Re: Nikon D40X ?

According to Alexander Arnakis <invalid@xxxxxxxxxxxx>:
On Wed, 04 Apr 2007 01:06:20 -0400, louise <louise@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

I'm leaning toward the D40X because it is really light and
wonderful to hold. I imagine getting it with the standard
lens and using my old zoom telephoto when I really need a
long lens, which is not that often. I know that my Nikon A
telephoto zoom will not autofocus on the D40X but I really
don't expect to use it very often.

It will also not meter, as well as not autofocusing, assuming
that it is not autofocus on earlier cameras as well. Alexander covered
that below.

My main concern is about the fact that the auto focus
mechanism for the D40x is in the lens rather than in the
camera. Will this make it obsolete in a year or two? Is it
a new design Nikon came up with which will soon be replaced?

The camera will autofocus with any autofocus lenses, I believe,
as they will have CPU contacts as well, which are used to communicate
autofocus requirements to the lens' internal motor. If it is missing
the sensor for full stop-down on the aperture ring of those lenses which
are so equipped, then it will not cause problems with mounting the
lenses, but it leaves a possibility of not behaving properly with the
aperture ring not stopped down fully on older autofocus lenses, such
as my 35-135mm f3.5-4.5, and my 28-105mm f3.5-4.5 lenses.

Anything else I should take into consideration?

I have a D70 (bought it when they first came out) but I rarely use it
because of the "clunkiness" factor. It's too big and bulky for me.

While I use mine all the time -- and am considering (actually
lusting after) the even larger D200.

That's precisely why I got the D40. So far, I've found it to be a
wonderful camera.

Personally, I hate all kinds of zoom lenses (too slow), and I hate
autofocus. The D40 is ideal for manual focus, provided you replace the
standard focusing screen with a Katz Eye split-image rangefinding
screen.

Depending on your needs. For carefully set up and/or posed
shots, "primes", that is, fixed focal length lenses) are usually the
better choices, but if you are photographing events as they change, the
added flexibility of a zoom is a significant benefit. I have some of
each, and tend to have a zoom on the camera most of the time. For me,
the slower aperture range of my zoom lenses is made up for by the
auto-ISO setting allowing an increase of ISO when the light is low. But
you may dislike the noise in high-ISO shots. To me, it is no worse than
grain in high ISO film.

The D40 will mount all Nikon F-mount lenses, even the early non-AI
ones. It will only meter with lenses having CPU contacts, but you can
set exposure with all lenses using the trial-and-error method.

And -- for cases where you are setting up the shot, this is less
of a problem than it may seem, because of the ability to both view the
image and the histogram to evaluate the exposure of your trial shots.
(Besides, you can get a close starting point by using the kit lens which
came with the camera to give you an approximate exposure.) This is a
*lot* better than guessing with film, and having to come back and set up
the shoot again after processing. :-)

The
lens I keep on the camera most of the time is the 45mm f/2.8P, which
is the only Nikon manual-focus lens with a CPU. This makes a very
compact package (the lens gives you the equivalent perspective of a
67mm lens on a film camera).

Yes -- you want to bear in mind the effect of the 1.5x crop
factor on your existing lenses. Every lens will behave as though it
were 1.5 times longer than it is -- at least in terms of coverage.

Regarding the difference between the D40 and the D40x, keep in mind
that the 6 megapixel sensor (in the D40) produces images of 2000x3000
pixels. That's plenty of resolution for me. You might want to pay the
higher price for the D40x if you routinely make enlargements bigger
than 8x10.

Agreed! My primary reason for wanting the D200 is the ability
to meter with the AI lenses at least, if not the really old ones which
are pure Nikon F mount instead of for the later cameras.

Enjoy,
DoN.
--
Email: <dnichols@xxxxxxxxxxx> | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564
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