68degrees
Well-known
I hope this helps. Are the menus fairly intuitive?
My Dad just ordered a NIkon D40. Film was getting too fiddly for him.
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daveleo
what?
If fiddly is a big issue, I'm thinking that poor dad has jumped out of the fry pan into the fire . 🙂
IMO, digital cameras are way more fidgety than film cameras.
but, I had the D60 and now the D5100, and compared to my fuji x100, they era not fidgety at all. Must study the manual !!!
kxl
Social Documentary
Not fiddly as long as your dad is willing to use it within its limits, e.g., AFS lenses only for compete compatibility, no manual WB, etc...
kshapero
South Florida Man
Set the green button and fire away.
68degrees
Well-known
it comes with the 18 to 55 but i have a lot of AI lenses I thought could be used also.
kxl
Social Documentary
It will mount but no metering...
kxl
Social Documentary
Yes... but IMHO the less automated features of the D40 you use, the more "fiddly" it becomes. For me, if I want to use manual focus lenses on a Nikon DSLR, I would want metering; otherwise, it becomes "fiddly."
xia_ke
Established
IMO, the D40 is as simple or as complicated as the user wants it to be. I shoot fully manual film cameras personally, but often take pictures for my work using our company's D40 with the 18-55mm kit lens and using available light. I put the WB on auto, ISO at 400, and then shoot manual mode. The aperture and shutter adjustments are a breeze and the meter is easy to read. I don't even bother with RAW as the owner is not a photographer nor a computer guru and we both hate having to fuss over in-camera settings in-between when we each use it. I transfer jpegs into Lightroom for some final tweaking and have been very happy with the results. The D40 is plenty camera for easily 90% of digital shooters out there.
68degrees
Well-known
TXForester
Well-known
Yes. I have Olympus and Canon digitals and use old Zuiko lenses on them. I put the cameras in manual. I don't worry about the aperture setting in camera, I just make sure it is correct in the lens.
DCB
Well-known
I think the D40 may be one of the best (for the price) digital cameras out there. I run mine on program and let it work...it's pretty amazing. I thought I needed a newer (ie better) DSLR so out came the wallet and bought a D7100. Traded it and still have the D40. It's focus and metering is great for about 95% of what he will need. The lens is also very nice.
Peace
Peace
daveleo
what?
I have the 18-55 lens and it is very versatile and convenient, if autohandling is what you are looking for. There is no distance scale on the lens - don't know how close it can focus.
With manual focus lenses, he will have to rely on the green focus confirmation dot (mentioned above, I think) because the viewfinder is not designed for MF. I installed a Katzeye screen AND a 1.2X viefinder magnifier for using MF lenses (which I use much of the time on the D5100).
For exposure control with old lenses, just take a few test shots and check the LCD review.
The D40 has a very devoted following out there.
With manual focus lenses, he will have to rely on the green focus confirmation dot (mentioned above, I think) because the viewfinder is not designed for MF. I installed a Katzeye screen AND a 1.2X viefinder magnifier for using MF lenses (which I use much of the time on the D5100).
For exposure control with old lenses, just take a few test shots and check the LCD review.
The D40 has a very devoted following out there.
Gregoyle
Well-known
As much as people make fun of Ken Rockwell, he has a pretty decent guide for newbies using the D40. He was a big proponent of the camera when it was new and for years afterward.
http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40/users-guide/
Put a 35mm f/1.8 on it, and it will be a great little camera. 6mp is still 3000x2000 pixels, which is big enough for most.
-Greg
http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40/users-guide/
Put a 35mm f/1.8 on it, and it will be a great little camera. 6mp is still 3000x2000 pixels, which is big enough for most.
-Greg
68degrees
Well-known
why would people make fun of him? His writeups are very comprehensive and detailed. Sometimes he does seem to contradict himself somewhat but with so many words thats bound to happen from time to time.
tomnrides
Established
D40 is my back up body for nikon F100 when SLRing. my first and last DSLR, works like a charm for me.
Who's gonna look after your dad's computer need now?
Who's gonna look after your dad's computer need now?
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
Because Ken can be very hyperbolic among other lovely traits. It's often his way or the highway.
As for using Ai and AiS lenses on the D40, the camera does not stop the lens down when shooting, so to use, one would have to focus, stop down to the desired aperture, shoot, open up and move on to the next shot. It basically becomes like an Exa or an early SLR with a preset aperture lens. There is no metering, no mechanical linkage to stop the lens down at exposure time, no focus confirmation. Not to say it can't be done, but it can definitely be an exercise in frustration at times.
Phil Forrest
68degrees
Well-known
I thought he could just usb it into the bluray and look at them on there. I think thre is a software that comes with the camera. Those things are usually pretty user friendly we shall see.
Gregoyle
Well-known
If his bluray has an sd card slot he could also just load it that way. Photo kiosks still work pretty well, too.
