Newbie here, advice needed

[shirz77]

Hello everyone,

Not sure if this is the correct folder to post. I would like to ask for advice on the camera choice.
I have narrowed my choices to the D40x and D80. Body price range is abt $500 diff.

As i am a newbie, should i get the cheaper option? But will there be a NEED to upgrade-in terms of function(if and when i get better?). My interests are more in sports and travel, not so in studio shoots.

Also, please recommend me basic lens to get? I'm a girl lah, so always get the impression that i will be conned technically. I'm thinking of 1 wide-angle lens, 1 good zoom lens, please advise the range?

Thanks in adv!

[psychobiologist]

er.. can remove that sentence abt canon? :P sure result in flaming if some sensitive forummers see it :P

well.. if you shoot sports/stravel, i would recommend you take the d80, its multi point AF will aid you in shooting things like that. further more, if you need lenses of longer reach, you can use the cheaper AF models than the AFS ones

the d80 has a lot of functions, so you have a lesser tendency to upgrade, as compared to holding a d40x.

you can use the d40x too, but given your statement on upgrading, i suppose starting at the d80 is one of the best values for money.

[jnet6]

A D80 should serves you well, till you need an upgrade of body when you feel that is not fast enough for yr sports.

Lens- good zoom will be nikkor 18-200mm VR.
practise from there and see if you need anything wider then 18mm.

[Prataz]

My 5 Cents:

You should get D80.

1) You have interest in Sports photography, meaning you need a high speed camera and high speed lens. The D40X and D80 are both 3fps but D80 wins coz it can AF with 3rd Party F2.8 lens and the prime lenses!

D40x limits your choices to only the Nikon or Sigma AFS / HSM versions which may blow your budget (Unless 2++K for a 70-200 is nothing to you)

2) D80 like what brother Pyschobiologist had said, has more AF points, and therefore is more suited for sports etc.

I would suggest you try playing ard with the basic 18-135 kit lens first, before buying other lenses.

But of coz, if you get the D80, you can get the tokina 12-24 at $800 (Nikon 12-24 is $1.6k) and a Nikon 80-200 for 1.6k as compared to the 70-200VR (2.7k)

But of coz, if you really wanna do sports, get a D200 5fps, D2Xs 5fps (8fps crop mode), or

1DS MKIII (10fps but it's a Canon)

Cheerios

[petetherock]

Hi
I was considering the 2 as well, the D40x for the lighter weight, but I went for the D80 for its better build, faster AF and more AF points plus the internal motor

As you are a girl, do try both of them at a shop to see if the combined weight of a D80 plus a 18-200 is too much?

IMO it is ok, I can still hand hold to 1/4 or 1/8s and it is a better grip for me
Try it before you buy.

Originally Posted by shirz77 Hello everyone, Not sure if this is the correct folder to post. I would like to ask for advice on the camera choice. I have narrowed my choices to the D40x and D80. Body price range is abt $500 diff. As i am a newbie, should i get the cheaper option? But will there be a NEED to upgrade-in terms of function(if and when i get better?). My interests are more in sports and travel, not so in studio shoots. Also, please recommend me basic lens to get? I'm a girl lah, so always get the impression that i will be conned technically. I'm thinking of 1 wide-angle lens, 1 good zoom lens, please advise the range? Also, pls dont recommend me a canon? I think they suck. All my digital cams last only 1 year. Thanks in adv!

[sigg]

hi there,

Maybe like the rest suggested, perhaps you like to go for the d80 or even the d200 (for sports).

As for shooting sports, you will need a fast lens, like the 80-200 or 70-200 but then again, depends o0n what type of sports you are interested
For landscape, 18-200 will be a good start. It is convenient too.

Good luck!

[limsc]

Don't think so much...get D80 and only u will know its worth it what u are pay.

[IONSOON]

Originally Posted by petetherock Hi I was considering the 2 as well, the D40x for the lighter weight, but I went for the D80 for its better build, faster AF and more AF points plus the internal motor As you are a girl, do try both of them at a shop to see if the combined weight of a D80 plus a 18-200 is too much? IMO it is ok, I can still hand hold to 1/4 or 1/8s and it is a better grip for me Try it before you buy.

just additional info... the combine weight for D80 + 18-200 is around 1.6kg.

[zac08]

Originally Posted by shirz77 Hello everyone, Not sure if this is the correct folder to post. I would like to ask for advice on the camera choice. I have narrowed my choices to the D40x and D80. Body price range is abt $500 diff. As i am a newbie, should i get the cheaper option? But will there be a NEED to upgrade-in terms of function(if and when i get better?). My interests are more in sports and travel, not so in studio shoots. Also, please recommend me basic lens to get? I'm a girl lah, so always get the impression that i will be conned technically. I'm thinking of 1 wide-angle lens, 1 good zoom lens, please advise the range? Thanks in adv!

You're looking for the cheaper option or the better optics solution?

Cheaper and can do almost anything (with slightly lower picture quality)
D40x kit + 18-200 ($1060 + $1270) $2330

Else if you want better optics parts
D80 (body only) + 17-35 + 70-200 ($1380 + $2680 + $2750) $6810

Price will be a BIG difference though on the len choice.

