Entry Level DSLR

RainbowShooter

Hi, just wondering if anyone could briefly help me with an entry level digital SLR.

Been looking at something cheepish (in SLR terms anyway) to get started on with general photos and get away from the camera phone crowd.

Been offered an as new Silver Nikon D40 with an 18-55mm lens for £190, just wondering if anyone has any comments on the D40 or knows of anything better for that kind of money.

Regards

mr_fishbulb

I have D40. Love it. Great camera

Marty_J

I love my D40, and £190 is a great price.

Snap it up!

RainbowShooter

Good good, he bought it and used it twice from new so it's still mint.

So other than in the future getting different lenses, do I need to think about buying anything else for it other than what comes in the retail box?

Any known issues I should look out for?

Once again, thanks for the help.

alanwjones

Some reviews http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000KIX65S/ref=nosim/2009-digital-camera-03-21

At £190 jump at it,

diable

Some lenses won't work with the D40 of the top of my head I can' remember which ones but I think it has to do with support for autofocus as the D40 doesn't have a motor built in.

Its an ok camera to get started with but photography is an expensive "illness" as I write this looking at mt D300 perched on the Manfrotto tripod lol

RainbowShooter

Thanks for the help everyone

Looks like I've found a good deal.

isofa

Crops up weekly, search and read the threads.

Stick with Canon or Nikon and you won't go far wrong.

best prices listed here: https://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk

TheOne

diable wrote: »

Some lenses won't work with the D40 of the top of my head I can' remember which ones but I think it has to do with support for autofocus as the D40 doesn't have a motor built in.

This is correct. The lenses that will work with the D40/D60/D5000 are the Nikon AF-S (or other makes such as Sigma lenses marked "HSM")
Nikon example will work:
70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR NIKKOR
http://www.europe-nikon.com/product/en_GB/products/broad/869/overview.html
Nikon example won't work:
35mm f/2D AF NIKKOR
http://www.europe-nikon.com/product/en_GB/products/broad/390/overview.html

Sigma
http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lenses/index.htm
Now these are not so obvious, some of the lenses that are not "HSM", now come with "Built-in motor drive" on the boxes, so if you're buying any of these check with the seller that it's compatible with your camera, but the "HSM" lenses definately will work.

For quality lenses these are the only makes worth looking at tbh.
This is my own personal opinion!

mr_fishbulb

I have the 55-200 VR to compliment my kit lens.

Very good lens for the money.

Marty_J

I use a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 lens with my D40.

It doesn't autofocus, but it works in every other respect. It's a fantastic lens for the money.

The price has gone up by about £30 since I bought it a few months ago, but it's still great value.

Everyone who shoots Nikon should check it out, autofocus or not.