Nikon D40 announced

halenger

Well there we have it, Nikon have announced it.

This is a step-down from the D50 that is supposed to be the new entry level. Whether it'll be cheaper than current D50 prices or not is still being speculated about (I believe).

Nikon have also 'upgraded' the 18-55 kit lens to version II (oh yay! - uber sarcasm) and released an entry level flash - SB-400.

Read about it here:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0611/06111603nikond40handsonpreview.asp

It's autofocus is somewhat limited (it doesn't have a built in motor, thus the small footprint). It is due to replace the D50 from everything that I've read, which is somewhat unfortunate but such is life.

It is more of a stab at the DSLR-esque digital market.

Sebzy

Oh can I say CRAP on this board oh just a sec I just did.



Seb.

Fajitas!

Take it we've all heard of the Box Brownie for kids?

Not saying there's anything wrong with the Box Brownie, like, it was a fantastic idea.

Dundhoone

uummmm brownies....yum

Whats a box of brownies got to do with the D40?

anyways I think it says it all here

"The camera’s design incorporates fewer potentially confusing controls and other distractions, allowing anyone to take breathtaking pictures while eliminating the need to "learn" photography"

Actually raises an interesting point. in five years time will composition be all thats left?? Cameras will give a selection of lighting and exposures/ will be intellegent to the point of removing user input on the camera control side???

thebaz

i got a d50 over the summer , and apart from the poor kit lens , i think its a great camera .
Happy retirement - you serverd me well so far !

Fajitas!

Dundhoone wrote:

uummmm brownies....yum

Whats a box of brownies got to do with the D40?

anyways I think it says it all here

"The camera’s design incorporates fewer potentially confusing controls and other distractions, allowing anyone to take breathtaking pictures while eliminating the need to "learn" photography"

Exactly what the Box Brownie was for

Dundhoone

I have googled.
am a wiser , hungrier photographer.

The D50 doesnt attempt to remove the "need to learn photography" thankfully.

that D40 only has 3 autofocus spots!!! arrghh . that would be frustrating.

Fionn

well it's just about the same size as a EOS 350D but with a nicer grip!!!
and it's got a big LCD and wallpaper for it too, just like your mobile - cool

i'm sure they've done some market research, it'll appeal to some i'm thinking.

melekalikimaka

sb 400 looks decenr enough as long as its >150

digitalbeginner

Anyone seen Irish prices yet?

eas

Nikon D40 $599 (Kit)

change this $ to this € and add 15%

"... it follows on from the D50 but at a significantly lower price point and with a subtly different feature set."

I'd guess 650-700 for the kit in irish shops.....only a guess of course

halenger

The lower price of course refers to the original price of the D50. Such a shame. They should've made this a lot cheaper.

CrowdedHouse

Lack of compatibility with non AF-S lenses is not good imo

Rules out cheap and good lenses like the 28-200G and 50mm 1.8

rymus

Oh dear oh dear

Zillah

I'm very pleased. It means my D70s seems all the nicer by comparison. That took a blow with the release of the D80 but we're back to normal now

rymus

It does strike a nice balance alright.. D70 owners are now mid-range and D200 owners can be smug with their pro bodies

eas

I'm pretty sure that was their thinking alright - create more of a gap between the low and mid range cameras. Obviosly it would have suited us better if they upped the spec on the mid range cameras rather than lowering the spec of the D50. Althought the D80 is great spec for mid level camera.

I think Nikon and Canon are aware that a good few people who buy low spec dslrs end up upgrading at some point. I guess Nikon are trying to harvest those people. Guess the pros will have to wait another year for their D3's and fancy lenses.

melekalikimaka

indeed the d50/d40 leaves the hobbiest wanting...at as they are so cheap now, wont be an 'investment' that they'd want to get a few years out of before upgradinging, i can see alot of d80/d200 owners in the next year or two with the d50/d40 as second bodies. i can see where the d40 is aimed at, its almost 'fisher price "my first dSLR"' in spec, the gap between than and the others is gonna be big

rocky

Nikon positions the D40 to get lots of first-time DSLR users 'locked' into their system. Although it is a bit strange to limit the lenses in this case; How many users that want to upgrade the lenses will find out that only AF-S will have auto focus, and then will want to upgrade the body too? And how many will just switch, because the initial investment was small anyway.

On a sidenote, where can I get a good cheap D50 with either a Sigma 10-20 or the Nikon 50 mm f1.8 D? Pixmania are sold out on the D50... and at a nice price too, ~480 euro. Can I get one locally, from what I've seen, they only sell it with the kit lens? I should start a new thread for this one

eas

melekalikimaka wrote:

i can see alot of d80/d200 owners in the next year or two with the d50/d40 as second bodies.

very true - When I upgraded to a D200 and sold my D70 never thinking that I'd be in the position to need a 2nd body. Now I seem to be in need for a 2nd body, and was this -.- close to buying a d50 the other day. The D50 has all that I need in a 2nd body and will definitely get one before they disappear.


Rocky - theres a used D50 for sale here :

http://www.photographyireland.net/viewtopic.php?t=1904

Zillah

What would you need a second body for? Making it easier so you don't have to swap lenses?

eas

Zillah wrote:

What would you need a second body for? Making it easier so you don't have to swap lenses?

ya, that would be one reason. But mainly if your at a shoot (wedding, or other) and something happens to you main body.