D40x or D60 for first DSLR

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Hey,
Just looking for a bit of advice really, i am looking for my first DSLR so that i can get into photography as a hobby more seriously. I have used a DSLR before and have used the D60 before.

What i would like to know is as a first time buyer of a DSLR would the D60 be worth the extra cost , having looked at a comparison i am swaying to the D40x as i see no real big improvement to make me pay the extra for the D60. The only thing i see is the D60 had a VR lens but in the future i am going to upgrade the lens and buy more lenses.

Before anybody says go cannon i am currently doing a photography course and they use all nikon gear there so would like to stick with nikon as then i would be able to use some of there lenses and well as the flash commander for studio photography.

Thanks in advance
Roastchips
 
I can't speak for the D60. I had the D40x and it was an excellent camera for the money. That said, I've heard plenty of good stuff about the D60 too. It probably comes down to the difference in price, whether you want new or used, and what the difference could get you.

If you can stretch to £500-£550, a used D90 would open up more lens options and is a very good camera.

P.S welcome to the forum :)
 
hi

I bought a D40 and now find my choice of lens is limited

whatever model you choose, get one with in-camera focus motor - your range of available lens is far greater
 
roastchips said:
Hey,
Just looking for a bit of advice really, i am looking for my first DSLR so that i can get into photography as a hobby more seriously. I have used a DSLR before and have used the D60 before.

What i would like to know is as a first time buyer of a DSLR would the D60 be worth the extra cost , having looked at a comparison i am swaying to the D40x as i see no real big improvement to make me pay the extra for the D60. The only thing i see is the D60 had a VR lens but in the future i am going to upgrade the lens and buy more lenses.

Before anybody says go cannon i am currently doing a photography course and they use all nikon gear there so would like to stick with nikon as then i would be able to use some of there lenses and well as the flash commander for studio photography.

Thanks in advance
Roastchips
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:welcome: to TP :wave:


Both the D40x and D60 have been discontinued, any left in the shops (particularly the D40x) will be old stock and so should be priced accordingly.

Unfortunately these entry-level Nikon models don't come with a built-in motor for the auto focus, so you're limited to either lenses that have a motor in them, or focussing manually.

It might be worth considering a D90 if your budget will stretch to it, or perhaps a secondhand D80 or D200 (both around the same price as a new D60) as an alternative.
 
Defiance said:
I can't speak for the D60. I had the D40x and it was an excellent camera for the money. That said, I've heard plenty of good stuff about the D60 too. It probably comes down to the difference in price, whether you want new or used, and what the difference could get you.

If you can stretch to £500-£550, a used D90 would open up more lens options and is a very good camera.

P.S welcome to the forum :)
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice on the D40x great to hear what people who have used it think. I would love to get a D90 having used them on the course i am doing but sadly cant stretch my budget that far :(

Thanks for the welcome as well.


Yardbent said:
hi

I bought a D40 and now find my choice of lens is limited

whatever model you choose, get one with in-camera focus motor - your range of available lens is far greater
Click to expand...

Thanks for this, is your lens choice heavily limited or is it not to bad ? Do most lenses now require the camera to have a motor and not be built into the lens ?



Flash In The Pan said:
:welcome: to TP :wave:


Both the D40x and D60 have been discontinued, any left in the shops (particularly the D40x) will be old stock and so should be priced accordingly.

Unfortunately these entry-level Nikon models don't come with a built-in motor for the auto focus, so you're limited to either lenses that have a motor in them, or focussing manually.

It might be worth considering a D90 if your budget will stretch to it, or perhaps a secondhand D80 or D200 (both around the same price as a new D60) as an alternative.
Click to expand...

Ye i am aware that they have both been discontinued and this is mainly why i am asking the question on what to get. Both of these seem a great starter camera but now after what has been said i am not to sure.
 
Sorry for double post but after looking around ebay the D3000 is actually cheaper than i thought and so actually goes into my budget nicely. I think i am going to go with the D3000.

Anyone have any advice on if this is the right thing to do ? Looking at it now this seems my best route.
 
Don't underestimate the lack of a motor in the body, I bought a D60 as my first DSLR confident one, maybe two lenses would be all I'd ever need. Six months and six lenses later I had to upgrade as I needed the motor and was severely limited with the D60.
 
Dman said:
Don't underestimate the lack of a motor in the body, I bought a D60 as my first DSLR confident one, maybe two lenses would be all I'd ever need. Six months and six lenses later I had to upgrade as I needed the motor and was severely limited with the D60.
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:plusone: I made the same mistake when I bought my D40x and upgraded less than a year later. It is a false economy and will cost you more in the long run, because you will upgrade. If your budget is restricted, try looking for a 2nd hand D80 or even D200 - it'll pay off both in cost and performance.
 
roastchips said:
Ye i am aware that they have both been discontinued and this is mainly why i am asking the question on what to get. Both of these seem a great starter camera but now after what has been said i am not to sure.
Click to expand...

