Please advise: I'm test driving a Nikon D40 but should I have bought D80?

[MichelleRae]

This is who I am...

I'm a Mom, an avid scrapbooker, full time Realtor. I have a good *eye* and have taken photo some awesome photo's with just my 35 mm Minolta STSI and Nikon Coolpix 995 over the past 8 years. But I desperately want a DSLR. I'm sticking with Nikon.

I take family photo's. You know vacations, parties, baseball, basketball, wrestling.

I shoot in auto. (GASP!)

This is who I want to be...

I want to teach myself how to become a better photographer. I've been reading and researching and even though I highly doubt I'd ever become a professional I wouldn't mind progressing enough to be considered a semi-advanced photographer.

So the debate is D40 over D80. I have 9 more days to test drive the D40 with 18-55 Nikor and 55-200 VR Nikor before deciding to keep it or upgrade $450 to the D80.

I want to be happy with the D40. I really do. But there is something inside of me saying I'll regret not stepping up. And then the other person inside of me (multiple personalities) says that I don't need all the bells and whistles the D80 has. (I'd keep both lens)

I know I want the 50 mm lens from what I've read. I'm often in low light situations. Will the D40 not perform as well if I buy this lens?

Thank you in advance for responding to this post!

[fionndruinne]

Hmm. If the D40 fulfills your needs, then I don't think you need the D80. Bells and whistles are nice, but if they're not required for family photos, then you don't need an upgrade just because there is one.

Then again, the D40 won't autofocus with the fifty, so if you want the lens, you might well want the D80. Although you could buy a higher quality Sigma 30mm lens a full stop faster which would autofocus on the D40 for about... the same cost as upgrading your camera. There you go. Either choice works.

[Norm in Fujino]

Bodies will change; glass (lenses) will stay around longer. Can the D-40's lenses be used on newer models? If so, then do the D-40 thing now and pick up a new body in a couple/few years. If not, then you'll probably be better off getting something with lenses that are compatible with future body upgrades.

[fionndruinne]

An AF-S lens will always be compatible with a Nikon body (until they change their mounts entirely, that is), and it's an asset to possess. It's just a matter of a narrower selection to begin with.

Viewed inversely, the D40 may well become a more practical choice in the near(ish) future, as Nikon makes more AF-S lenses. The 55-200mm VR, for example, is new this year.

[speaklightly]

I own and extensively use the Nikon D-40. I have been very happy with its performance. I have the Nikkor 18-55mm kit lens, the inexpensive (around $(US) 230), but excellent, Nikkor 55-200mmVR lens, and the Sigma 30mm F1.4 lens. Together, these make up an excellent kit for my shooting style.

If a Nikkor 50mm lens is a must for you. Then you might consider the D-50 model camera.

Sarah

[coldrain]

The big minus of the D40 is the missing AF motor, and if you want lenses that need that to AF, you better go for the D80 or D50.

While the D80 may have more features, you do not have to use all features... so I do not see how having mmore features can be a downside. It is not like the camera gets to be more complicated.... it does not, it will still work in the same way in the same modes.

So... if you want a camera that AF's with all lenses, for the same price as a D40, try finding a D50.
If you want the higher pixel count, the D80 is a very nice camera to have and it will AF with any lens you will choose now and in future.