Nikon D40X , a worthwhile addition ?

Desmond

:dunno I am wondering if a D40X would be a worthwhile addition to my kit . Now I have the 70-200 I would like to leave it on one body and not have to change lenses . But the 70-200 is a "G" series lens so I suppose it won't focus ? I will be using it for event photography and was wondering if I need to bother about the fact that my D50 is only 6 meg or will it be enough ?[ eg: for selling prints online ] . The 17-55 2.8 stays on my D80 if possible and that is my "flash" camera since it can do wireless , I hate lens changes for dust reasons .

dancorder

The 'G' just means that the lens doesn't have an aperture ring so you have to use it with a body that can set the aperture (which I believe the D40X can).

The only limitation I'm aware of with the D40X is that it doesn't have an autofocus screw so it will only autofocus with AF-S and AF-I lenses, so those are the magic letters you need to check your lens for.

dpreview are very good for this kind of thing, have a look for 'Lens compatibility' here:

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/nikond40x/page2.asp

In fact they also have a picture of the autofocus screw difference here:

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/nikond40x/

Whether it is actually worth changing your D50 for I'll leave to some else, but I will say that I'm perfectly happy with my D50 and have printed images from an earlier 4MP camera at 8x10" that are on my wall.

Desmond

dancorder wrote:

The 'G' just means that the lens doesn't have an aperture ring so you have to use it with a body that can set the aperture (which I believe the D40X can).

The only limitation I'm aware of with the D40X is that it doesn't have an autofocus screw so it will only autofocus with AF-S and AF-I lenses, so those are the magic letters you need to check your lens for.

dpreview are very good for this kind of thing, have a look for 'Lens compatibility' here:

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/nikond40x/page2.asp

In fact they also have a picture of the autofocus screw difference here:

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/nikond40x/

Whether it is actually worth changing your D50 for I'll leave to some else, but I will say that I'm perfectly happy with my D50 and have printed images from an earlier 4MP camera at 8x10" that are on my wall.

I don't want to change from my D50 , I love it too , I would just like to leave the 70-200 on one body and the Sigma 10-20mm on the other .
One thing though , with the AF-S lenses does the camera use the motor and the screw drive of the lens ?

dancorder

With an AF-S lens the autofocus motor is built into the lens so it just needs electrical power from the body, which the D40X can supply.

Non AF-S and AF-I lenses rely on an autofocus motor in the body, which D40X does not have.

Is that clearer?

Desmond

dancorder wrote:

With an AF-S lens the autofocus motor is built into the lens so it just needs electrical power from the body, which the D40X can supply.

Non AF-S and AF-I lenses rely on an autofocus motor in the body, which D40X does not have.

Is that clearer?

Yep , I understand that , I'm just asking as a side issue , "if the lens has both does the camera use both to focus faster ?" [ or does it just use one or the other ]

dancorder

Ah sorry, I misunderstood you. I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that, but if I had to guess I'd say no.

Desmond

dancorder wrote:

Ah sorry, I misunderstood you. I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that, but if I had to guess I'd say no.

I see you have the same lenses and camera as I have , I love the Sigma 10-20 lens :ivar

dancorder

Yep, the 10-20 really gives you some interesting options

Seymore

Desmond wrote:

Yep , I understand that , I'm just asking as a side issue , "if the lens has both does the camera use both to focus faster ?" [ or does it just use one or the other ]

I don't know of any lenses that have both of these focus options. But AF-S lenses generally focus faster then AF-D lenses. Please remember a body that gives you the ability to use either, unlike the D40(x), gives you the option to use more lenses. You're not just limited to AF-S/AF-I lenses with the D50/D70/D70s/D100/D80/D200/ect..., unlike with the D40(x).

Actually like me expand on this... You can use all the other AF/MF lenses on the D40(x), but only in MF mode. And I don't know about the metering with these lenses on the body, but I suspect this may also be limited.

Desmond

Seymore wrote:

I don't know of any lenses that have both of these focus options. But AF-S lenses generally focus faster then AF-D lenses. Please remember a body that gives you the ability to use either, unlike the D40(x), gives you the option to use more lenses. You're not just limited to AF-S/AF-I lenses with the D50/D70/D70s/D100/D80/D200/ect..., unlike with the D40(x).

Actually like me expand on this... You can use all the other AF/MF lenses on the D40(x), but only in MF mode. And I don't know about the metering with these lenses on the body, but I suspect this may also be limited.

I know what you mean , that's why I'm worried about the limitations , though I would still have the D50 and D80 if I had the D40X driving one lens only . Also , after reading "the megapixel myth" I was thinking that the D40 wouldn't be too bad since it has 1/500th flash synch speed .....

Mr_Mojo

Desmond wrote:

...Also , after reading "the megapixel myth" I was thinking that the D40 wouldn't be too bad since it has 1/500th flash synch speed .....

I just recommeded the D40 over the D40x for this very reason...Do most people really NEED more than 6 megapixels? I know I don't. And she saved $200 which went towards the 55-200 VR lens.

jonh68

Get the D40 instead of the D40x. For $400-500 more, you could step up to a refurbished D200.

Desmond

I read Kenrockwell's comments and he prefers the D40 since "who needs 10 megapixels anyway" and it gives a cleaner image at iso 200.

ziggy53

Isn't the Nikon D80 a bit of a step up from the D40X? I guess I don't see the attraction of the newer camera.

