Yuck! dSLR recommendation please. :(

FrankS

FrankS

Registered User
Local time
4:42 PM
Joined
Aug 23, 2004
Messages
19,348
This is not for me! One of my children in high school taking a photography course wants a dSLR camera for certain applications. (I've already supplied a film slr with lenses.) I'd like to spend less than $350 and willing to buy used. I'm thinking Nikon D40x. I have no clue about dSLR cameras and don't really want to spend my time learning about them. I'd like to ask those of you more versed in this area to give me some advice, please. I have 28 and 50mm lenses (manual focus) in Pentax, Olympus, Canon, or Nikon mount to use. Opinions please!
 
Last edited:
I love my D40 (no x). Compact, easy to use, great results. I often use it with non-metering manual focus Nikkors.
 
Putting that word ... [yuck!] ... at the beginning of your post could be perceived as trolling for another digital verses film argument Frank!

The forum police are everywhere don't you know? :D

For what it's worth, for some reason I'd be thinking Olympus ... not sure why though! :p
 
On an Olympus digital body (of which I have two), 28 and 50 will become 56 and 100 when used with an adapter. All that your child will need will be a wide angle. The kit zoom, 14-42 (28-84 in Leica terms), is inexpensive and capable. My experience of Olympus has been good.
 
If you go Nikon, try the D60 as it still uses CF card. You might also look at Any of the Fuji DSLR's as they also use many Nikon mount lenses. BEst of all, they usually sell for less.

But if you want a good DSLR, go Canon.

That is all.
 
I steered my nephew to a new D40. You can still find them online, as a lot of shops ( according to his reply to me when I encouraged him to bu one in an actual physical store ) don't seem to carry them anymore.
 
I would look at a Pentax. There will be no compatibility issues with your lenses and any Pentax digital body, and you get body-based image stabilizer.
Pentax 2, Nikon 0! :angel:
 
D70 or D70S if the course covers flash photography (these dSLRs will sync up to 1/500s while most of the other newer consumer dSLRs sync at 1/60 or 1/100). Very handy for daylight fill flash.

D40 or D40X if the course doesn't cover flash photography.
 
FrankS said:
I'd like to spend less than $350 and willing to buy used. I'm thinking Nikon D40x............. I have 28 and 50mm lenses (manual focus) in Pentax, Olympus, Canon, or Nikon mount to use. Opinions please!
Click to expand...

photogdave said:
I would look at a Pentax. There will be no compatibility issues with your lenses and any Pentax digital body, and you get body-based image stabilizer.
Pentax 2, Nikon 0! :angel:
Click to expand...
I 2nd photogdave's suggestion being that you have MF lenses in Pentax. They are still usable with the Pentax digital bodies (pick any one - iST, k100dsuper, k200d, k10d, k20d, k-m, k-x). With the iStd, k100dsuper and k10d they can be had for ~350 used and you'll still have image stabilization, metering. If you have M42 Tak's (with appropriate M42-k mt adapter) you even get quasi aperture priority and program mode although you won't get wide open aperture focusing.

With Nikon D40, I believe you can still use your MF lenses but you won't get image stabilization nor metering - you'll have to guesstimate and chimp. I do see refurb D40's every now and then for <400. Not sure if you can meter with MF lenses on D70 or other Nikon digital bodies.

I just checked KEH - they have an iSTd for $215 - try that one!
 
Last edited:
I'd go with either a D60 or D40X. Both do flash fine, we lived with a 1/60 and 1/125 for years quite fine. I really like either for teaching as you can see the results with a histogram on the LCD to see how your lighting was. Get a good basic incident light meter for them us metering. It's a great way to learn the basics without too much fancy stuff.

I'd suggest a 24/2.8, 50/XX and a 135/2.8 all old non-ai will work fine.

B2 (;->
 
Okay, Jon has kindly agreed to purchase a D40x in Tokyo for me.
My question is, is $360 (total, includes postage) a good price for a new Nikon D40x with kit lens?
 
How would things work with warranty? Would the camera have to be shipped back to Japan if service is required, or is coverage world-wide?
 
Wow, that is a great price. Do they have the new old stock of the D40 as well? I will be in Tokyo at the end of March, so I am interested in checking it out.
 
I'd look into the D40 vs the D40x - the x gets you more MP but you lose flash sync at all speeds. The D40 will sync up to 1/500 flash wise.

But..... I still thinks you should get a PEN TAX :)
In body Image Stabilization means all MF lenses will be IS/VR.
Best Buy has factory refurbed K10d's for $377
 
Last edited:
I say buy a Nikon D60 refurbished from an authorized dealer. I bought one for my wife along with a used 18-70mm lens, better than the kit lens, for about 375 dollars. The camera is VERY easy to get great pictures from and the 10MP sensor has fantastic DR for what it is. Later on you can pick up their 35/1.8 lens for some low light action.

IS is so overrated. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom