From Point and Shoot to DSLR?

Question

I been into photography since I was younger and now I’m older, more advanced and going to college I wanted to start using a DSLR. I was thinking about the Nikon D80, but people are saying that the Nikon D80 is not for beginners that the Nikon D40 is for beginner. I wanted to be able to keep the Nikon D80 until I get out of college and have a nice job to buy a Professional DSLR. I think if I buy the Nikon D40 I would have to buy another DSLR while I’m in College, and plus I heard that you can’t use lots of lens on the Nikon D40

What do you think I should do?

Answer 1

SHEEESH!!  Some people seem to believe that if you're just starting out with a DSLR you MUST start out with the lowest, cheapest one.  That, somehow, you don't deserve to be using a serious, high quality camera.

Poppycock!  The D40 is nowhere near the camera that the D80 is!  And it won't last half as long.  As the old saying goes - "you get what you pay for!"

And ... well, the idea of using a D40 for professional work (as someone has suggested) is a bit like driving a VW Beetle around the track at Daytona.

Cute!  But absurd!

You've done your homework.  You know the relative prices.  Don't question your decision.

Go for the D80!

Answer 2

it really depends on your budget

who wouldn't want a D80 over a D40 if it wasn't because of money.

those models are just price brackets to attend different budgets.

You plan to learn to use all those functions and there will be a point when u need features that the D40 doesn't have.

so basically if u have money go for it, if not then get the d40 like me.

The thing about the lenses in the d40 is that , if you want autofocus then you have to buy those lenses with autofocus motor incorporated.

If you use those old lenses then u wont have autofocus. I believe you dont have old lenses so you dont have to worry about that.

Answer 3

Get the D80.

The D80 is just as suitable for beginners as the D40 is. These cameras both make the transition from a point & shoot easy by providing a dial with familiar scene modes (landscape, portrait, flower, etc.). You don’t have to use the scene modes but they’re there if you want them. On the next model up this dial disappears. The D40 and D80 also provide all of the more advanced settings for you to grow into.

The biggest advantage of the D80 vs. the D40 is its ability to auto-focus with older AF lenses. There’s a wide selection of lenses that will work just fine on the D40, but advanced amateurs and even people on a budget will appreciate this extra option. The D80 gives you instant access to a vast selection of cheap used lenses as well as to several new and used specialty lenses. These include various zoom lenses and macro lenses, and all AF prime lenses.

At some point during the next four years, you will want to add a prime lens to your collection. I’m thinking about something like a 50mm f/1.8. This inexpensive little gem will open up a new world of low light photography and razor thin depth of field. For example, if you absolutely, positively want to take a portrait where the eyes are in focus and the ears are part of the blurry background, this is your lens. I personally use a Nikon D200 and my wife uses a D80. One day she borrowed my 50mm f/1.4 to test it out and three weeks later I practically had to fight her to use this lens myself again.

Other advantages of the D80 include a slightly larger and brighter viewfinder, a slightly faster frame rate, a significantly higher megapixel count, and an extra LCD screen on the top of the camera to view your settings. All of this also adds up to make the D80 a more advanced and user-friendly camera.

Here’s a side-by-side of the specs with links to in-depth reviews:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_...

Answer 4

im a pro and use the d40 and love it. the only diference is it takes 3fps while some new cameras take 6 or even 8. the second is the mp is a little low. again its still a good camera. these pix are ones i took with mine.

Answer 5

I would go to a good camera store like Ritz or Wolfe and try these out.  Hold them in you hands and see how easy it is to reach the controls.  Take some pics and ask lots of questions.   You will know which one is right for you when you handle it!   And Ritz and Wolfe give free lessons, which I feel are very valuable!    

Answer 6

I went from a point and shoot to the D80 (bought mine at the beginning of this summer). I really didn't have any problems with it. The manuals do a pretty good job of explaining everything and when I bought my camera (from Wolfe), I got free lessons to go along with it. I'm really happy with mine and it takes great photos!