Need Help Deciding on Camera

[emilysmom09]

I bought the Nikon D40 during the summer. I love the camera and it takes great pictures. I have both lenses, 18-55 and 75-200. BUT, I just learned they don't make a lens over 200 for the D40. My daughter plays soccer and volleyball and I really wanted a bigger zoom (300). Quantaray makes a 75-300 lens that will fit the D40, but it's manual focus only. Just wanted your opinions on which of these 3 cameras you think is the best.

Nikon D40 (keep this one and deal with the 200 zoom or learn the manual focus on the Quantaray b/c it is the best of the 3)
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Canon EOS Digitial Rebel XT

Thanks in advance!!

 

[AZ JazzyJ]

I was not aware that the D40 would not allow a lens over 200mm. It was my understanding that the D40 could utilize any AF-S or AF-I Nikon lens in autofocus mode. If my source is correct then you should be able to use the Nikon AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens or if you wanted something longer than that Nikon also makes a 400mm f/2.8D, 500mm f/4G, or 600mm f/4G. Those last 3 lenses are EXTREMELY expensive just to warn you. Unless you are not happy with the Nikon I would keep the camera.

Jeff

 

[YEKCIM]

I'll second what Jeff said about the 70-300VR. It is a great lens, for the money. No reason that I know of that it would not work on a D40. Who told you that Nikon didn't make anything over 200mm that would work on the D40, btw? The 70-300VR is going for around $460, online, at present, if you are interested.

I've used this lens for my daughter's soccer games this fall and, as long as there is plenty of light it does fine. If the volleyball games are outside/daylight, the 70-300VR should be fine; if the games are inside with artificial illumination, I doubt the 70-300VR would do very well.

Here is a shot from one of this fall's games:

Edit: here are some pix made with the D40/70-300VR combo that I found on another photography forum.

~YEKCIM

 

[garate55]

I agree keep the D40.

Here is the whole list of lenses for our camera
You can use the AF-S or AF-I lenses with internal AF motors, or have fully manual focus byusing the AF lenses (but I wouldn't recommend it)
http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=5

Be careful not to get the AFD if you want autofocus it is quite a bit cheaper......you will be looking at the AF-S for autofocus type lens.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/449088-USA/Nikon_2161_70_300mm_f_4_5_6G_AF_S_VR.html

 

[emilysmom09]

Thank you all for your help and input. I was told by Wolf Camera that 200 zoom was the biggest for the D40 with auto focus. They also don't make a magnifier for the D40. I still have a lot to learn with the SLR. I'll look into the links you all provided.

Thanks again!!
Karen

 

[ukcatfan]

Thank you all for your help and input. I was told by Wolf Camera that 200 zoom was the biggest for the D40 with auto focus. They also don't make a magnifier for the D40. I still have a lot to learn with the SLR. I'll look into the links you all provided.

Thanks again!!
Karen

It sounds like they were after a bigger sale if you ask me. Also, if you are talking about a multiplying adapter, keep in mind that it has to be a wide aperture lens. If the widest at the telephoto end is f/5.6, the lens will only be MF on an adapter.

Kevin

 

[Master Mason]

I also shoot sports with a 200 long end all the time, baseball, football, and sometimes basket ball....

you just crop it works fine...

 

[Groucho]

Definitely sounds like an ignorant salesman, or a knowledgeable one who is telling tales in order to upsell - perhaps to a D80, which doesn't have any of these lens focus gotchas.