Hey guys, im looking into getting a DSLR cam and getting into photography a little bit. Im not going to be taking any serious pictures where ill need a real high quality expensive camera, just a decent DSLR to take pictures of my car, and when I go on vacation.
Is the D40 good for a beginner? Its around the price I want to pay as well.
I found one for around 430$ and it comes with Nikkor 18-55mm lens.
What do you guys think?

 

I would say yes. I am a and I picked up a D80 to start with. I love the cam! Im going to take a few photography classes (1 on 1) before I head to europe this summer, so I make the most out of my shots!

 

Depends on how far you think you might go with photography as a serious hobby. The D40 is deficient in that the body has no drive motor. You have to use a lense that is built specifically for that model.
Bunch of other stuff too. It's a great camera and gives good results but I generally refer to it as a glorified point and shoot that you can change lenses with.

 

Honestly, with todays DSLR's, I'd say any of them would suit a beginner. You can shoot them all in fully automatic mode and get very good results. They are much more complex than a compact of course, but you don't have to delve into that capability until you're ready.

The rub would be if you end up not liking photography. You would then have made a sizeable investment and be stuck with a pricey paperweight.

 

The price is right so I think it makes a great beginner camera.

the no drive motor is a slight disadvantage, but i'm happy with mine. and nikon seems to be keeping with the no motor body so i think new lenses are going to be coming out.

 

I think the D300 has a drive motor. But that's definately not the beginner kind of equipment. Unless of course you're the type of person who feels the need to "compensate".

 

Try to find a D50 But a D40 is a awesome starter camera. It's light weight and is very very cheap.

I loved that camera, personally I think it's much better than the D40, 40 & 60 offerings right now. Don't worry about drive motors since most of the lenses you'll buy will have them internal anyway (unless you have a old collection of Nikon lenses.

Or you come towards the light and buy a Canon!!!

 

D50 Rules !!

I really think Nikon made a mistake by offering what they did in the D50 then marketing it as a starter camera. Then realized it pretty quickly. That's why it was discontinued so soon and replaced by the D40.

and coming towards the light that is Canon is really a freight train.



jk.

 

 

I own a D40 and love it! As stated above, there are a few things I wish the camera had, but honestly it's not a bad camera to start off with. One of the things I found helpful when I just started out was that the camera has an "info" button, which tells you what different settings/buttons are for. That's REALLY helpful for a beginner!

So with that said, I say go for it. You won't find a brand new camera anywhere else for the price of a D40. Well, maybe a Canon, but who wants one of those?

 

That's sick...

 

I was going to purchase a Canon G9 and thought why spend the same amount on a point and shoot when I could buy the Nikon D40. I already have a Canon Sd630. I have yet to buy it, but I plan on getting one soon. After seeing my friends with there DSLR camera's I wanted one for myself.

 

I also debating between the Nikon D40 or EOS Digital Rebel XTi . There are just so many cameras.

 

I owned the xti it was a pretty good camera for that price range about a year or 2 ago, but after it got stolen went with an d80.

Small complaints with xti was small grip(but i had small hands so it worked okay)
so limitations in the menus.

People are buying them like crazy, since the price dropped.

 

I have a D80 and D50...willing to part with my d50 for cheap if anyone wants it.

 

i have the d40. I LOVE IT. I had it for a year. I would love to upgrade to a more advanced nikon but you'll have fun with it, at least I did.