twmeyer Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 With the new <a href="http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=2&productNr=25424">D40x</a> the only apparent reason to have a D80 is the focusing module. This looks like good backup to the D200 and a lower profile street camera, since it's billed as Nikon's smallest D-slr at 16oz, body only. And list priced at $800 with the 18-55 kit lens.. t Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photo5 Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I was thinking the same thing, Tom. A very attractive backup body! $700 body only is an excellent price, only $100 more than the 6mp D40 with the kit lens, and I don't need the kit lens. I could shoot with the D80 and my Tokina 12-24mm, and the D40x with my Nikon 18-70mm DX AF-S and never have to change lenses. Nice! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 A somewhat annoying problem with using the D40x (or for that matter a D40 or D80) to backup a D200 or D2X/H is that the D40x uses SD memory cards. It is not the end of the world but it is somewhat a pain to buy and carry additional SD cards while your main camera (D2, D200) uses CF. (It is not a problem for Dave Lee since his main camera is a D80.) Additionally, it is also a bit annoying that the D40x cannot drive lenses such as the Tokina 12-24mm/f4 to AF because of the AF-S restribtion. However, with a wide angle, manual focusing maybe acceptable to some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrybc Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 > With the new D40x the only apparent reason to have a D80 is <br>> the focusing module. <br> <br>I guess that depends on whether your only interest in the D80 was to for its higher MP than, say, a D50 or D70. <br> <br>Personally, I liked the D80 for its larger viewfinder, grid lines, FV-lock, front/rear dials, 3-group wireless flash control, auto-bracketing, top-deck LCD, programmable FUNC button, extra physical controls, etc. <br> <br>Basically, by making the D40x with the same sensor as the D80 and D200, Nikon is back to the same product differentiation techniques as in the film days: features and ergonomics. <br> <br>> This looks like good backup to the D200 <br>> and a lower profile street camera, since it's billed as <br>> Nikon's smallest D-slr at 16oz, body only. <br> <br>Unfortunately, they don't make any small primes that will AF with it. If they did, or if it had an in-body AF motor, I'd buy one. A D40 plus my 24/2.8 and 50/1.4 would be fantastic. <br> <br>larsbc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_sirota1 Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 The D40x has only one control wheel, right? That's (another) deal-breaker for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elliot1 Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 The d40 and d40x are/will be excellent cameras but if you are shooting professionaly, you would probably not want either of them or even the d80 as a backup if you are shooting with d200's. The best backup for a d200 is another d200. If I were buying new camera gear from scratch today and not shooting professionally, I would absolutey buy the d40 or d40x. Can the d40 line be used for event photography? Sure, why not. Many people use d70's with great results and the picture quality of the d40 is superior (in my opinion). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvtol Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 D80 is a more intuitive camera. I ones had a Pentax mz 5n (great camera!); It had all the right buttons on the right place. I bought a D50 than, but I missed all those good functions I had with the Pentax. Now I have a D80 and have direct access to all important functions again like spotmetering. D40 doesn't has this. It's in and out the menu with D40/D40x very anoying! regards, Martijn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikep Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Correct me if I'm wrong. The D40(x) has no controls like M, A, & S? If so, reason enough NOT to get one for ANY reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_sirota1 Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Mike, no, the D40x does have M/A/S/P. See here: <p> <img src="http://press.nikonusa.com/gallery/nikon/Digital_SLR/D40x/images/D_D40X_13.jpg" /> <p> But the controls in those modes must be different, because it has no front control wheel: <p> <img src="http://press.nikonusa.com/gallery/nikon/Digital_SLR/D40x/images/D_D40X_11.jpg" /> <p> Here's the <a href="http://press.nikonusa.com/gallery/product.php?c=nikon/Digital_SLR/D40x/">full gallery straight from Nikon USA</a>. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce_rubenstein Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Anyone who thinks a D40x could substitute for a D80 probably uses a DSLR like a P&S camera. There are a number of things, like setting the ISO, that are changed via the menu, rather than dedicated controls. Having to look at the back of the camera to check exposure settings is a sure sign that it was designed for people who grew up with P&S digicams. The single control dial is another thing that shows that the camera will mostly be used in "green dummy mode" or "scene mode". