d40 vs. d80

lupingh · Aug 1, 2007

Really nice shots! How close were you to the birds?

David314 · Aug 1, 2007

winter1 said:
i can't see the d40 being less sturdy than a d80, they are the same

You are joking of course!

Have you held both? I have and there is no comparison. D80m wins
all the way.

winter1

sorry, i have held both, they are both constructed the same

David

Tech1961 · Aug 1, 2007

I own both and if anything the D40 is probably sturdier due to it being smaller. It has less plastic surface area. This really is a non issue,I haven't heard of any of them falling apart because one was sturdier than the other.

David314 said:
winter1 said:

i can't see the d40 being less sturdy than a d80, they are the same

You are joking of course!

Have you held both? I have and there is no comparison. D80m wins
all the way.

winter1

Click to expand...

sorry, i have held both, they are both constructed the same

David

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Tech1961 · Aug 1, 2007

David314 said:
David314 said:

David314 said:

2. Sturdier body – less flex with longer and/or heavier lenses, which
means less camera shake with heavy lenses like the popular 70-300VR.

Click to expand...

the D40(x) is a very sturdy body. It is just as well build as the
D80.

Click to expand...

i can't see the d40 being less sturdy than a d80, they are the same

with heavy lenses you hold under the lens and body,

if it is a really heavy lens, you are mounting on a tripod to the
lens and the camera is supported by the lens - so the heavier camera
puts more flex on the lens

i think this item should just be eliminated from the list

It is actually a ridiculous statement. This should be removed as this is quite a strech.

David314 said:
and i have a 70-300vr on my d40 btw

David

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Chubly · Aug 1, 2007

Don't cheat yourself out of AF with a HUGE selection of older pin drive lenses.

nickkelbackk said:
I am looking to get a new camera. either a d40 or a d80. I am
planning on using the camera for wildlife photography/bird
photography for now. Should I get a d40 with a nikon 70-300vr or an
d80 with a cheaper telephoto zoom. thanks nickellbackk

dr_elis · Aug 1, 2007

Have a look at the tests of the Nikkor 70-300mm VR and the cheapo Tamron 70-300mm by slrgear.com. Ignore what they and everyone else writes about the Nikkor, just compare the resolution charts. The Nikkor is overhyped, the Tamron is a stunning bargain. Hence, I would pick the D80 and the Tamron. Else, the Nikkor 55-200 VR seems to be a fine lens.

mcullenphoto · Aug 2, 2007

JG30 said:
For instance the first one that stood out to me, an LCD protector?
That just seems like someone decided to really stretch it. The LCD
protector that comes with the D80 IMO is something I wouldn't use.
The plastic makes the screen look worse to me. If I wanted the
protection I would get those sticky film covers. A company actually
makes one for the D40 for like $10. Made to fit your specific camera.

Those sticky film covers won't protect the screen if something hard actually hits it, I leave the protectors on my cameras all the time, it's never affected viewing the LCD for me. I'd rather have a cheap piece of plastic get smashed than the glass itself.

JG30 said:
Also can someone enlighten me as to why 2 dials are useful? Do some
people have the dexterity to turn both at the same time? Don't take
this the wrong way either, it is a real question and I'm not trying
to be sarcastic. I just know I don't have the ability to do it.

I frequently find myself turning both dials at once on my D200 when the action might require a simultaneous increase in shutter speed and larger aperture to keep the exposure. For example if I'm shooting a stationary bird that suddenly takes off.

JG30 · Aug 2, 2007

mcullenphoto said:
Those sticky film covers won't protect the screen if something hard
actually hits it, I leave the protectors on my cameras all the time,
it's never affected viewing the LCD for me. I'd rather have a cheap
piece of plastic get smashed than the glass itself.

Yes someone else pointed that out and I said that makes sense. I'm sure you could come up with a similar solution for the D40 though if you really wanted it. Nothings impossible.

mcullenphoto said:
I frequently find myself turning both dials at once on my D200 when
the action might require a simultaneous increase in shutter speed and
larger aperture to keep the exposure. For example if I'm shooting a
stationary bird that suddenly takes off.

You have better dexterity then I. I just can't seem to get my brain to function that way. Kudos to those that can.

larsbc · Aug 2, 2007

JG30 said:
I'm still wondering though about the two dials. I understand that
higher end Nikons have them, but I'm still trying to understand how
people use it to be faster. Do those that use dual dials use one to
change shutter speed and the other for aperture?

I generally shoot in Aperture priority mode. Front dial is for aperture, rear is for exposure compensation.

I really, really like having my camera set up this way, as opposed to having to press a button AND turn the dial at the same time for exp. comp.

larsbc

kunwarg · Aug 2, 2007

Thanks for all the inputs..It really has cleared my thoughts..
Also wanted to know..D40 has min of ISO200.
Would that be a let down..?

JG30 · Aug 2, 2007

kunwarg said:
Thanks for all the inputs..It really has cleared my thoughts..
Also wanted to know..D40 has min of ISO200.
Would that be a let down..?

I've heard there is no difference between 100 and 200.

There is no noise from the D40 at ISO. I don't see any at 400. Even 800 is very good. Check the reviews here for the ISO performance.

Thisjustin · Aug 2, 2007

JG30 said:
For instance the first one that stood out to me, an LCD protector?
That just seems like someone decided to really stretch it. The LCD
protector that comes with the D80 IMO is something I wouldn't use.
The plastic makes the screen look worse to me. If I wanted the
protection I would get those sticky film covers. A company actually
makes one for the D40 for like $10. Made to fit your specific camera.

Worked in a camera store, saw a TON of broken SLR LCDs you can shoot with out it but you can't change alot of the settings.

JG30 said:
Also can someone enlighten me as to why 2 dials are useful? Do some
people have the dexterity to turn both at the same time? Don't take
this the wrong way either, it is a real question and I'm not trying
to be sarcastic. I just know I don't have the ability to do it. I
don't know if everyone realizes this but on the D40 while in M mode,
if you push the exposure compensation button that is convinently
placed right where your right hand lays, you can change the aperture.
Let go and spin the dial and your changing Shutter Speed. Cupple that
with mapping the Fn button to ISO.

Yes. Yes there are people who you can use both at once, just like there are some people that can change the apeature ring and shutter speed dial at once. I personally think its harder to do both of those at once.

gerryd04 · Aug 2, 2007

Same on the d50, and to me it is an advantage, i do a lot of sport, nature and the extra shutter speed is a bonus as a side effect, iso200 is very good with these sensors.

As an aside i often wonder if some of those posts about trouble getting sharp pics from the d80 or other 10 mpix sensors compared to camera X with 6 mpix are more about using iso100 and lower shutter speeds in some circumstances.

kunwarg said:
Thanks for all the inputs..It really has cleared my thoughts..
Also wanted to know..D40 has min of ISO200.
Would that be a let down..?

--
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http://gerryd.smugmug.com/ discount code on homepage

SamK2 · Aug 2, 2007

I'm curious why you feel the need to use manual mode so often. I know Ken Rockwell has said that the matrix metering on the D80 makes unpredictable errors, so exposure compensation can't cope well with correcting metering errors. Do you find that to be true?
I shoot a fair amount in manual

Brooks P said:
mode and I find the two-wheel system, as opposed to the single-wheel
plus button, to be easier and more importantly much faster. I'm
pretty sure I'm not the only one or the two-wheel system would not be
the system that Nikon puts on all the professional models.

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d40 vs. d80

lupingh

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David314

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Tech1961

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Tech1961

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Chubly

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dr_elis

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mcullenphoto

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JG30

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