First query

Didi

Didi

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Hi everyone,

As a person who is getting into photography and one day hoping to go into the business - I was wondering out of the following two models - which one would be the best for starting out and also for using professionally? the nikon D40 or the D40x?
 
Hi Didi and Welcome!

I definitely recommend the D40/D40x for starting out. You should pick them up really cheap second hand (not sure if they are available new anymore). I wouldn't go for them thinking they will work well for professional photography. There's a few issues, but mainly the fact it's a crop sensor as opposed to a full frame. Plus it doesn't have an in body autofocus motor. There's other build quality issues too, but for a starting camera they are well worth the money.
 
Hello and welcome

D90 would be a better choice than either of those (which are discontinued now), I know it is a dearer option but it has the lens motor in the camera body, which the lower end models do not (D40 D60 D5000).

Having the motor in the body gives a far greater choice of lenses that will auto focus, the D40 D60 and D5000 will limit you to AF-S lenses if you want auto focus.

The D90 has a better sensor and focusing ability, better low light ability, it also has the two command dial set up for when you get more experienced, this makes setting aperture and shutter speed easier.

It has a 'P' mode which is an advanced automatic mode, so no worries about being a novice with DSLR's.
 
Hi and welcome:)

Before buying go and hold the different models and makes ( not just Nikon) to see which feels more comfortable in your hands. It is important you buy a camera YOU feel comfortable with.
 
had a d40 then moved to sony (d60 equivalent) and then back to a d90

d90 is awesome and will be better investment
 
If you are just getting in to photography then get yourself a good starter camera for now. Your starter camera won't be the camera you have if/when you turn professional. A D90 would be a better investment than a D40 but a D40 will still be good enough for you to learn the ropes. Alternatively loko at something like a second hand D200 which was widely used by a lot of professionals not too long ago.
 
Thankyou everyone for such constructive feedback. I had a vague suspicion that the D40/D40X would be a good for entry level but not for pro but due to finances and the fact that I'm a novice at the minute, I didn't want a camera that is hard to control, I was recommended either model through another pro-tog and have held both models and both feel as if they are part of my hand, very comfortable.

Is it very important to get lenses that adjust automatically aswell as manually or can having lenses that just adjust manually be ok? I guess having auto adjustable lenses is easier to use when first starting out?

Sorry if I'm asking really dumb questions here but I've always used a standard point and shoot camera and previously I've been the model rather than behind the camera so very new to the world of DSLR cameras.

Photography is a passion that I really want to delve into though so any help given into above questions or just tips and pointers into first starting out into photography would really be appreciated.:)
 
I would certainly advise against the D40, I currently have it, and am saving up for something better.

It has no internal focus motor, leaving you with a very limited choice of lenses, unless you like manual focusing. And as many people will tell you, it's the lenses that really make a good picture, not the camera.
The D40 certainly isn't a bad camera, just not the wisest choice with consideration to new lenses, and settings.
 
Well if it is going to be one of the nodels you mention get the X version as it will make it easier to print at larger sizes due to the increased resolution.

Af is useful but don't be afraid to focus manually either.

Get hold of a copy of "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. You will find it a good read.

Above all don't be afraid to ask questions. The only stupid ones are those that don't get asked.
 
The D40x is definatly better than the D40 with a higher pixel count. both are good starters into the DSLR world and where i started. I soon grew out of it though and went for the D90. It is a better allround caera if you have the money. It also comes with a more versatile kit lens at 18-105 as opose to the 18-55

Im not sure the auto focus is much of an issue unless you are buying second hand older lenses. Most Nikon lens have AF-S built in with the exception of the 50mm 1.8

The other advantage of the D40x i guess is it was easily sold and didn't cost me too much with depreciation
 
Thankyou PsiFox for the book recommendation, will be getting hold of a copy! and thankyou for the constructive criticism regarding the D40 Wigster. I am also hoping to get a good telephoto lens after I receive the camera from my hubby at christmas as I've always wanted to take a good photograph of a fireworks display and the moon (thats the hobbyist in me!) and also a lens that is made to take good portraiture photographs as if I did (eventually) decide the train pro, I would want to work with people as my subject matter more than landscape and wildlife. I think camera body, camera accessories that come with camera body, camera bag, tripod and 2 lenses and caps would be my starter kit. That should fill up my wish list for possibly this christmas, my birthday and following christmas aswell lol

Oh and just wanted to say thanks again for all the help! :)
 
I dont know how much they are going out for, but the canon 450d 18-55 kit is selling for around £450 in some places ive seen on the net recently, its an absolutely fantastic camera, and im glad i spent the money on mine. Its very easy to use as well. My friend has a D40x, and I think the canon is easier to get on with.
 
purehillmanimp said:
I dont know how much they are going out for, but the canon 450d 18-55 kit is selling for around £450 in some places ive seen on the net recently, its an absolutely fantastic camera, and im glad i spent the money on mine. Its very easy to use as well. My friend has a D40x, and I think the canon is easier to get on with.
Click to expand...

Take any recommendation with a pinch of salt. Camera choice is always a personal issue. Only buy from ones you have held.
After all if we all recommended the same thing there would only be 1 camera in existence. There is a reason we have a choice.
 
I was just stating how well I got on with it, and how I found it better for value than my friends camera. But whilst we are on 'in the hand', it is very comfortable and all the buttons are easily reachable. Just throwing another one into the mix as a suggestion to look at.
 
