I am looking to get my first SLR camera (I have been using point and
shoot to this point) and was wondering what I should get. I have been
reading numerous websites, but would like some info from people who
use these cameras. I have read ken rockwell's website and noticed he
highly recommends the Nikon D40 for novices. How would the Canon rate
to the Nikon...can they even be compared?
I will have 2 primary purposes for the camera:
1) I want to primarily take nice family photos, especially close ups
that focus on the person and everything else is blurred in the
background. I would also like to be able to take good pics in low
light (in the house).
2) Wide angle scenic type of photos
I was told that the auto focus feature on the D40 will not work with
many lenses, and that was somewhat of a concern to me. As lenses seem
to be a large part, does one company make better lenses for what I
would need than others? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
On Jul 19, 11:58*am, beginner1....@hotmail.com wrote:
> I am looking to get my first SLR camera (I have been using point and
> shoot to this point) and was wondering what I should get. *I have been
> reading numerous websites, but would like some info from people who
> use these cameras. *I have read ken rockwell's website and noticed he
> highly recommends the Nikon D40 for novices. *How would the Canon rate
> to the Nikon...can they even be compared?
>
> I will have 2 primary purposes for the camera:
>
> 1) *I want to primarily take nice family photos, especially close ups
> that focus on the person and everything else is blurred in the
> background. *I would also like to be able to take good pics in low
> light (in the house).
>
> 2) *Wide angle scenic type of photos
>
> I was told that the auto focus feature on the D40 will not work with
> many lenses, and that was somewhat of a concern to me. *As lenses seem
> to be a large part, does one company make better lenses for what I
> would need than others? *Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Have you tried www.dpreview.com they do indepth reviews. The new
rebel xsi has the new 12.2 mp sensor the 40d replacement will probably
get. The 40d and 5d will probably be upgraded fairly soon. The 5d is
an amazing camera. for scenery. Nikon and Canon are all good
>I am looking to get my first SLR camera (I have been using point and
>shoot to this point) and was wondering what I should get. I have been
>reading numerous websites, but would like some info from people who
>use these cameras. I have read ken rockwell's website and noticed he
>highly recommends the Nikon D40 for novices. How would the Canon rate
>to the Nikon...can they even be compared?
>
>I will have 2 primary purposes for the camera:
>
>1) I want to primarily take nice family photos, especially close ups
>that focus on the person and everything else is blurred in the
>background. I would also like to be able to take good pics in low
>light (in the house).
>
>2) Wide angle scenic type of photos
>
>I was told that the auto focus feature on the D40 will not work with
>many lenses, and that was somewhat of a concern to me.
It should be a concern for you *if* you presently own lenses that you
plan to use on the D40. However, if you order the standard D40 kit
combination of a D40 with the standard 18-55 lens that comes with it,
there won't be a problem. If you need a longer lens, Nikon offers a
55-200 that autofocuses.
Based on what you have said you want to do, the lens issue will not be
a problem.
"Wide angle scenic" is a bit vague coming from someone who has been
using a P&S. Nikon makes a true autofocussing wide-angle lens (12-24)
for the D40, but I get the impression that the standard kit lens of
18-55 will produce what you want.
This newsgroup can be fussy about terms. To some, if you say "wide
angle", you *must* be talking about a dedicated wide angle lens.
Others will understand if you mean just a basic photograph of the
scenery with a regular lens.
No comment on Nikon vs other brands or comparison of lens quality.
That's a dick waving contest. Usually, the people who champion a
particular brand do so because that's what they own.
I do own a Nikon D40 with both the 18-55 and the 55-200 lenses. I'm
very happy with the camera.
tony cooper wrote:
[]
> I do own a Nikon D40 with both the 18-55 and the 55-200 lenses. I'm
> very happy with the camera.
Same here, and I bought an extra 70 - 300mm image-stabilised Nikon lens as
I take quite a few long-distance, telephoto shots. The 6MP is more than
enough for my purposes.
On Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:33:26 -0400, tony cooper
<tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote:
>On Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:58:38 -0700 (PDT), beginner1.mat@hotmail.com
>wrote:
[...]
>>I was told that the auto focus feature on the D40 will not work with
>>many lenses, and that was somewhat of a concern to me.
>
>It should be a concern for you *if* you presently own lenses that you
>plan to use on the D40. However, if you order the standard D40 kit
Even if you don't currently own any lenses, it is a concern if you
want to take advantage of the large number of very high quality but
older Nikon AF lenses that aren't AF-S or AF-I on ebay, craigslist,
etc. for reasonable prices compared to new ones. I suppose the
average D40 owner wouldn't care all that much about that though. But
if you haven't bought your camera yet and think there's even a remote
possibility that you might get seriously into photography as a hobby,
I'd go with something that can use the AF lenses. If the D300 isn't
in your budget, maybe a used D200. There's tons of them out there for
not much more than a D40x and it's an incredibly more capable camera.
Then again, I know novices who bought too much camera and end up
frustrated because tbey don't know how to use it. If that's you, then
a D40 is the better choice and don't worry about gathering a big lens
collection.
<beginner1.mat@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:6ab9bf6b-9f92-4e6e-9422-4e1003b84492@z6g2000pre.googlegroups.com...