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony nardelli Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 It's my understanding that the D40X is not fully compatible with older AF lenses (e.g. autofocus will not work). However, treat this information as suspect as it was relayed to me from a retail (but reasonably reliable) vendor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Neither the D40 or D40x can drive non-AF-S (and non AF-I) type AF lenses to auto focus. That is a fact. Just take a look at the D40x body images above. For the body to drive non AF-S lenses, there has to be a "screwdriver" connection around the 7 o'clock position on the mount. The D40 family DSLRs do not have this feature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luis_de_la_orden_morais Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Elliot Bernstein, Mar 07, 2007; 12:10 p.m. The d40 and d40x are/will be excellent cameras but if you are shooting professionaly, you would probably not want either of them or even the d80 as a backup if you are shooting with d200's. The best backup for a d200 is another d200. ------ Nikon seems to think the same as the images in the official gallery (http://press.nikonusa.com/gallery/product.php?c=nikon/Digital_SLR/D40x/ ) have been taken with a Phase One P45, D200 and D2x. They seem to love Photoshop 7, perhaps because it was made before Adobe came up with the DNG format which Nikon refuses to adopt or give support. Check the exif data. - Luis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_burke3 Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I have a D70 plus a few lenses, and have been wondering about getting a D80 or D200. One of my criteria is lightness & portability, so I was quite interested in the D40 and now the D40x. But I have already collected a few lenses, and three of them - Tokina 12-24, Sigma 70mm macro, and Nikkor 35mm f2 - will not AF on the D40 or D40x. So for me neither of them would be a suitable choice. But for others - who knows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2yellowdogs Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I'm looking for a backup body for my D2H. To follow on what Shun mentioned, I'm bothered by having to buy SD cards if I go with the D80. Especially considering that it will be turning out 10mp files, that's a significant extra cost. I already have plenty of large CF card capacity so wouldn't need to buy a thing if the D80 took CF cards. As a result, I find myself leaning toward a D70s. I'm sure this seems trivial, but this really is a consideration for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaymondC Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 My 2c. One can just have a 2/4GB in a CF camera and another in a SD camera. If need be one spare CF/SD card. 4GB card can be had for under $100US. R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2yellowdogs Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Ray, when I shoot hockey games with the D2H, I routinely fill a 4gb card and spill over onto another. And that's producing only 4MB files. If I bought a D80 and had to use it in a pinch, I'd need at least three 4mb cards to accomodate the 10mp files. It's hard to get 4gb SD cards, so six 2gb 133x SD cards is at least $220 and as much as $480. That's not insignificant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark newcombe www.mcnphoto Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Dan you shoot the same stuff as me would you really even consider a d80 or 40? I wouldn't, these are toys where is the d3 nikon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2yellowdogs Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Mark, I understand your shock. I really need a backup, though. I've been working without a net for too long now. No, I wouldn't even consider a D40 or 50. A D80 wouldn't be bad, but see above for my CF issues. I'd love to have a D200, but the wallet's a little thin right now. Soooooo... I can get a nice D70S body - and the security it provides - for only $500. As I used to shoot the same things with a D100 before I got the D2H, I think I can make it work until I can get the body I really want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twmeyer Posted March 7, 2007 Author Share Posted March 7, 2007 Yeah, I was just trollin... I think I'll have to keep my two Fuji S2s as backup until I can afford a second D200. I really wish the D200x (whenever that happens) would have the same flash sync capability as the D70s.<p>This thread (once again) points out a serious lacunae in the Nikon firmament: fast wide angle DX primes. It's almost enough to push me into a <a href="http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/eos1dm3/html/top.html">Canon Mark III</a> which looks like a really sweet camera. But not quite... t Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_flood1 Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Since the D40 only uses AFS, Nikon has to be aiming this body at 1st time buyers - no backward compatibility. I sure wouldn't buy one and make so many of my lenses unusable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msitaraman Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 <i>"This thread (once again) points out a serious lacunae in the Nikon firmament: fast wide angle DX primes"</i><br><p> Tom, make that "with the sole exception of 10.5mm DX the absence of ANY DX primes." Or any DX sized bodies, come to think of it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twmeyer Posted March 8, 2007 Author Share Posted March 8, 2007 Hey Mani!... t Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now