You might like to think of a Canon 30D 8.2 Mpix or 40D 10.1 Mpix s/h both have magnesium shell where the Nikon D40 is plastic
Click on the links and check them out as there are some aboutat good prices Kerso was selling some off some 30D's for only £399 (new?)
You also get a wider range of lens for Canon
 
Thankyou all for the constructive feedback, I will look into these recommendations and try to see if i can hold one in a shop etc as like afew of you have said, you have to feel comfortable with what you are going to buy first. I really appreciate all the help that people are giving me, I didnt know that forums could be of such good use. I'm so glad that I joined this site! :)
 
Hi Didi, I'd also echo the advice to go and hold the camera first.

There are more reasons behind this than you might think but having gone down the route in 4 years of hobby-semi pro there are a few points I'd recommend you consider.

Firstly that whatever you buy NOW will very much dictate where you end up with when you do eventually upgrade to pro kit. It is a very expensive exercise to change brands and you find yourself not only having to get used to a new camera but a whole new system including flashguns and accessories. It's a HUGE expense to change it ALL over.

Secondly, don't just hold the one you plan on buying now, hold the top of the range ones as well. I was very lucky in that I chose Canon and I use a 1Ds but the Nikon equivalent, the D3, is much bigger in the grip and I can't reach the buttons or hold the camera stable at all! That was pot luck on my part but could have either cost me a fortune or left me with a camera I could not handle properly.

Also, if you know the kind of photography you want to do, have a good look at the lens ranges and prices. It might help to guide you regarding future expansion.

Don't rush it and take some time to make sure you are comfortable. :)
 
Thankyou for the advice Ali B, I understand that it will be cheaper to use the lenses I get with my first camera and just upgrade the camera body in the future so lens compatibility is something that is at the front of my mind in regards to getting my first DSLR. I will definately be taking my time to research everything first before hinting to my hubby at which model I would like.
 
If i could afford a medium format camera, I would be straight at the front of the queue. The detail and clarity and no edge artifacts that they provide is beyond belief but the finance is beyond belief too so looks like I'll be sticking with a DSLR unless I win the lottery.

That is a lovely camera though *sighs*
 
Hi Didi, welcome to TP.

If you're thinking of portraits a good (and reasonably cheap) investment would be a Nikon 50mm lens. Although it won't autofocus on a D40/40x its a really good, sharp lens and excellent if the light isn't too good. Only about £100 new.

Andy
 
Btw, why are we looking at Nikon here?

The obvious probably with cheap Nikon's is the lack of a focus motor, and therefore restricted lens choices. Canon's dont have this problem, so what about a 2nd hand 400D?

Also, you can get the Canon 50mm f/1.8 for about £80, so it auto-focuses and its cheaper....seems like an easy choice to me.
 
I'm looking at all types, Nikon was just recommended to me through a trustworthy source in regards to performance etc so I took their advice on board. That doesnt necessarily mean I will get one, I'm researching all areas but when I first joined this forum - The Nikon range was what I was first asking about.

In regards to auto or manual focus, does it really matter if you have to manually adjust? you can't always rely on the camera to get the focal range that you want to take the perfect photograph and doesn't using manual give you greater control over focal adjustment so longterm, improving a photographer's focal adjustment skill?

Maybe I'm being a traditionalist/ old fashioned at 24 years old but I just presume using all the latest gizmos and gadgets on cameras can gain greater effects on photographs but doesn't necessarily help with the photographer's overall skill.

If I'm wrong with that train of thought then I apologise now.
 
Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to update people on the camera that I eventually chose (after researching the suggestions that I was given on the forum as well as researching into others) I finally fell in love with the Nikon D3000 and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens kit and my husband bought me it on Saturday for me to open on Christmas Day so thankyou for all the feedback and suggestions.

:o)
 
Hi everyone, Sorry that I haven't been on here in a while but its bben very hectic! I'm building up an online portolio on http://dkilminsterphotography.webs.com and facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/pages/DKilminster-Photography/115135941867230?ref=mf. If you are on facebook then please add my fanpage and feel free to add some comments or even become a fan of the page yourself as more fans means word of my work can spread and its also a great way to become friends with like minded people as I'm on there more than on here at the minute. xx
 
umm...

your 'strong' online portfolio consists mainly of 'happy-snaps' which are nice enough for the most part, but I'm slightly alarmed by the opening page on your website which appears to indicate - and please correct me if I'm wrong - that you are offering yourself up as a Professional Photographer covering amongst other things: portraits, family groups, weddings and events...?

Six months after buying your first DSLR and before you've even finished college?

Would that be a fair asessment?

I accept that it does clearly state that you're only doing this for the experience (CD & prints offered for time), but the impression the website creates is that you're doing this as a Pro...
 
Dear Arkady,

I respect your opinion but both my website and facebook fanpage clearly stated that my images and near future projects were for gaining experience (the services offered are the fields that I need more experience in hence why I have put them on the site) and that I am an amateur and training which would make one assume that I am not professional. I am wanting to get my work out there now as I am needing volunteers for myself to photograph so that I can gain a strong portfolio without financial gain as I think that is unethical whilst I'm not a registered business as of yet. I have not used the words 'professional photographer' on either sites as that would be wrong of me to. If I need to slightly change the wording on both sites then I am willing to do that.

You have stated that I have only had a DSLR for a few months and that is true but how can I gain experience unless I ask for volunteers? and the net is the only way in which I can reach a wide network of people.

You must remember how hard it was for yourself when you first started out(still training so knowing that you could not register as a business and finding it hard to get people to use your talent as you were not a professional but you needing to photograph a wide network of people to gain the experience so that one day you could confidently say that you were a professional) so please understand how hard it is for me.


In regards to my photographs, I am new so my work is improving on a daily basis but I do appreciate any constructive criticism from anyone, that is why I put my sites on here so that I could gain guidance, help and hopefully, some support.


*I have re-worded my official website in a way that will hopefully please you but if you have any future problems/queries about my sites or if you could offer any constructive guidance then I would appreciate it.
 
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