Nikon D40... or wait to get a D80?

Question

the Nikon D40 is an amazing camara and its cheap with 6.2 megapixles.

but should i wait a bit longer to get the D80 with 10.2 megapixles. its 2 times the price though.

opinions please.

if you dont no squat about the camara then dont bother.

Answer 1

Don't worry about the pixel count difference.  Get the D40 and start exploring your visual creativity.  By the time you have learned how to use all the D40's features a newer version of the D80 with more features at probably lower cost will be available.

http://kenrockwell.com/tech/recommended-...

There is a lot of talk about so called "kit" lenses.  As it turns out the 18-55mm AF-S lens that is sold as part of a camera system is actually a state of art lens, not an inferior lens at all.  It has the superior ED optics and Internal Silent Wave Motor.  Canon calls their lenses in this class the "L" class and their quiet motor USM.  Canon puts a nice "designer" red ring around the lens so Canon users can show off their "labeled" lens.

http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/18-55-ii.ht...

And as far as pixel count goes?

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.h...

My first DSLR was a D100 with 6MP.  I used it professionally for nearly four years (two D100's actually).  The 6MP sensor on the D40 is actually a more sophisticated sensor than that one on the D100

Answer 2

I assume this will be your first DSLR.

With a point-and-shoot (or compact, or digicam, or non-DSLR, or whatever terminology you want to use), you are buying the complete product with no or little room for expansion.

In contrast, with a DSLR, you are buying into a SYSTEM.  While sensors are important, what will REALLY affect the look of your pictures is the lens you use for each particular picture.  One of the most important reasons for buying a DSLR is for its ability to change lenses.

So instead of buying the best body but be stuck with the kit lens forever, you will be MUCH better served by buying the cheaper body, and put extra money toward buying more lenses, or buying a better quality lens.

DSLR bodies become obsolete in 3-5 years time (they won't stop working, but newer bodies will be THAT much better that you'll really want to switch/upgrade -- for example, have you looked at the D40x or the D60?), whereas good lenses can easily stay with you for decades.  

(Along that line, make sure Nikon's system will serve your current and future needs.  Nikon and Canon are the two systems I recommend to people who are seriously interested in photography and want room to grow later.)

Finally, the D40 and D80 both have the same sensor size (what's called APS-C, with a 1.5 crop factor), so having more megapixels has the potential risk of worsened low-light image quality, since every pixel will be smaller and less able to capture light.

Another thing to consider is that the D40 lacks a in-body focus motor, so you are limited to newer Nikon lenses which have a motor in the lens.

Finally, you'll find both the D40 and the D80 reviewed (and compared to other cameras) at DPReview:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40...

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond80...

DPReview also allows you to compare them side-by-side:

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

If you have a few weeks to spend, go into the Forums there and read as many threads as you can in the Nikon DSLR forums (the D80 and D40 are both in the same forum, so you're bound to find others having the same dilemma as you).

Good luck.

Answer 3

Well if you have a lot of AF or AI lenes and need more professional features get the D80 or wait for the D90

The D40 imo is almoste identical to the D80 other then size and lens selection and having shot with both I can say that the D40 for was the better choice

I went through the same thing and bought the D40 and used the extra money for a new flash and cards.