advice for purchasing nikon D40/D60 kit from the Buy/Sell Nikon section of forum pls!

[5ilver]

Hello!

two part question - advice about buying, and also if anyone has opinions on d60 vs d40/d40x.

I'm hoping to hear some general advice/personal experiences with dealing with secondhand cameras, please

Firstly, I really apologize if I'm asking to be "spoon-fed" or if I deserve to be called "lazy" haha, I see many of these posts criticising noob which I am.

Is there anything in particular that I should beware of when getting a secondhand camera? I believe most d40/d40x kit at around $600 would be past warranty by the time they are put up for sale in the forum. I've also seen $700 d80 kit that was bought in 2007 - the older a camera is and the higher the shutter count, generally is it better to buy a camera with lower shutter count and bought around a year+ ago? Although of course I understand that sometimes it's down to how lucky you are when you buy a secondhand camera, and I read some quotes on the forum that buying is kind of like "gambling", not sure if the previous owner treated it well.

I'd like to know
-anyone's personal experiences with buying any camera of any age/shutter count on the forums
-have your cameras been going strong, or needed to be sent for repair eventually?
-hopefully, general advice/things to check for and look out for while dealing.
-Yes, will hopefully be bringing an experienced friend to help me check the camera before I deal.

Next question - I tried to search Nikon d60 in the forums, but I'm not sure if I searched wrongly, I could find hardly any threads and only a very old closed thread when nikon d60 was first released.
I googled, I understand that d60 is very similar to d40, just an upgrade?

d40 is actually my dream camera but I'm a bit wary because now it's been discontinued, so I would only be able to get those without warranty secondhand. But it seems that d60 in the forums marketplace is around the same price point that d40 in the marketplace used to be sold at? is there anything I should be thinking about when getting a d60? From the d60 thread I found, it seems d60 is the replacement for the d40.

Sorry, sorry sorry if all these are REALLY stupid questions. I'll um, try not to be so stupid next time!

Thank you very much for reading through this/thanks for any advice you might have to share

 

[agentxq49]

Hello!

two part question - advice about buying, and also if anyone has opinions on d60 vs d40/d40x.

I'm hoping to hear some general advice/personal experiences with dealing with secondhand cameras, please

Firstly, I really apologize if I'm asking to be "spoon-fed" or if I deserve to be called "lazy" haha, I see many of these posts criticising noob which I am.

Is there anything in particular that I should beware of when getting a secondhand camera? I believe most d40/d40x kit at around $600 would be past warranty by the time they are put up for sale in the forum. I've also seen $700 d80 kit that was bought in 2007 - the older a camera is and the higher the shutter count, generally is it better to buy a camera with lower shutter count and bought around a year+ ago? Although of course I understand that sometimes it's down to how lucky you are when you buy a secondhand camera, and I read some quotes on the forum that buying is kind of like "gambling", not sure if the previous owner treated it well.

I'd like to know
-anyone's personal experiences with buying any camera of any age/shutter count on the forums
-have your cameras been going strong, or needed to be sent for repair eventually?
-hopefully, general advice/things to check for and look out for while dealing.
-Yes, will hopefully be bringing an experienced friend to help me check the camera before I deal.

Next question - I tried to search Nikon d60 in the forums, but I'm not sure if I searched wrongly, I could find hardly any threads and only a very old closed thread when nikon d60 was first released.
I googled, I understand that d60 is very similar to d40, just an upgrade?

d40 is actually my dream camera but I'm a bit wary because now it's been discontinued, so I would only be able to get those without warranty secondhand. But it seems that d60 in the forums marketplace is around the same price point that d40 in the marketplace used to be sold at? is there anything I should be thinking about when getting a d60? From the d60 thread I found, it seems d60 is the replacement for the d40.

Sorry, sorry sorry if all these are REALLY stupid questions. I'll um, try not to be so stupid next time!

Thank you very much for reading through this/thanks for any advice you might have to share

The older the camera, the more dust and specks it would experience, but if it's clear of these, any shutter count shouldnt do much, unless its very high, like 100k plus, anywhere below 20k wouldn't affect much. What you should look out for is the external conditions and see if everything is in working order, dusts and specks can be cleaned out at 30 bucks or so.

about the d60, it is more or less the same as the d40, but i would suggest getting the d3000 2nd hand if possible. of course, d60 is the replacement for d40, but check out dpreview, compare.

