Nikon D40 Camera Lost - replacement what model?

[B'stard Child]

Someone else now has a two year old Nikon D40 with an 18-55mm lens, 2 batteries and 3 x 4 gig memory cards and a camera case - My own fault and I don't have an option to claim on any insurance cover (as it wasn't covered on my holiday cover because I left it unattended - lesson learnt - although I'm not sure I'd claim even if stupidity was covered)

It was well used (on it's third time round the clock although not sure how may picture you should expect) and the 18-55mm lens frequently needed manual focus (I'm guessing motor issues as I had the original lens fail shortly after purchase)

I still have two other Nikon lenses in other sizes so I'm reluctant to change brands but I'm getting really confused as to whats best to do - I've a really limited budget but don't know if it's best to get a D3100 or look for an older D60 or just replace with a D40.

Current lenses are 55-200 and 70-300 plus I stil have the charger and several other filters

I'm tempted to sell the 55-200 as it wasn't long enough to get the pictures I wanted when snapping motorsports events and once I got the longer lens it's never been used - I aslo never really got on with the 18-55mm lens so would be looking to get an 18-105 rather than the std kit lens

The sort of pictures I like to take are ilustrated below









I'd like this level of fps at the minimum











Oh and it still needs to take the odd holiday snap







Any advices appreciated

[RobDickinson]

D3200 will be in stores soon, So get a D3100 or D3200 depending on price.

Or a used D5000?

[james_tigerwoods]

My D40 broke last year and, as it happens, was covered by a warranty - It gave me a voucher for a new camera and, after much research, went and bought a D3100 and didn't look back - my 18-70 and 55-200 work with is which meant no extra expense in lenses as did the flash. The 35mm 1.8 was a nice addition.

The D3100 is a nice, quick, step up from a D40 and relatively cheap too.

[B'stard Child]

james_tigerwoods said:

My D40 broke last year and, as it happens, was covered by a warranty - It gave me a voucher for a new camera and, after much research, went and bought a D3100 and didn't look back - my 18-70 and 55-200 work with is which meant no extra expense in lenses as did the flash. The 35mm 1.8 was a nice addition.

The D3100 is a nice, quick, step up from a D40 and relatively cheap too.

Good point about the flash - I'd forgotten about that

It needs to be used by Mrs BC to take pictures of Carts

[B'stard Child]

RobDickinson said:

D3200 will be in stores soon, So get a D3100 or D3200 depending on price.

Or a used D5000?

See that's the bit that confuses me - with cars I can get for instance taking an old Ford example - Base, L, GL, GLX and Ghia

Now I know I bought the base model D40 but it seems with cameras that thet seem to stick any number of mumbers after the end and I can't see the wood from the trees

[RobDickinson]

D3100 replaced the D3000 which replaced the D40.

D3200 replaces that.

[Gad-Westy]

RobDickinson said:

D3100 replaced the D3000 which replaced the D40.

D3200 replaces that.

And there was a D60 in between. Nikon really love replacing their base models!

OP, what's the total budget for kit lens and camera?

The 18-105 is a nice lens but they seem overpriced to me for what they are. Maybe take a look at the 18-70 instead which is far better value and arguably a better lens.

[B'stard Child]

Gad-Westy said:

RobDickinson said:

D3100 replaced the D3000 which replaced the D40.

D3200 replaces that.

And there was a D60 in between. Nikon really love replacing their base models!

No wonder I find it confusing!

Gad-Westy said:

OP, what's the total budget for kit lens and camera?

£300 maybe a smidge more - new is certainly out of my budget I'm certainly looking pre-owned

Gad-Westy said:

The 18-105 is a nice lens but they seem overpriced to me for what they are. Maybe take a look at the 18-70 instead which is far better value and arguably a better lens.

Thanks for that I'll have a look at that lens price wise - I know Nikon did a kit with D3000 or D60 with a 18-105 lens so was looking at various aution sites for one of those pre-owned

[RobDickinson]

Gad-Westy said:

RobDickinson said:

D3100 replaced the D3000 which replaced the D40.

D3200 replaces that.

And there was a D60 in between. Nikon really love replacing their base models!

And D40x but both ran along side the d40

[Gad-Westy]

B'stard Child said:

Thanks for that I'll have a look at that lens price wise - I know Nikon did a kit with D3000 or D60 with a 18-105 lens so was looking at various aution sites for one of those pre-owned

I think those two cameras would have come with an 18-55. Maybe the D90 was the first to get the 18-105 lens? There was an 18-135 as well. All of them are decent enough but I'd say the 18-70 is the pick of the bunch. I picked one up for £60, bargain!

I presume you want to stick to a smaller body? I only ask as your budget would buy a D200 or a D80...

If it's the smaller body you're after, I'd maybe look for a D5000. For some reason they're generally cheaper than the D3100 and some might argue that they're a better camera. I sold mine for £250 a few months ago.

