Oh No..nows there's a D40..

[senecabeach]

The saga goes like this...

I've been vaselating about buying the Nikon D80 body. It feels OK in my (woman's) hand.. though maybe a little smaller would be better and/or easier to vacation with.

Yes...Costco has a pkg, D80 w/55 and 70-200 lens, w bag, rechargeable batt, 512 card..etc for $1299....but...

I REALLY want the "new" Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G VR ED AFS lens.(the f.2 model seems too big for me to travel with). Know I need a basic 55 lens.

NOW....
A new D40 is being released ...UGH !!
Did compare features and don't see (with my un-pro knowledge) any outstanding differences.....

Really would appreciate ALL your most knowledgable thoughts in helping me make a decision??? Please??

 

[captaincrash]

Well...

... for chuckles... the next DSLR generally predicted for introduction from Canon will be the ... (drum roll, please) ... 40D. This may come out in August of 2007 if Canon holds to their history of 18 month intervals for new DSLR models and the name progressions.

Maybe they will conceed a bit and add a letter to their next model to avoid confusion with added differentiation and feign added superiority with naming their next model the 40D+, 40Dx or 40Ds? OK... maybe they WON'T be feigning added superiority!!!! LOL!!! They DO have more market share among DSLRs then all other manufacturers combined and they make the ONLY mass produced full frame DSLR... excepting the medium format Hasselblads and other specialty bodies I may be unfamiliar with.

 

[Groucho]

This thread discussed the D40 a week or two ago.

If you have your heart set on a Nikon, I would skip the D40 and go for a D50 myself - or if you have the budget for a D80, go that way.

Of course, if you have that kind of budget, I'd forget the D80 and go for the Pentax K10D, same sensor as the D80, more features like IS in the body, lower price... but that's just me.

 

[handicap18]

If you think you want the D80, then the D40 will not be for you. There is a HUGE difference between the 2. The D40 is a very entry level dSLR and doesn't support all of Nikons lenses amoung many other things.

The D50 is a bit smaller than the D80 and a very capable camera. Has most of the features of the D80 and slightly better higher ISO than the D80. Do a price check for the D50 body only and then add the lenses you want. The 18-55mm lens is a decent lens, but not really a lot of reach for an everyday lens. I have the 18-70mm for my D50 and will upgrade to the 18-135mm sometime next year. Also Sigma makes an 18-125mm that is a good lens and a decent price. Then you can also add the 70-300mm w/VR when it comes out (supposidely next week, we'll see though. I have one on order for whenever it is relseased).