Advice needed: Nikon D40

[ADAMANDLISA]

As a DSLR newbie, I've been looking for a camera that can grow with me as I learn and not cost too much money. I've read a couple of posts here and I'm pretty sure I am going with the Nikon D40. I received, along with many other people, an invitation for Best Buy Sunday night to a special sale. They have this bundled as follows:

Nikon D40
Nikkor 18-55mm
Nikkor 55-200mm
SB600 Speedlight Flash
accessory kit w/bag, battery and photography guide

All for $799.96

Is this a good deal and worth it to buy the bundle?

Thank you for your help!
Lisa

 

[Master Mason]

bh pricing

Camera and 2 lenses $599
SB 600 $184

So for 16 bucks, plus whatever your local sales tax is you get the bag and guide (maybe a second battery, but not sure it just says battery not second battery)

ETA, It doesn't sound like a bad deal, but you also need to ask yourself if those lenses will fit your needs as well. That depends on what type of pictures your going for etc.

 

[emmabelle]

I bought the D40 with 18-135mm lens and I'm really glad I did, because I really don't like changing out my lens. I think that you'll find a 55mm focal length not long enough for alot of situations, so you'll have to change out that lens for the other lens. For me, when I looked at my pictures currently on my camera, alot of them were taken at a 135mm focal length, but then I tend to like to zoom in on my subjects.

 

[Dave Tavener]

I've got a D40 with those exact lenses. One thing I'd note is they're probably not the VR (Vibration Reduction) versions of the lenses. VR does just what it says - it reduces blurring due to camera shake. That's more important for the 55-200mm lens as at 200mm I see the image dancing around the viewfinder (I don't exactly have hands of steel...). I also find myself constantly switching lenses going from wide angle shots to zoom. Every time you switch lenses allows a little more dust to get inside (bad thing) but, honestly, it's not been a problem so far.

That said, the D40 and lenses have covered just about everything I've wanted to take pictures of for the last 18 months. It's the first DSLR I've owned and it works great. I'd definitely recommend it, but I'd at least take a look at the VR lenses first especially if you're going to take lots of sports pictures at the long end of the 200mm like I do...

Dave

 

[Master Mason]

I'd definitely recommend it, but I'd at least take a look at the VR lenses first especially if you're going to take lots of sports pictures at the long end of the 200mm like I do...

Dave

I have to disagree with you here on this point. VR is not going to help you with sports pictures. If you have enough shutter speed to stop the action, your going to have more than enough shutter speed to remove camera shake from concideration.

the standard to eliminate camera shake is 1/focal lenght. So that is 1/200 even if you take into account the crop factor that is 1/300, and if your below that your not going to be able to freeze action in a sports shot anyway.

 

[Dave Tavener]

True, but I'm not always trying to freeze action. My sports shots include an awful lot of pictures of my kids expressions when the action is not going on. I guess if you want to call it long-distance portraiture, that's fine.

 

[AlienBrain]

This deal that you are stating is a classic deal that I have seen many places. Wolf Camera had this deal about a month ago. One thing that you want to pay attention to when looking at a camera is the lenses. The lenses you mentioned have a varying max aperture from f/3.5-5.6.

This is practically a "kit lens." Pay attention to the max aperture. When you hear people talk about fast lenses, they are talking about lenses that can open up really wide like a fixed f/2.8 or f/1.8. When the max aperture is fixed across the entire zoom range, you have the ability of doing a wide aperture (high-depth of field) or high speed shot. When you have a wide aperture, you can let in more light in less time ... hence a faster lens.

OK so back to the topic, I would buy the camera body by itself and then go and get a good lens to start with. I started with a 50mm f/1.8 lens. It cannot zoom, but it gives incredible pictures and it really is a great tool for a beginner to learn how exposure, shutter speed, aperture, and ISO work together.

I know I rambled, but in summary ... just get the body and spend money on a good lens.

 

[emmabelle]

OK so back to the topic, I would buy the camera body by itself and then go and get a good lens to start with. I started with a 50mm f/1.8 lens. It cannot zoom, but it gives incredible pictures and it really is a great tool for a beginner to learn how exposure, shutter speed, aperture, and ISO work together.

I know I rambled, but in summary ... just get the body and spend money on a good lens.

Only one tiny problem, the D40 doesn't have auto focus in the body, so you need the lens to have auto focus and currently there isn't a 50mm f/1.8 auto focus lens with a Nikon mount. I just bought the Sigma 30mm 1.4 HSM, it's nice, but I like my 18-135mm better. I really like to zoom.

 

[ukcatfan]

Only one tiny problem, the D40 doesn't have auto focus in the body, so you need the lens to have auto focus and currently there isn't a 50mm f/1.8 auto focus lens with a Nikon mount. I just bought the Sigma 30mm 1.4 HSM, it's nice, but I like my 18-135mm better. I really like to zoom.