[B'stard Child]

Gad-Westy said:

B'stard Child said:

Thanks for that I'll have a look at that lens price wise - I know Nikon did a kit with D3000 or D60 with a 18-105 lens so was looking at various aution sites for one of those pre-owned

I think those two cameras would have come with an 18-55. Maybe the D90 was the first to get the 18-105 lens? There was an 18-135 as well. All of them are decent enough but I'd say the 18-70 is the pick of the bunch. I picked one up for £60, bargain!

I presume you want to stick to a smaller body? I only ask as your budget would buy a D200 or a D80...

If it's the smaller body you're after, I'd maybe look for a D5000. For some reason they're generally cheaper than the D3100 and some might argue that they're a better camera. I sold mine for £250 a few months ago.

I guess I need to stick with a body that allows me to use my AF-S lenses

I didn't even know they did two different body sizes but the D40 always felt right when being used even with a long lens on it

If can pick up an 18-70 lens for around that price it wil leave me with maybe £240 for a body.

I "lost" the D40 in Feb same weekend I rolled the track car in France so it was as they say a really good weekend!!

[B'stard Child]

One more thing - do any of the newer Nikons have view thro LCD facility?

Not a biggy but I had a bridge camera Fuji S3000 for many years and I loved it and it's the only facility it had that I miss on a DSLR (Although I've kinda got used to it)

[james_tigerwoods]

From what I've seen the D3200 is significantly more than the D3100 (according to Amazon Pre-Order anyway) - you can get a D3100 for about £350 but the 3200 is showing at £650 which strikes me as odd or wrong.

My OH is happy using my D3100 although she will complain about it

[RobDickinson]

D3100 launch RRP = £499
D3200 launch RRP = £559

Both body only. Given the sthole the £ is in thats not that much more.

[Gad-Westy]

B'stard Child said:

Gad-Westy said:

B'stard Child said:

Thanks for that I'll have a look at that lens price wise - I know Nikon did a kit with D3000 or D60 with a 18-105 lens so was looking at various aution sites for one of those pre-owned

I think those two cameras would have come with an 18-55. Maybe the D90 was the first to get the 18-105 lens? There was an 18-135 as well. All of them are decent enough but I'd say the 18-70 is the pick of the bunch. I picked one up for £60, bargain!

I presume you want to stick to a smaller body? I only ask as your budget would buy a D200 or a D80...

If it's the smaller body you're after, I'd maybe look for a D5000. For some reason they're generally cheaper than the D3100 and some might argue that they're a better camera. I sold mine for £250 a few months ago.

I guess I need to stick with a body that allows me to use my AF-S lenses

I didn't even know they did two different body sizes but the D40 always felt right when being used even with a long lens on it

If can pick up an 18-70 lens for around that price it wil leave me with maybe £240 for a body.

I "lost" the D40 in Feb same weekend I rolled the track car in France so it was as they say a really good weekend!!

Your AF-S lenses will work with any Nikon DSLR. On that note though, the D80 and D200 also allow you to use auto focus with AF-D and AF lenses which may be handy.

There are basically four different body sizes. Small (D40, D5100 etc...), Medium (D80, D90, D7000 etc), large (D200, D300, D700) and then the large gripped bodies (D1, D2, D3, D4).

[craigb84]

B'stard Child said:

Thanks for that I'll have a look at that lens price wise - I know Nikon did a kit with D3000 or D60 with a 18-105 lens so was looking at various aution sites for one of those pre-owned

Without actually advertising I have a D3000 kit going spare as I just upgraded last week.......

[james_tigerwoods]

B'stard Child said:

One more thing - do any of the newer Nikons have view thro LCD facility?

Yes. It's st. There's a long lag between pressing the shutter button, the view through switching over and the photo taking. It works, but not if it's something you want to take a photo of **right now**

The D3100 is a good weight and I love mine - Especially with the 35mm 1.8:

[B'stard Child]

craigb84 said:

B'stard Child said:

Thanks for that I'll have a look at that lens price wise - I know Nikon did a kit with D3000 or D60 with a 18-105 lens so was looking at various aution sites for one of those pre-owned

Without actually advertising I have a D3000 kit going spare as I just upgraded last week.......

Without expressing an interest I'll send you a PM ;-)

[B'stard Child]

james_tigerwoods said:

B'stard Child said:

One more thing - do any of the newer Nikons have view thro LCD facility?

Yes. It's st. There's a long lag between pressing the shutter button, the view through switching over and the photo taking. It works, but not if it's something you want to take a photo of **right now**

The D3100 is a good weight and I love mine - Especially with the 35mm 1.8:

Thanks for that - confused by the lens 35mm 1.8 what does that corrolate to 18-55mm??

[james_tigerwoods]

B'stard Child said:

Thanks for that - confused by the lens 35mm 1.8 what does that corrolate to 18-55mm??

It doesn't - I'm just demonstrating size.