Worried the D40 was the wrong choice...

[Vexed Mind]

I'm new here, but I've really enjoyed reading much of the information on this wonderful site for several months, I wished I'd found you sooner!

Anyway, about a year ago my poor Canon fell off the top shelf and the lens was dead on the scene, so I used it as an excuse to switch over to Nikon. I walked in to my favorite little camera shop and slapped my debit card down on the counter and told em to hand over the shiny new D90. Surprisingly, they told me it wasn't the best choice for the money. Megapixels are not as important as most people believe, which I've known and believed myself for quite awhile, and the extra features the D90 affords just wasn't worth the extra money. They actually recommended the D40. I was caught off guard. So I went home and did some more research and was intrigued by Ken Rockwell's site, which had been mentioned to me. Based on alot of his information and reviews, among some others I'd read, and the price, I decided I'd go with the D40. I figured with the money I saved over the D90 I could pick up a lens.

Well, I've had it for a year, as I said, and honestly I really like everything about it - many of the options are buried in menus, yes, but it doesn't bother me all that much. My images are wonderfully sharp and the colors are good, though I do some tweaking in HSL in camera raw, I prefer that extra boost of color alot of the time. I haven't printed larger than 11x14 as of yet, and they printed well. The only real issue I've found at this point, which I only found about 3 weeks ago, is there is no bracketing on the D40. I really wanted to try out some HDR, but it's not really possible now. Also, the fact that several lenses won't AF on the D40 is a bit of a nuisance.

So, on to my worries...

I've realized over the last several months that alot of people very much dislike Ken Rockwell, and it got me thinking if I was wrong to go with the D40, as most of my decision had to do with his information. I'm not brand new to DSLRs, and I am working on getting a business up and running... so I'm a bit concerned about my choice. I know megepixels aren't THAT important.. but perhaps it would have been better to go with the D90? Double the pixels, more features, and more lens compatibility. What are your opinions on this? Was I wrong to go with the D40? Should I really look at trading up? I wouldn't be too happy about it, as I wouldn't get anything near what I paid for my D40 back, but if it would be very beneficial to go with the 90.. I'll seriously consider it.

Also, about lenses - I still only use the kit lens, I haven't been able to settle on anything else (I'm incredibly indecisive). I was going to pick up the 35mm 1.8 tomorrow. I would love your opinions on this as well. I do several types of shots, anything from toddlers playing / non traditional portraits, not so much landscapes anymore but much closer in - anything from close up to as close to macro as I can pull off with my kit lens. I'd prefer to pick up only a single lens right now and really get a feel for it. So would the 35mm 1.8 be good for what I shoot, or would something else be ideal?

Sorry for such a long post, and any input would be greatly appreciated!

[wulf]

I don't think bracketing is a huge loss unless you rely on it a lot. If you are using a tripod or other stable mount it is quite easy to take three shots, tweaking the exposure between each one. You can also try the approach of shooting in RAW, aiming for a good general exposure and using the extra detail available in that format to generate under and overexposed versions to put through the HDR wash.

Have you experimented with manual mode yet? I use that 99% of the time on my D40 and suspect I'd still want to be in manual most of the time even with a more advanced camera. Therefore, lens compatibility is not an issue for me - the D40 is dumb enough to accept just about anything I stick on it!

Wulf

[amymnc]

I've had the d40 for 2 (or is it 3?) years now. Been a wonderful camera, especially if you get it in manual mode and take it off auto-iso. It doesn't like to behave at high ISO's. My issue is no auto-focus with some lenses (like you mentioned) and no commander mode for flash. When I bought the camera I had no idea what those things were so they weren't an issue. I also read Ken Rockwell's site and it factored in my choice of cameras. No comment.

I have a 50mm 1.8 and it's hard to get that focused manually at less than f 8 or so. Big bummer.


Now I'm planning to upgrade but I'll never sell the d40. It's at over 9000 shutter clicks and it's been a darn good camera. It'll be my all purpose- vacation and quick shots buddy.
In the long run, perhaps it was the wrong choice. But you still can't beat it for the price.
Work that thing and use it in every way you can until you outgrow it. Have fun with it!

[sk66]

If you are not unhappy with anything, then it was the right choice for you.

My recommendation is be happy and don't buy anything until you need to. Buying something because you think it will be better is a waste of money.
Buying something because there is a deficiency in what you have and it's causing you problems is not.

If you start chasing "better", you will never find the end.

[dakwegmo]

Originally Posted by sk66

If you are not unhappy with anything, then it was the right choice for you.

My recommendation is be happy and don't buy anything until you need to. Buying something because you think it will be better is a waste of money.
Buying something because there is a deficiency in what you have and it's causing you problems is not.

If you start chasing "better", you will never find the end.

Exactly!

The D40 is a great camera, and if you're making great images with it then there's really no need to second guess your choice. If you're running into a specific limitation that is holding you back, and you can't find any other way around it, then it's probably time to start looking at an upgrade. Until then, keep making great photos with what you have.

[Vexed Mind]

Thank you for all the replies!

Originally Posted by wulf

I don't think bracketing is a huge loss unless you rely on it a lot. If you are using a tripod or other stable mount it is quite easy to take three shots, tweaking the exposure between each one. You can also try the approach of shooting in RAW, aiming for a good general exposure and using the extra detail available in that format to generate under and overexposed versions to put through the HDR wash.