Dun forget about the other costs involved like bags, dry cabinets, extra memory cards, extra batteries, cleaning kits, tripods, etc....

[geraldkhoo]

I bought a D40x in early June and now I am thinking of upgrading because of the limitations. At that time which I purchased it, it looks like lots of stuff to learn, but after 2 months... I am now faced with things I cannot try out because of the limitations of the D40x. I must say that it is lightweigth and easy to use... but the question to ask yourself is how far you want to take photography?

The previous threads have talked about the limitations of the D40x... and I concur... the lenses are limited... i also just found out it does not have auto exposure bracketing (which is useful if you want to take scenery shots)...

However, I am posed with a new learning curve, i.e. how to make the most out of the D40x and the limitations. Every camera has its limitations, so I acknowledge what I cannot produce, but there are many things that can be produced. I was reading a book on photography and one of the tips it teaches is to use a standard 50mm lens to compose all the shots, as that forces you to think before shooting.

Anyway... just my 2 cents worth here... but knowing what I know now 2 months back... I would have gotten a D80

[cepheus]

hi.. good to see your interest.. i faced the same dilema as you a few weeks back.. thinking of saving that bit of money, but not knowing the versatility and future-proof being sacrificed...

of course it will be good to decide before you buy, but you can still go to the shop itself to enquire more and most importantly have the feel to the cameras... i believe the shop assistants will be more than helpful to get your decision made, i did.. honestly it over-budgeted me.. but i made do with a D80 kit and just a UV protection filter from my purchase on that day.. the rest can slowly be bought.. it's true.. that keeps your hobby alive and anticipating! then play with the camera, be it a D40x or D80, and i believe it's either a feeling of love it or loving it more..

and IMO, don't restrict yourself to sports and travel, just yet.. (i am too convincing myself on this)... who knows you will be more that willing to try other genres of photography?? and that is when you know you are armed with a camera you feel very comfortable with...

my 2 cents

[intregra2509]

Originally Posted by shirz77 Hello everyone, Not sure if this is the correct folder to post. I would like to ask for advice on the camera choice. I have narrowed my choices to the D40x and D80. Body price range is abt $500 diff. As i am a newbie, should i get the cheaper option? But will there be a NEED to upgrade-in terms of function(if and when i get better?). My interests are more in sports and travel, not so in studio shoots. Also, please recommend me basic lens to get? I'm a girl lah, so always get the impression that i will be conned technically. I'm thinking of 1 wide-angle lens, 1 good zoom lens, please advise the range? Thanks in adv!

In order not to be con , i advise you to take some course before you buy your camera and just treat the comments here as just an advice . take some course and know it yourself what you wan to get .

[zac08]

geraldkhoo,

without the auto-bracketing, you can do so manually.

cepheus,

got any dry cabs yet?

[cepheus]

Originally Posted by zac08 cepheus, got any dry cabs yet?

sad to say, not yet.. now surviving on silical gel... every now and then will play the toy..

to thread starter, yah agree on taking courses if time and schedule permits... reading up on mags and guides helps too..

[zac08]

Originally Posted by cepheus sad to say, not yet.. now surviving on silical gel... every now and then will play the toy.. to thread starter, yah agree on taking courses if time and schedule permits... reading up on mags and guides helps too..

Do save up soon... the silica gel is carcinogenic... (cancer causing agents)

A small one is under a hundred...

[chanjyj]

Re: Silica Gel and dry cabinets, I have never ever used one, and all my stuff is still in pristine condition.

Up to you to judge whether I'm lucky or dry cabinets are a partial myth. (Partial due to so much hype over it.)

N.B. I use my camera everyday, maybe that is one of the factors a dry cabinet doesn't help. I have no idea whether constant use will avoid fungus (thought I see no logical reason it should)

[Milestone]

I am a D80 user. Bought it before before D40X came out so there is no need to consider too much. Canon 400D was just out and I chose Nikon D80 without much effort because it feels different holding it. It pays to go to a friendly shop and feel the camera. There is nothing compare to holding the camera and use it. Of course you need to do your home work before that.

There is always a better camera model out there. The question is your budget and how you want to pursue your hobby. After using the kit lens, I am already looking out for the next better lens which cost more than the D80 body.

[shirz77]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your advice! I have decided on th D80 kit and will play around with it first while deciding on lens. I used to use a film nikon when i was a teen(my dad's cam), so weight is not the issue, just sorely backdated in terms of technology with all the easier solutions that we have now. My interest will really be in travel and sports, and prob my handsome dog!!

Thanks so much!
Cheers!

[zac08]

Originally Posted by chanjyj Re: Silica Gel and dry cabinets, I have never ever used one, and all my stuff is still in pristine condition. Up to you to judge whether I'm lucky or dry cabinets are a partial myth. (Partial due to so much hype over it.) N.B. I use my camera everyday, maybe that is one of the factors a dry cabinet doesn't help. I have no idea whether constant use will avoid fungus (thought I see no logical reason it should)

You're lucky... I've seen so many fungused lenses that I'm really scared off... So invested in a good dry cab and keep my mind at ease...

[calebk]

Regular use = less chance of getting fungus on your lenses/cameras.