres a few great deals on 400Ds on here at the moment. I have a 400D and I am more than happy with it, but I won't get into the debate on which is best Nikon or Canon as both are really good.

Beware of the D40 issue with respect to having to pay more the lenses as already mentioned. But if you could get a D80, that is a great camera.


If your budget could stretch to £500, you could get a canon 40D, as there are great prices on these at the moment.
 
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