Have you experimented with manual mode yet? I use that 99% of the time on my D40 and suspect I'd still want to be in manual most of the time even with a more advanced camera. Therefore, lens compatibility is not an issue for me - the D40 is dumb enough to accept just about anything I stick on it!

Wulf

I've considered the tripod and tweaking for a little HDR work, and I'll probably try it out and see how I feel about it. My camera doesn't budge from RAW, once I discovered it I fell in love and never looked back. I've read about using RAW images in that way, I may give that a try as well.

I have not done alot with full manual on this camera, to be honest I haven't since I was using my old Canon 35mm years ago. I tend to stick with either of the priority settings, and that's about as close to manual as I get these days. I am however looking to go to full manual, I just need a refresher on everything, as it's been years since I've really paid attention to it all.

Originally Posted by amymnc

I've had the d40 for 2 (or is it 3?) years now. Been a wonderful camera, especially if you get it in manual mode and take it off auto-iso. It doesn't like to behave at high ISO's. My issue is no auto-focus with some lenses (like you mentioned) and no commander mode for flash. When I bought the camera I had no idea what those things were so they weren't an issue. I also read Ken Rockwell's site and it factored in my choice of cameras. No comment.

I have a 50mm 1.8 and it's hard to get that focused manually at less than f 8 or so. Big bummer.


Now I'm planning to upgrade but I'll never sell the d40. It's at over 9000 shutter clicks and it's been a darn good camera. It'll be my all purpose- vacation and quick shots buddy.
In the long run, perhaps it was the wrong choice. But you still can't beat it for the price.
Work that thing and use it in every way you can until you outgrow it. Have fun with it!

I'm curious now if I'll have a problem manual focusing with the 35mm 1.8, I MF on everything except toddlers and such.

As for vacation and quick shots... I know several people who have a camera (usually one they upgraded from) for this purpose. I myself have a hard time with this, as I want to use the best of what I have for anything and everything.

Originally Posted by sk66

If you are not unhappy with anything, then it was the right choice for you.

My recommendation is be happy and don't buy anything until you need to. Buying something because you think it will be better is a waste of money.
Buying something because there is a deficiency in what you have and it's causing you problems is not.

If you start chasing "better", you will never find the end.

Originally Posted by dakwegmo

Exactly!

The D40 is a great camera, and if you're making great images with it then there's really no need to second guess your choice. If you're running into a specific limitation that is holding you back, and you can't find any other way around it, then it's probably time to start looking at an upgrade. Until then, keep making great photos with what you have.

Thank you so much for these last two posts.. they make me feel so much better! (As all the posts do). You're absolutely right. As I said, I really need to relearn much of the basics again - as it's been years since I've done it "right" - and my real concern was that, because it's really only a refresher, and I learn very quickly, that I would outgrow my camera in only a couple months from now. I'll just worry about relearning it all and when I feel I'm being held back, THEN I'll really consider what comes next.


Thanks!

[kirbinster]

The D40 is a great little camera. I loved mine when I got it. When I first had it I could not understand why anyone would want anything more. It sounds like you felt the same way for quite a while with yours - so it was not a bad choice. But we change, and our wants and needs change - so maybe it is time to get it a big brother. If you can afford the bucks I would keep it, not trade it in. The small form factor makes it a pleasure to use, and you don't always need all the bells and whistles that a bigger brother might have.

That said the D90 is a great camera, but bigger and heavier. But do you stop there or go with a D300. But maybe you want full-frame so the D700 or the bigger more expensive D3 might be the option. I guess what I am saying is you need to look at what you want to do with the body and then decide.

My D40 served me very well and is now serving my dad very well.

[amymnc]

I'm curious now if I'll have a problem manual focusing with the 35mm 1.8, I MF on everything except toddlers and such.

The 35mm 1.8 should autofocus just fine on the D40. The AF-S lenses won't give you any probs since they have their own built in motor of sorts. I'm terrible at the techy terms

The 50mm 1.8 is just "AF". You can only focus the lens manually on the D40. It's fine on a tripod, higher f number, or with subjects that don't move. Just gets tricky at 1.8 and kids running and playing....anywhere that you have a small focus area or need to focus quickly. But someone more experienced using manual lens focus probably won't have the issues I do with it.

I also found this out recently from my own trial and error- If you're using the 50mm AF lens on the D40, you can only use your speelight in manual mode. I guess since the camera isn't reading what the lens is doing, it doesn't have the TTL info to give to the speedlight. It still works on there, just not in TTL mode. Have to do strictly manual on the speedlight. Unless you're lucky enough to have the SB-800/900 which has its own brain.

Went out and got some neat shots a little while ago with my D40. I still love it

[utsc2006]

I also have the D40 and have had it for almost 3 years now and I must admit it has been a wonderful learning camera. I think if you are about to start a business as I would like to in the next year or so - yes you will need to upgrade. But I don't think it's a bad learning camera. Compared to the D90 - I mean are the extra little things going to make that much of a difference if you are not publishing your photo's everywhere? no. I went for the D40 and got better glass which will be a good investment. In 5 years you'll still have your lenses but maybe not your body.

Plus the D40 is at the cost now where I'll keep it as a personal fun camera and invest in something that is a little more professional...