Digital SLR Camera Help - For Christmas Gift.

[lucky7]

i dicked around with a friends D40. i couldnt navigate through the menu for the life of me. i prefer alot more dedicated buttons. like for ISO, white balance, etc. the D40 is just alot more time consuming to adjust settings than my rebel is. hell, i'd get a reg rebel XT over the D40.

honestly though, when getting into DSLR's, used is the way to go. especially when you're buying your first body. get a cheap one, and get a nice lens.

[avbcon12]

honestly though, when getting into DSLR's, used is the way to go. especially when you're buying your first body.

I completely disagree, unless you know the person you are getting it from and they can verify the number of actuations the camera has on it. if you cant or dont know the person the camera could have 100k actuations and be on its last leg.

when getting into photography, buy a new entry camera (canon XT, nikon D40 etc) and learn how to use it. they both have full auto modes and then once you know how to use some of the creative features you get into those. then step up to a better camera.

[Joe]

i'd skip the D40. must have autofocus lens to autofocus. kind of a PITA.
D60 would be nice. i have an XTi.

For the beginner, I'd much rather have the smaller body and the autofocus in the lens than the more expensive larger body any time.

[lucky7]

used. nothing will sway my opinion on that matter. i know far too many people with brand new SLR's they paid $1000 for, and it just sits in their closet. or they sell it for pennies on the dollar. i hate to see people make that initial investment a large one. not knowing if they will actually be into taking photos. you sir [avbcon12], are the first person ive ever heard say that you would reccomend buying new. i tell everyone, buy a used body for cheap. then spend the larger part on glass. bodies are out of date a month after you purchase it. good glass will always be good glass. no matter what body you put it on.

[lucky7]

For the beginner, I'd much rather have the smaller body and the autofocus in the lens than the more expensive larger body any time.

buying used glass will become a headache. if you go nikon, atleast get the D50. which i believe has the autofocus motor in th body. otherwise, go canon. i know of several people struggling along finding cheap, used glass that will work on their D40. and like i said, its a nightmere trying to change settings through the menu on it.

[avbcon12]

used. nothing will sway my opinion on that matter. i know far too many people with brand new SLR's they paid $1000 for, and it just sits in their closet. or they sell it for pennies on the dollar. i hate to see people make that initial investment a large one. not knowing if they will actually be into taking photos. you sir [avbcon12], are the first person ive ever heard say that you would reccomend buying new. i tell everyone, buy a used body for cheap. then spend the larger part on glass. bodies are out of date a month after you purchase it. good glass will always be good glass. no matter what body you put it on.

the price you can get an entry level dslr now ($400) is very little compared to what they used to be a year ago. they arent $1000 anymore so your opinion isnt valid. not trying to argue but again, you never truly know what youre buying from someone off craigslist. as i said, ill buy used all day long if its from someone i know though.

you also have to remember that buying a used pro dslr is very different than buying a used consumer camera.
reasons:
pros know how to handle their camera (no drops etc)
pro cameras are built at higher standards and last for more actuations
most consumer camera users use them as a point and shoot, keep them in their purse/backpack

my $.02

yes, good glass will be good glass.

according to dpreview, the d40 and d60 have the same autofocus module

[Joe]

buying used glass will become a headache. if you go nikon, atleast get the D50. which i believe has the autofocus motor in th body. otherwise, go canon. i know of several people struggling along finding cheap, used glass that will work on their D40. and like i said, its a nightmere trying to change settings through the menu on it.

I am far from a professional photographer and can adjust the manual settings on a D40 just fine.

The OP said she is coming from a point and shoot, personally, the D40/D60 setup is designed for just that person and has been highly acclaimed for just that.

If he wants to spend the extra dough and she will USE the increased functionality of a D50+ go for it, but it does not sound like that from the posts in this thread.

