Buy D40 or D40x...?

[orasel]

Attention to all gurus... pls help me choose whether to buy a d40 or d40x...? is d40x worth it...? pls pls pls...

[chanjyj]

Originally Posted by orasel Attention to all gurus... pls help me choose whether to buy a d40 or d40x...? is d40x worth it...? pls pls pls...

D40. But that's my opinion. I won't call myself a guru.

For your reference.
http://forum.clubsnap.com/showthread.php?t=296394
http://forum.clubsnap.com/showthread...=265117&page=4 (Read from page 4 onwards, see my points on the D40, how others have differing opinions on it, how some agree with me, and make your decision)

[drynewbie]

I had the same problem as yours.

Both have pro n cons. The bottom line you should consider i think is the price. would you top up ar. $250 for a newer model with almost the same specs.

According to Ken Rockwell, you should get a D40 instead of D40x.
[url="http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40.htm"]

But for my personal point of view, sync speed is not too important to me.
So i prefer D40x for a better sensor (D40x=D80=D200 whereas the D40=D70), and a better value in case i would like to sell it in the future for upgrade of course.

Good luck !

[cwtan12]

Get a D80 instead unless you intend to have another body later on. The limitation of D40 is frustrating to me at times and it is making me considering another SB800 flash by this week because of its limitation on commander mode.

[zac08]

Originally Posted by orasel Attention to all gurus... pls help me choose whether to buy a d40 or d40x...? is d40x worth it...? pls pls pls...

In the first point, what are you using the camera for? Any route of upgrading on your agenda?

[wing oscar]

well it up to urself to choose it... i own a D40 myself, i use to have the problem u facing now.. after all i choose D40 cos of save me some money for other stuffs... if u wanna get a D40x, i perfer u to spend abit more to get a D80.. as tis problem if not wrong there r alot of tis threads out there... TS pls do a search...

[shirak]

Between a D40 and a D40X, certainly a D40. Given the fact that my wedding photos were taken with a 6MP D70, I'm really not convinced on why I would want a 10MP cam.

I don't feel a significant diff btw 2.5fps and 3fps anyway, when I just hold continuous and whack.

Lastly, mebbe I'm not skilled enough, but I don't see why the ISO100 greatly improves my pictures to the extent that I need to pay so much more for a D40X

[cjyong]

N it is difficult to adjust the ISO. Hav to go in the menu.

[dawson]

once and for all, D80.

that will last you for quite a while, at least a couple of years
before your next upgrade.

[jeffyen]

Originally Posted by orasel Attention to all gurus... pls help me choose whether to buy a d40 or d40x...? is d40x worth it...? pls pls pls...

I think between a D40x and D40, I'd choose the D40, get the SB400 with the money saved. Your pics would improve a lot.

I think the real choice is between a D40 and a D80. Take your time and look at the Digitutors of each, and see if you need the 'extra stuff'. The lack of stuff in a D40 actually has its value too... (less is more philosophy). For example, I carry my D40 everyday with me. I might not be able to do the same with the D80. This fact alone makes it that much worthwhile...

[chanjyj]

Originally Posted by jeffyen I think between a D40x and D40, I'd choose the D40, get the SB400 with the money saved. Your pics would improve a lot. I think the real choice is between a D40 and a D80. Take your time and look at the Digitutors of each, and see if you need the 'extra stuff'. The lack of stuff in a D40 actually has its value too... (less is more philosophy). For example, I carry my D40 everyday with me. I might not be able to do the same with the D80. This fact alone makes it that much worthwhile...

I carry D40+SB-800 (My SB-400 died after I over-stressed it for large events)+18-70mm+55-200mm+extra manual flashgun+4 filters+mini tripod+spare ENEL9+18 AA NimH (all fits into Lowepro 180EX) everywhere I go. I don't think D80 would have much of a problem fitting into my bag either-D80 and D40 weight and size difference is not much. However, I think a D40 is good enough for almost everything except my one little piss-lens with LARGE aperture. For that I have to hual out my D2x with car battery.

[takethree]

Ok I used to have a D40 but am now using a D40x.

2.5fps vs 3fps. May not look like much but in real life I actually find the D40x feel a lot faster when u are firing one shot after another. And this is not in continous mode but more like bang bang bang. In continous mode it feels slightly faster but I dun go into continous mode but I do bang bang bang a lot so to me there is a difference.

Body wise, weight wise, funtionality wise, exactly the same but refresh from after pic taken to pic shown in LCD the D40 slightly faster but not a deal breaker.

6mp vs 10mp. If you dun crop or crop just a little bit, it makes no difference. However I have a wife who likes to do major cropping. In this instance the 10mp makes a big difference. Again 6mp vs 10 mp may not seem like much but reality has shown me otherwise.

SD card write speed. About the same. Won't really notice but if you shoot continously the D40 becomes faster as it has smaller files to deal with. The D40 and D40x has the same buffer size I believe and the buffer size is really good. Not D2x level of course lah.

High ISO. The D40 slightly better at 800 and 1600. Below 800 no difference between the 2.

But at 1600 the D40x keeps the colour better than the D40. The D40 like lose some saturation. The D40 also loses some details at 1600 but the D40x keeps it. More detail and more colour or less noise? Your choice.

