UPDATE: Nikon D40 or Sony a200?

[troytime]

Originally posted by: 996GT2

Originally posted by: dnuggett

Originally posted by: dmw16
If it were me, I'd go Nikon because you know that any lens you buy will work with any Nikon you buy for a long time.

Not true for the D40 or D60. Read up on lens compatibility more.


That said, I shoot Nikon and Canon, but primarily Nikon. I'd go the D40. Don't get caught up in megapixels etc. They mean nothing for you, and if you ever get good enough to have to worry about it, you won't be carrying either of the two choices you listed.

Couple words of advice on choosing the camera-

1. Don't get caught up in the whole "I took this picture with this camera so it has to be really good" and vice versa crap. I can take a shot (normal size no 20X30 etc) with my Powershot 750 and line it up next to a DX SLR of your choice. Same shot, no tricky lighting etc. and your untrained eye couldn't tell you which was which. That is unless you really know how to use your SLR and make it work for you. This is your first one, so you don't.

2. The camera is only as good as the photog behind it. The camera doesn't make the picture look good, you do. A good camera gets out of your way and lets you make good pictures happen.

3. The number one thing to think about when picking out a camera is usability. Does it work well with you? Missing a shot because you are in over your head in menus and settings is the worst thing that can happen. You'll never get the shot back, you can fuss with settings anytime.

4. Until you get really good at what you are doing the camera doesn't matter. Any current SLR and some point and shoots are a better camera then you are a photographer.



Head over to kenrockwell.com for a review of the D40 if you want to learn more about that camera.

Agreed

I started out on a used D70, and it's been a great learning experience getting acquainted with it and learning how to use all of the various features. I'm looking to upgrade to a D80 or D200 now, but all 3 would make very similar pictures if used in similar conditions.

If you plan to use old Nikon glass on your new Nikon DSLR, there are a few caveats:
1) The D40 and D60 don't AF with anything but the newest AF-S/AF-I/Sigma HSM and other lenses with the AF motor built into the lens.

2) The D50, D70, D80, D100, D200, and every other Nikon DSLR in recent history will AF with AF and AF-D lenses, such as the awesome 50mm f/1.8D. These cameras have the AF drive built into the body so they can use AF, AF-D, AF-I, and AF-S lenses with no problems.

3) If you want exposure metering with older manual focus AI or AI-S lenses, only the D200, D300, D700, D2, and D3 offer matrix metering. The D1 offers center-weighted and spot metering. All other Nikon DSLRs do not meter with AI or AI-S lenses and require you to use them in manual mode, with stop-down metering.

d80 has matrix metering. but it won't meter with AI or AIS lenses.
maybe you meant to say through the lens metering instead of matrix metering?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: 996GT2
3) If you want exposure metering with older manual focus AI or AI-S lenses, only the D200, D300, D700, D2, and D3 offer matrix metering. The D1 offers center-weighted and spot metering. All other Nikon DSLRs do not meter with AI or AI-S lenses and require you to use them in manual mode, with stop-down metering.

ken rockwell's table says 'no meter' which doesn't mean stop down metering to me.