Regarding used glass for the D40/D60, if people want to go that route glass is out there, I don't see them struggling, that sounds a bit extreme. One good source is the classified section of www.Nikonians.org

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40.htm
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d50.htm
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d60.htm

[lucky7]

you also have to remember that buying a used pro dslr is very different than buying a used consumer camera.
reasons:
pros know how to handle their camera (no drops etc)
pro cameras are built at higher standards and last for more actuations
most consumer camera users use them as a point and shoot, keep them in their purse/backpack

according to dpreview, the d40 and d60 have the same autofocus module

i dont consider any of this stuff, pro stuff. even still, they are built far better than you'd think. and because they cost so much more than a reg point and shoot, i'd imagine people would take care of them. but i would still buy used, each and every time. i wish i hadnt spent $900 on my rebel with the pile of crap kit lens.

of the D40, and D60 both are lacking the autofocus, i'd seriously skip them.

but like i said, i know several people with the D40. they all HATE trying to get through the menu. and 2 of them have lenses that will not autofocus. they had no idea they wouldnt work until AFTER they bought them.

[wikdsvt]

The d60 I. Looked at had auto focus and stabilization in the lense - which makes sense for extreme focus


What's the main difference between d40 d50 and d60?

[avbcon12]

D40: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/NikonD40/
Key features

6 megapixel DX format CCD (1.5x FOV crop, as D50)
Nikon Image processing engine (as D80 / D200)
3D Color Matrix Metering II, 420 pixel sensor (as D80 / D50)
New Multi-CAM530 three area AF sensor
ISO sensitivity range 200 - 1600 plus HI 1 (3200 equiv.)
Custom Auto ISO (selectable maximum ISO, minimum shutter speed)
2.5 fps continuous shooting (as D50), unlimited in JPEG
No status LCD, new LCD monitor based status / settings screens
Help suggestions on LCD monitor (eg. scene too dark, try using flash)
Large 2.5" 230,000 pixel LCD monitor
Bigger viewfinder view (x0.8 magnification, 95% coverage)
Short shutter lag and viewfinder blackout
Support for SDHC (SD cards over 2 GB in capacity)
In-camera retouching
D-Lighting (shadow / highlight enhancement)
Red-eye reduction
Trimming
Monochrome
Filter effects
Small picture
Image overlay
USB 2.0 with PTP and Mass Storage device support
Very compact, light body (smaller, lighter than D50)
Improved menu user interface (as D80 / D200)
New EN-EL9 Lithium-Ion battery (7.2V, 1000 mAh)
New 'Version II' AF-S DX 18-55 mm kit lens


D60: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikonD60/
Nikon D60 key features

10 megapixel DX format CCD (1.5x FOV crop)
Nikon EXPEED processing 'concept' (as per D300, D3)
3D Color Matrix Metering II, 420 pixel sensor
Multi-CAM530 three area AF sensor
New Image sensor cleaning system
Eye sensor (turns off LCD display)
ISO sensitivity range 100 - 1600 plus HI 1 (3200 equiv.)
3.0 fps continuous shooting*, unlimited in JPEG
No status LCD, LCD monitor based status / settings screens (now rotates)
Help suggestions on LCD monitor (eg. scene too dark, try using flash)
Large 2.5" 230,000 pixel LCD monitor
Short shutter lag and viewfinder blackout
Support for SDHC (SD cards over 2 GB in capacity)
In-camera retouching
Quick Retouch
D-Lighting (shadow / highlight enhancement)
Red-eye reduction
Trimming
Monochrome
Filter effects
Small picture
Image overlay
Raw processing
Stop-motion movie
USB 2.0 with PTP and Mass Storage device support
Very compact, light body
Improved menu user interface
EN-EL9 Lithium-Ion battery (7.2V, 1000 mAh)
New stabilized AF-S DX 18-55 mm kit lens

D50: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/NikonD50/
you wont really find the D50 anymore since its discontinued....

if you click on compare it will show the specs side-by-side. overall the D60 is just an overgrown version of the D40, it has higher MP's (doesnt really matter unless you think youll need it), its slightly faster (frames/ second).

Lucky7: I wasnt saying that anything in this discussion is professional, dont exaggerate the point. like i said and you just verified, entry level cameras dont costs $900 anymore. you can get a rebel XTi/XS (and the like) for ~$400 now BRAND NEW.