If I were to be given the chance all over again, either wouldn't matter. One gives the other takes and vice-versa so what is your preference?

At the end of the day I would still pick either the D40/D40x over the D80 and above but that's just me. Spec wise may not show much in size between the D40/D40x and the other Nikon DSLRs but once you pick it up and live with it, the difference matters a great deal to me.

The small size makes me want to pick it up and go shooting!

Of course all these are solely IMHO. Take it what you will.

[chanjyj]

Originally Posted by takethree Ok I used to have a D40 but am now using a D40x. 2.5fps vs 3fps. May not look like much but in real life I actually find the D40x feel a lot faster when u are firing one shot after another. And this is not in continous mode but more like bang bang bang. In continous mode it feels slightly faster but I dun go into continous mode but I do bang bang bang a lot so to me there is a difference. Body wise, weight wise, funtionality wise, exactly the same but refresh from after pic taken to pic shown in LCD the D40 slightly faster but not a deal breaker. 6mp vs 10mp. If you dun crop or crop just a little bit, it makes no difference. However I have a wife who likes to do major cropping. In this instance the 10mp makes a big difference. Again 6mp vs 10 mp may not seem like much but reality has shown me otherwise. SD card write speed. About the same. Won't really notice but if you shoot continously the D40 becomes faster as it has smaller files to deal with. The D40 and D40x has the same buffer size I believe and the buffer size is really good. Not D2x level of course lah. High ISO. The D40 slightly better at 800 and 1600. Below 800 no difference between the 2. But at 1600 the D40x keeps the colour better than the D40. The D40 like lose some saturation. The D40 also loses some details at 1600 but the D40x keeps it. More detail and more colour or less noise? Your choice. If I were to be given the chance all over again, either wouldn't matter. One gives the other takes and vice-versa so what is your preference? At the end of the day I would still pick either the D40/D40x over the D80 and above but that's just me. Spec wise may not show much in size between the D40/D40x and the other Nikon DSLRs but once you pick it up and live with it, the difference matters a great deal to me. The small size makes me want to pick it up and go shooting! Of course all these are solely IMHO. Take it what you will.

I find this very weird. When you are not shooting in continous mode how can your "bang bang bang" be faster? There shouldn't be any difference at all. Have you changed lenses?

[mya_beachbum]

I'm having the same problem with you.

[takethree]

Originally Posted by chanjyj I find this very weird. When you are not shooting in continous mode how can your "bang bang bang" be faster? There shouldn't be any difference at all. Have you changed lenses?

I can't quite explain it but I can feel it. Suspect may be due to two things.

Either my fingers are faster than the body engine

or

In continous mode/AF-A the AF is always autofocusing so sometimes it hunts causing a delay before the shutter hits. When I am banging away (hmm...this doesnt sound right ) my finger is half-pressing the button all the time. I think it hunts less somewhat.

Oh....I dunno. Maybe it's the way I shoot.

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by takethree I can't quite explain it but I can feel it. Suspect may be due to two things. Either my fingers are faster than the body engine or In continous mode/AF-A the AF is always autofocusing so sometimes it hunts causing a delay before the shutter hits. When I am banging away (hmm...this doesnt sound right ) my finger is half-pressing the button all the time. I think it hunts less somewhat. Oh....I dunno. Maybe it's the way I shoot.

I do that too. You are right that the AF mode will be single servo, so it doesn't refocus. But in continuous shooting mode, you should set to AF-C so the frame rate is priority. Also, are the shutter speed the same?

[chanjyj]

Originally Posted by lsisaxon I do that too. You are right that the AF mode will be single servo, so it doesn't refocus. But in continuous shooting mode, you should set to AF-C so the frame rate is priority. Also, are the shutter speed the same?

I think you nailed it-Shutter speed.

[takethree]

Originally Posted by lsisaxon I do that too. You are right that the AF mode will be single servo, so it doesn't refocus. But in continuous shooting mode, you should set to AF-C so the frame rate is priority. Also, are the shutter speed the same?

I'm usually at Aperture priority so the shutter speed is usually about the same. The AF has the tendency to hunt sometimes when I'm at AF-C so usually I leave it at AF-A and let the camera decide between C and S. I will half-focus before I bang away. I have a better shooting experience that way.

BTW, just want to clarify that in a controlled environment I believe there shouldn't be any difference between continous mode and me banging away manually. Heck the continous mode most probably is faster. However we all have our own peculiar way of shooting and in my case the camera felt faster when I do my thing.

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by takethree I'm usually at Aperture priority so the shutter speed is usually about the same.

In Aperture priority mode, the shutter speed can vary unless you are in the same lighting situation, still slight variations in lighting can give you up to +/-1 stop of differences. That's up to 4 times variation in the shutter speed!

[takethree]

Originally Posted by lsisaxon In Aperture priority mode, the shutter speed can vary unless you are in the same lighting situation, still slight variations in lighting can give you up to +/-1 stop of differences. That's up to 4 times variation in the shutter speed!

Yah it varies but usually it doesnt vary that much when I do look at it.

But I don't pay attention to it in day-to-day shooting so you are most probably right.