The other problem is that the Sigma costs somewhere around 4x as much as the 50mm f/1.8. This just seems counter productive to have a budget camera that cannot use some of the most popular budget lenses.

Kevin

 

[DizzyV6P]

The other problem is that the Sigma costs somewhere around 4x as much as the 50mm f/1.8. This just seems counter productive to have a budget camera that cannot use some of the most popular budget lenses.

Kevin

Which is exactly why a D40 isn't exactly the great beginner camera that Nikon tries to push it to be. Many of my Nikon friends find themselves selling their D40's within a year to goto a D80 or even D200/D300 simply because of the AF-S issue.

I like Canon, so I'm biased. Other members here like Pentax, Olympus and Sony, so there are a lot of other options out there. It all depends on how far you expect to take this hobby. I know for a fact that if you dont' mind used, there are tons of used D40's in the Nikon forums for sale if price is an issue. You'll also be able to pick up a nice VR lense in those forums as well. Just a thought.

 

[ADAMANDLISA]

Wow! Thank you all for your advice! I am officially confused now...this was all way too technical for me. Maybe this newbie should take a class before I get a camera.

But seriously, since this really isn't a special deal, I will do more research and see what fits me best. Emmabelle made a good argument for the 18-135 lens---I'm a zoomer myself.

Thank you all again for your insight!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

It can get confusing, LOL.

There's some information here about why people chose the dSLRs they did. Why don't you join in? Questions are welcome.

Good luck.

 

[emmabelle]

The other problem is that the Sigma costs somewhere around 4x as much as the 50mm f/1.8. This just seems counter productive to have a budget camera that cannot use some of the most popular budget lenses.

Kevin

Exactly! I spent $400 for my Sigma 30mm! I don't regret buying the D40 though, I like the smaller size of it.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

I LOVE the size of my D40!

I carried a D80 for two years and seriously find the 40 sooo much easier to hold for longer periods of time. My 40 also seems to have a better clarity than the 80 did. Especially on the night shots. Maybe it's because I have less shake with the lighter weight

I also have the two lenses in the deal you saw. The flash they offer is what folks here tell me is the perfect one for that camera and has many functions you'll grow into, just like the camera.

My shorter lens is great for wide shots, say all of Main Street or the whole castle in one frame. The 55-200 lens I use for everything else...it brings characters in stage shows closer, it's perfect for nature shots, close ups (not macro - just closer) of flowers and such, puppy pictures, etc.

The AF keeps up with the action pretty well, I've rarely had focus issues in the 6 months I've had the 40.

If you haven't had a class, you still may want to take one~they really do help.

 

[ADAMANDLISA]

It can get confusing, LOL.

There's some information here about why people chose the dSLRs they did. Why don't you join in? Questions are welcome.

Good luck.

Thanks for the link! This is just what I needed!

I LOVE the size of my D40!

I carried a D80 for two years and seriously find the 40 sooo much easier to hold for longer periods of time. My 40 also seems to have a better clarity than the 80 did. Especially on the night shots. Maybe it's because I have less shake with the lighter weight

I also have the two lenses in the deal you saw. The flash they offer is what folks here tell me is the perfect one for that camera and has many functions you'll grow into, just like the camera.

My shorter lens is great for wide shots, say all of Main Street or the whole castle in one frame. The 55-200 lens I use for everything else...it brings characters in stage shows closer, it's perfect for nature shots, close ups (not macro - just closer) of flowers and such, puppy pictures, etc.

The AF keeps up with the action pretty well, I've rarely had focus issues in the 6 months I've had the 40.

If you haven't had a class, you still may want to take one~they really do help.

I've got to tell you that your post helped me immensely! This was exactly what I needed to hear!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

You are welcome

Good Luck

 

[Dave Tavener]

Here's a link to a D40 review by a pro photographer who loved the D40 for his non-pro work.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40.htm

Lots of good info!

Dave

 

[ADAMANDLISA]

This link is very informative, thank you!

Here's a link to a D40 review by a pro photographer who loved the D40 for his non-pro work.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40.htm

Lots of good info!

Dave

 

[ADAMANDLISA]

Just wanted to thank you all for your help! I got my camera and accessories last night and I'm very excited! I've played around a little today and I'm glad to see how easy it is for beginners.

Although it might not have been the best deal, we made the most of it by buying Best Buy gift cards at Giant Eagle ($4.00/gallon in gas savings) with our Disney CC (Disney Dollars) and got double in BB rewards. Either way, I'm just glad I got it!

Thank you all again for your advice!

 

[handicap18]

Welcome to the world of Nikonians. Be sure to post lots of pictures.