>I am looking to get my first SLR camera (I have been using point and
> shoot to this point) and was wondering what I should get. I have been
> reading numerous websites, but would like some info from people who
> use these cameras. I have read ken rockwell's website and noticed he
> highly recommends the Nikon D40 for novices. How would the Canon rate
> to the Nikon...can they even be compared?
>
> I will have 2 primary purposes for the camera:
>
> 1) I want to primarily take nice family photos, especially close ups
> that focus on the person and everything else is blurred in the
> background. I would also like to be able to take good pics in low
> light (in the house).
>
> 2) Wide angle scenic type of photos
>
> I was told that the auto focus feature on the D40 will not work with
> many lenses, and that was somewhat of a concern to me. As lenses seem
> to be a large part, does one company make better lenses for what I
> would need than others? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Given what your main wants/uses are, lens selection + shooting aperture will
be more important than the camera brand/model you eventually select.
<beginner1.mat@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:6ab9bf6b-9f92-4e6e-9422-4e1003b84492@z6g2000pre.googlegroups.com...
>I am looking to get my first SLR camera (I have been using point and
> shoot to this point) and was wondering what I should get. I have been
> reading numerous websites, but would like some info from people who
> use these cameras. I have read ken rockwell's website and noticed he
> highly recommends the Nikon D40 for novices. How would the Canon rate
> to the Nikon...can they even be compared?
>
> I will have 2 primary purposes for the camera:
>
> 1) I want to primarily take nice family photos, especially close ups
> that focus on the person and everything else is blurred in the
> background. I would also like to be able to take good pics in low
> light (in the house).
>
> 2) Wide angle scenic type of photos
>
> I was told that the auto focus feature on the D40 will not work with
> many lenses, and that was somewhat of a concern to me. As lenses seem
> to be a large part, does one company make better lenses for what I
> would need than others? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
There is no point in considering which make / model to buy, until you have
gone to a shop and tried handling the ones which might interest you.
Some might well be too heavy / light, have the controls placed for smaller /
larger hands, etc, etc.
If you don't enjoy handling a camera, then you won't enjoy using it, and
that would defeat the whole point of buying one.
measekite wrote:
> David J Taylor wrote:
>> tony cooper wrote:
>> []
>>
>>> I do own a Nikon D40 with both the 18-55 and the 55-200 lenses. I'm
>>> very happy with the camera.
>>>
>>
>> Same here, and I bought an extra 70 - 300mm image-stabilised Nikon
>> lens as I take quite a few long-distance, telephoto shots. The 6MP
>> is more than enough for my purposes.
>>
>> David
>>
>>
> If you go Nikon I would look at getting it with the 18-200 DX VR lens.
Yes, I was tempted by that myself, and as a single carry-round kit it
probably can't be beaten. Had that pairing been offered as a "kit", it's
probably what I would have got.
But with the kit 18-55mm you get better close-up and a much more compact
and lightweight outfit, and with the 70-300mm a greater telephoto! Were I
buying today, I might consider the 16-85mm VR and 70-300mm VR as my ideal
2-lens outfit. I do like VR (in-lens image stabilisation).
I would also agree with the comments that others have made - compare the
handling of the different brands and different cameras in the shop.
Handling was why I chose Nikon over Canon - I had no baggage of existing
lenses making the choice for me. I don't think you would go wrong with
either Canon or Nikon DSLRs.
On Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:20:01 -0700, measekite <inkystinky@oem.com>
wrote:
>
>
>Steve wrote:
>> On Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:33:26 -0400, tony cooper
>> <tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> On Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:58:38 -0700 (PDT), beginner1.mat@hotmail.com
>>> wrote:
>>>
>> [...]
>>
>>>> I was told that the auto focus feature on the D40 will not work with
>>>> many lenses, and that was somewhat of a concern to me.
>>>>
>>> It should be a concern for you *if* you presently own lenses that you
>>> plan to use on the D40. However, if you order the standard D40 kit
>>>
>>
>> Even if you don't currently own any lenses, it is a concern if you
>> want to take advantage of the large number of very high quality but
>> older Nikon AF lenses that aren't AF-S or AF-I on ebay, craigslist,
>> etc. for reasonable prices compared to new ones. I suppose the
>> average D40 owner wouldn't care all that much about that though. But
>> if you haven't bought your camera yet and think there's even a remote
>> possibility that you might get seriously into photography as a hobby,
>> I'd go with something that can use the AF lenses. If the D300 isn't
>> in your budget, maybe a used D200. There's tons of them out there for
>> not much more than a D40x and it's an incredibly more capable camera.
>>
>> Then again, I know novices who bought too much camera and end up
>> frustrated because tbey don't know how to use it.
>
>I can never understand how one can get too much camera and get
>frustrated. You can take almost all of the consumer DSLRs and put it on
>Auto or Program and just frame the subject and press the button. And
>you cam also use Portrait or Landscape settings. You can get great
>photos doing that with out even reading the manual.
I don't understand it either, but I've seen it. Cameras like the D200
and above don't have a Portrait or Landscape setting. No little
running man on a dial for action shots. No flower on a dial for
macro. No mountain on a dial for landscape. It does have a program
mode that works well if all you want to do is take snapshots like a
P&S. But if you want to simulate what those missing icons are doing,
you have to know what they do in terms of shutter and aperature and
set the camera up that way yourself.
I guess some people who are used to those little icons on the dial
miss them with an upper end DSLR.
Canon 40D and 5D vs. Nikon D40 and D300 
Linear Mode