Desmond

ziggy53 wrote:

Isn't the Nikon D80 a bit of a step up from the D40X? I guess I don't see the attraction of the newer camera.

The D80 is a better camera and one that I already have . If I can get another body just to leave my 10-20mm lens on like the D40 there is not much need to get another D80 . The comparison was actually between the D40 and D40X and the arguement was that the D40X [ and D80] have iso 100 because they need it to get images as clean as a 6 meg iso200 for some or other physical reason .
My thoughts are about getting another body that wll do the job of decreasing lens changes with the new 70-200VR

ziggy53

Desmond wrote:

The D80 is a better camera and one that I already have . If I can get another body just to leave my 10-20mm lens on like the D40 there is not much need to get another D80 . The comparison was actually between the D40 and D40X and the arguement was that the D40X [ and D80] have iso 100 because they need it to get images as clean as a 6 meg iso200 for some or other physical reason .
My thoughts are about getting another body that wll do the job of decreasing lens changes with the new 70-200VR

Wouldn't you loose autofocus using the D40/D40X with your Tamron 28-75 di 2.8 , Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 , Nikon 50mm 1.8 , Tamron 17-50 f2.8 lenses? If anything, the D50 is still more versatile overall at a pretty low price point. (Used)

Mitchell

ziggy53 wrote:

Wouldn't you loose autofocus using the D40/D40X with your Tamron 28-75 di 2.8 , Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 , Nikon 50mm 1.8 , Tamron 17-50 f2.8 lenses? If anything, the D50 is still more versatile overall at a pretty low price point. (Used)

I have to agree here. Think of your second body not just as a holder for your wide angle lens, but as a backup body for ALL of your gear. Make sure everything you have will be compatible and interchangeable.

I would push for another D80 so that you can comfortably swing between bodies without having to think much about it. The D50 as a backup would at least allow all of your lenses to work on both bodies.

Desmond

Mitchell wrote:

I have to agree here. Think of your second body not just as a holder for your wide angle lens, but as a backup body for ALL of your gear. Make sure everything you have will be compatible and interchangeable.

I would push for another D80 so that you can comfortably swing between bodies without having to think much about it. The D50 as a backup would at least allow all of your lenses to work on both bodies.

I know , that's the one thing that bothers me about the D40 . Though all my other lenses [except the 50mm ] are either "IF" or "HSM" which I think means they will work with it .... It's crazy but on the internet here in NZ a D80 body costs about 20% more than a D40x kit . In NZ$ , D40 =885 , D40X = 1100 , D80 body 1225 .

ziggy53

Desmond wrote:

I know , that's the one thing that bothers me about the D40 . Though all my other lenses [except the 50mm ] are either "IF" or "HSM" which I think means they will work with it .... It's crazy but on the internet here in NZ a D80 body costs about 20% more than a D40x kit . In NZ$ , D40 =885 , D40X = 1100 , D80 body 1225 .

Desmond,

I found the following links to manufacturer compatibility lists, and your Sigma lens is OK for the D40/D40X.

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/news/news.asp?nID=3324

It does not appear that the Tamron lenses have an internal motor, so they are not autofocus compatible with the D40/D40X.

http://www.tamron.co.jp/en/news/release_2007/0213.html

I couldn't find any official notice from Tokina, but it appears that they lack autofocus compatibility as well. (Included for completeness, not because you have one.)

Desmond

ziggy53 wrote:

Desmond,

I found the following links to manufacturer compatibility lists, and your Sigma lens is OK for the D40/D40X.

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/news/news.asp?nID=3324

It does not appear that the Tamron lenses have an internal motor, so they are not autofocus compatible with the D40/D40X.

http://www.tamron.co.jp/en/news/release_2007/0213.html

I couldn't find any official notice from Tokina, but it appears that they lack autofocus compatibility as well. (Included for completeness, not because you have one.)

Thanks for taking the time to find those links , I'm just wondering about the term "IF" on the lens specs whether that means "internal focus ": by motor or simply by the mechanical drive instead of manual focus .

ziggy53

Desmond wrote:

Thanks for taking the time to find those links , I'm just wondering about the term "IF" on the lens specs whether that means "internal focus ": by motor or simply by the mechanical drive instead of manual focus .

Internal Focus (IF) is simply a way to describe a lens which does not extend in length as it changes focus. It has nothing to do with where the focus drive comes from.

The Nikon designation "ED-IF" apparently "is" an autofocusing lens type, with the motor sometimes internal to the lens (especially if the lens also bears the "SWM" designation), and that may be some cause for confusion.

If you look at the rear of the lens and it has the mechanical autofocus coupling (commonly called the "screw-drive"), then it must be used on a body with the autofocus drive pin to achieve autofocus.

Desmond

ziggy53 wrote:

Internal Focus (IF) is simply a way to describe a lens which does not extend in length as it changes focus. It has nothing to do with where the focus drive comes from.

The Nikon designation "ED-IF" apparently "is" an autofocusing lens type, with the motor sometimes internal to the lens (especially if the lens also bears the "SWM" designation), and that may be some cause for confusion.

If you look at the rear of the lens and it has the mechanical autofocus coupling (commonly called the "screw-drive"), then it must be used on a body with the autofocus drive pin to achieve autofocus.

Hmmmm , and this camera is supposed to replace the D50 then ? What were Nikon thinking ? I don't think I want to invest in something so restrictive ....