D40 vs D3000

htid

htid

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Chris
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Hi all,

My girlfriend and I are heading off to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa in November and as she's always been interested in photography, but has always had a compact, I thought I'd get her a 2nd hand dlsr for her birthday for use when we go (and of course afterwards too, when we'll most likely be birding).

I've read a lot of comparisons and the main reasons people seem to suggest a d40 over the d3000 is the better high ISO quality and the cheaper price of the d40. I have a lens she can use (an 18-200 vrII) and prices for body only are about £130 for the d40 compared to £199 for the d3000. As the main reason I'm getting it is for South Africa, I think the amount of sun we'll have there will mean she'll never need to go above ISO800, so I'm thinking the d3000 would be the better choice.

The things that draw me to that are the 11 focus points, which will be very useful for SA and birding, and the fact that the body only has around 3000 clicks so it's relatively new. Also a slightly faster fps on continuous mode would be beneficial.

So with all this in mind, would you agree that the extra £70 is worth it for the d3000?

Cheers.
 
I have a D3000 at the moment as a spare body. Without wishing to make this look like a desperate sales attempt if you decide to go this direction, stick a wanted thread up as I'm sure we could come to a deal that will give you plenty of change from £200 and I really don't need it any more so would have got around to advertising it at some point.

I'd been watching the prices of D40's on ebay before I bought the D3000 and I couldn't believe how much some people were paying for them. I ended up with the D3000 which cost me barely any more than a D40 and I couldn't personally see a downside. I hadn't read the ISO thing. The D3000 isn't amazing at higher ISO's these days but then I'm guessing the D40 is no D3S either so I doubt the difference is worth worrying about. The D3000 does have a far more advanced AF system, much better resolution and probably offers better general IQ. I like the D40 and would have happily bought one but I think they're over valued at the moment. Maybe you've seen them cheaper but the ones I have seen were going for more than £150.
 
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gad-westy said:
I have a D3000 at the moment as a spare body. Without wishing to make this look like a desperate sales attempt if you decide to go this direction, stick a wanted thread up as I'm sure we could come to a deal that will give you plenty of change from £200 and I really don't need it any more so would have got around to advertising it at some point.

I'd been watching the prices of D40's on ebay before I bought the D3000 and I couldn't believe how much some people were paying for them. I ended up with the D3000 which cost me barely any more than a D40 and I couldn't personally see a downside. I hadn't read the ISO thing. The D3000 isn't amazing at higher ISO's these days but then I'm guessing the D40 is no D3S either so I doubt the difference is worth worrying about. The D3000 does have a far more advanced AF system, much better resolution and probably offers better general IQ. I like the D40 and would have happily bought one but I think they're over valued at the moment. Maybe you've seen them cheaper but the ones I have seen were going for more than £150.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a plan - I'll stick one up now!
 
htid said:
Sounds like a plan - I'll stick one up now!
Click to expand...

Maybe, see if anybody else has any opinions on the D40 as well. I don't want to sound like I've steered you towards the D3000 for my own personal gain but I do genuinely think it's the better camera if the price is similar. Maybe somebody has a bargain D40 to redress the balance! Either way, I'll look out for a wanted thread if that's the direction you want to take.
 
I might be fussier than most, but I found the D40 to be lacking in reproducing fine detail when making poster prints, the 10mp Nikon cameras I did use were much better in that respect.

If price is similar (or even slightly more) the D3000 would be my choice.
 
Looks like the D3000 uses the same sensor as the D40x. ISO at 800 is rough and soft at 1600, 3200 is just a mess.

That said the D40 AF system is basic as hell is my biggest issue with the camera.
 
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