Nikon D80 over D40x?

Question

Is the Nikon D80 worth the exra money? should i buy the D80 lens kit or buy a Separate lens or the D40x with a Separate lens?. ps my first digital Slr Purchase

Answer 1

See the Sources link for Nikon's spec sheet on all their DSLRs, including both the D80 and the D40x. And if you have specific questions about specific characteristics of the two cameras (like what's the difference between an AF-S and a D or G type lens), one or more of us here will surely be able to help you out.

Only a few things to add to Dr. Sam's excellent writeup... The D40x is specifically designed as Nikon's entry-level DSLR, meaning it has a lot of features that make it easy to get great captures without a lot of fiddling, and to get really superb images if you want to dive into it a bit.

Since you mention that this is your first DSLR purchase, the D40x will be easier for you to pick up and immediately start taking pictures you're thrilled with. I've introduced two of my children to digital photography using the D40x, one 10 and the other 16, and they've been taking awesome shots with it since the moment I showed them how to turn it on. (My 19-year-old daughter, on the other hand, is an "old-school" photographer who develops and prints her own black-and-white photos, using the 35mm film SLR that I bought her when she was 11...)

On the other hand, at the end of a year or two of growth as a photographer, you may well end up wishing you'd bought the D80. So there's another way for you to weigh your decision: you'll get "instant gratification" with the D40x, but if you really plan on pursuing photography as a hobby and art form, the D80 is better likely to "grow" with you.

(Me, I figure in a year or two I might have to give one of my kids the D40x and get something more powerful for me -- if only because having my own camera will mean I might stand a chance of taking a few pictures when we're out on a photo safari, instead of letting them have all the fun!)

Answer 2

If you have experience with film SLRs in the past and are comfortable using one, I would go with the D80. Otherwise, you will be better off with the D40x. Here's why:

The D80 is bigger and heavier. The D40(x) is just the right size if you plan I taking it around all day. The less weight will make a difference.

If you are new to the dSLR scene (or SLR scene in general), it can be confusing with all the button, knobs, and settings. The D40x is made for the entry-level dSLR user. It has great auto settings as well has most of the flexibility of the D80 when you decide you want to experiment more.

The both have the same sensor and LCD screen...no loss here.

Yes, the D40(x) will only autofocus with AF-S lenses... But if you don't have any lenses, it is nothing to worry about. All the new lenses will autofocus fine with this camera. Basically what this is, is whether the lens iself has an auto focus motor built in to it. To reduce cost, Nikon left out the auto focus mechanism in the D40(x) camera body. They did this knowing how would buy the camera (newcomers) and that all the new DX (digital) lenses have focusing motors already built in to them. No loss for you!

The money saved on the camera difference should go towards a better lens. In SLR, most of the quality is determined by the lens. Use the extra money to buy a better lens. I recommended a friend buy the D40x with the 18-200mm VR lens. You probably won't buy another lens for a very long time if you get this nor will you regret the little extra money spent! My friend absolutely loves it! Consider that the cameras are outdated faster than the lenses so load your dough on the lens.

Also, read Ken Rockwell's comparison article. A very good read. Good luck and have fun with it!

Answer 3

If the money is not an issue, get the D80.

The D80 has 11 autofocus zones and they can be grouped for dynamic focus while controlling the general area of interest. The D40 only has the three on the horizontal. Nikon claims that this would not make any difference to most users, but I have found the top and bottom zones quite helpful and would not like to do without them.

The D80 has an LCD on top of the camera for status, which the D40 does not, but the D40 uses the 2.5" rear LCD for camera status between shots. This is certainly easier to read, but I don't know how it is to live with day-to-day, as I have never done this. It probably makes sense.

There is no depth-of-field preview on the D40, but there is on the D80.

There is no exposure bracketing and no white balance bracketing on the D40, but there is on the D80.

The D40 will not autofocus with some older Nikon lenses and the D80 will. If you do not have some lenses from a Nikon film camera already, though, this would not be a problem for you.

The D80 is larger and may feel better in your hands.

Enough?

Answer 4

Damn producergirl347 "Cannon -superior camera makers by far"
That's the funniest thing I heard today.
As for the question the D80 can use any Nikkor AF lens not just AF-S or AF-I, and has double exposure capability.

Answer 5

Neither Nikon alternatives solves the problem of affordable "shake reduction." Again, Nikon has chosen to incorporate "shake reduction" within a specialized series of Nikon lenses and these specialized lenses are not cheap.

Perhaps you should reconsider your camera choices and look into the Pentax K100D, K10D series with their "shake reduction" mechanisms built into each camera body. It's a more affordable solution since you can essentially put any lense on the Pentax body and accordingly, the shakes are reduced and there are no blurry pictures.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Read the online reviews - a LOT of them. Also, be sure to try them out in a store - you might prefer one over the other.

Answer 7

go with Canon -superior camera makers by far.