 

[sin77]

I sold my D60 because it does not have a motor for auto-focusing, the noise control is not tat good, and the body is too small & light to be comfortable.
So do u still want to buy it?

I think nowadays brand new entry-level cameras are rather affordable.

 

[Legoz]

I sold my D40 some time back at $400. So $600 is way too much.
Theres no diff between a D3000 and D40 pic other than the megapixels. Both as decent cameras.

 

[Six-GHz]

I owned a D40 a few years back. It's a nice little easy-to-use camera that proved to be adequate for either new or less demanding users. One of its main "limiting" factors is that the D40 comes without an in-built motor, thus you can't AF with some lenses - but that's provided you have an arsenal of old lenses of course.

It's perfectly ok if you're getting a second-hand camera. Of course in general, lower shutter count is better (just like cars with lower mileage). D40, D40X and D60 is about the same, save for some megapix increase and cheesy editing functions. If D40 is your dream camera, then read this - cos he swears by it!
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm

However, I don't think you can find a new D40 now, but if you definitely can get a new D60 at bargain price.

And don't worry about asking questions. It's a learning process.

 

[madmartian]

What is your budget TS?

 

[5ilver]

SO HAPPY to hear all this wonderful advice. Thanks so so much, I really needed your opinions. sorry a bit caught up with christmas stuff, sorry for my late reply!

agentxq49,
Ohh cool. THANKS! I see a lot of secondhand cameras with around 4k shutter count, thanks for telling me about the below 20k

Ohh man, thanks for telling me about the d3000, I need to go to a shop and molest it a bit, only tried the d40 and d60 heh. But you're right, maybe it's better if I consider the d3000 too because reviews said it's an improved version of the other two, just a bit more expensive.

sin77,

YES! Heh.

My reasons for having dreamed of the d40 for three years!! are the fact that it's really a camera for everyday use. I actually am a bit more comfortable with the d40, like I LOOOOVEEEE it to bits. It feels different and I'm comfortable taking pictures with it!

P.S. Not that I cheapo don't want to buy for 3 years, because I could loan out the d80 from school whenever I needed it, so I felt that buying a d40 would be a risk/not something I really felt that I would have the time/determination to devote myself to at the time.

The AF motor thing that makes it incompatible with other lens doesn't bother me because I won't be upgrading to any other lens. Confirm chop haha.

Noise control, not really a factor for me. Not pro enough yet, and I'm VERY happy and admiring of many d40 shots I've seen on flickr- I believe that if I can get to that stage of stunning photos, maybe, I will think that I deserve, and MAYBE can consider a better camera.

Technicalities aren't a huge deal for me, I'm keen on just learning and improving with my baby dslr to be <3 Yeah I love d40, am attracted by it's size but it's a good thing if I love it so that I will be encouraged to take it out and shoot more, right? That's my main goal - to shoot and hopefully improve as much as I possibly can.

And then, if I decide to sell it eventually, hopefully I won't lose more than 100-200$, as I read that the depreciation is already absorbed when you buy secondhand cameras.

So these are my reasons for being enamored of the d40(and its siblings, sorry d60&3000, don't feel left out!)

Legoz,

Thanks! Ohh thanks a lot for the price, I needed to know that. And hrm about the d3000, I need to go and try it out

Six-GHz,

Thanks, I worry about asking questions haha. and YES that Ken Rockwell d40 review is legendary, he practically wants to marry his d40 HAHAHA he's the king of emotional reviews <3 funny. Yeah I tried not to take him too seriously, but his reasons for liking the d40 so much, are very similar to my reasons for loving d40(size etc)

madmartian,

My cough cough budget is kind of like... The cheaper and more of a good deal that it is, (good deal meaning still got warranty and camera seems new) the more I might feel inclined to confirm for the deal? So I don't know what's my budget yet actually haha. I don't want to rush myself, still looking at the sales section If you were thinking about advising me to get a d80 secondhand at around 900$, I did think about it too! But...... But hahaha I dunno. I think d40 is.. I'm not sure yet but it's like I think d40 suits my personality more and I'll be more inclined to take it out. d80 at 900$ is super incredibly tempting though haha but I shouldn't be greedy!

THANK YOU so much, everyone, your advice is invaluable. <3