I'd also suggest considering a D40 as it has higher flash sync speed (1/500 v 1/200) than either the D40x or D60
 
I think ive near enough decided i will be going with D3000, this is mainly because for a few £ more i can get a camera with built in focus motor as well as having a 12 month warranty on the camera.

Unless anyone can drastically change my mind in why i should not go for the D3000 and instead go with the D40x or the D60 then i think i will be going with D3000.
 
the d3000 doesnt, in all honesty your better going for a used d70/80/200. The 60s software gets annoying after a while and gets in the way, as well as the lack of an inbuilt motor.
 
roastchips said:
I think ive near enough decided i will be going with D3000, this is mainly because for a few £ more i can get a camera with built in focus motor as well as having a 12 month warranty on the camera.
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Unless i'm mistaken, the D3000 does not have a built in focus motor.
 
Joe T said:
I dont think the D3000 has a focus motor either...
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Frenzied Dwarf said:
the d3000 doesnt, in all honesty your better going for a used d70/80/200. The 60s software gets annoying after a while and gets in the way, as well as the lack of an inbuilt motor.
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Defiance said:
Unless i'm mistaken, the D3000 does not have a built in focus motor.
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Ahhh i donno were i have dreamt this up from then, i was under the impression it did.
 
You might have been getting mixed up with the Pro D300s/D300, which do have the inbuilt motor, and if misread look the same - apart from the few hundred extra £s!
 
lawrenceots said:
You might have been getting mixed up with the Pro D300s/D300, which do have the inbuilt motor, and if misread look the same - apart from the few hundred extra £s!
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Ye, i could have indeed done that. After seeing this now with the d3000 i am seriously thinking about going cannon and going with a 450D. This is because i feel i would get more bang for my buck.

Granted i wouldn't be able to use any of my courses lenses ect but at least for when i finish the course i would have a camera that i feel i can progress with even more because of having a wider selection of lenses i could use.
 
Personally, I've got a d60 and as mentioned the lack of built in motor is a pain. However, if I had to start out now knowing everything I know now I would definitely of gone for a second hand body. Have a look at some of the ones suggested in here, browse for a shop offering a warrenty on a refurb'd model maybe.
Id much rather have got myself a d200 instead of the d60, but, you live and learn :)
 
Might I suggest you go for second hand? There can be some real steals about - gone one myself recently. Not to long ago, I got a mint D40x for £120 which my great uncle loves. Plus, you would get more bang for your buck and, so long as the items not overpriced to start with, loose very little if anything, when the inevitable upgrade time comes.
 
lawrenceots said:
Might I suggest you go for second hand? There can be some real steals about - gone one myself recently. Not to long ago, I got a mint D40x for £120 which my great uncle loves. Plus, you would get more bang for your buck and, so long as the items not overpriced to start with, loose very little if anything, when the inevitable upgrade time comes.
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Got any good places that sells 2nd hand cameras ? I have looked on ebay but with so many people now on ebay its quite rare now to find a real bargain. I will however keep my eyes open though.
 
classifieds on here are always a good place, london camera exchange are the ones I tend to use. Sometimes there are good deals with ebay, but I hate the place tbf! Place a wanted on here, I would've thought you'd get a good few replies. Not the right place, but I might be selling my D70s/18-55 later on, will let you know if I do. :) I know it doesn't have the built in motor, but there is a D40X on here... http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=183623I'm only suggesting it as its a fair deal, new I wouldn't consider it. Depending on your subject matter...the excellent Nikkor 18-55 ED AF-S and/or 55-200 are pretty good deal. If i'm correct, they can both be found for around £80 ish on ebay new.
 
""Thanks for this, is your lens choice heavily limited or is it not to bad ""

depends what you want...

I bought....
re-furbished by Nikon D40 with kit 18-55mm GII AF-S - a cracking lens.. £230
then a 55-200 G AF-S VR £130
then a 35mm 1.8 AF-S £120

so there's a full kit [for me anyway] at £480

you could choose a 70-300 instead of the 200 for about £70 more

all these lens will fit the D90 later !!.................:thumbs:
 
just seen the above post
body + 18-55 + 70-300 VR .....then maybe a 35 or 50 prime would be a good start IMO
 
lawrenceots said:
classifieds on here are always a good place, london camera exchange are the ones I tend to use. Sometimes there are good deals with ebay, but I hate the place tbf! Place a wanted on here, I would've thought you'd get a good few replies. Not the right place, but I might be selling my D70s/18-55 later on, will let you know if I do. :) I know it doesn't have the built in motor, but there is a D40X on here... http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=183623I'm only suggesting it as its a fair deal, new I wouldn't consider it. Depending on your subject matter...the excellent Nikkor 18-55 ED AF-S and/or 55-200 are pretty good deal. If i'm correct, they can both be found for around £80 ish on ebay new.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this, will keep a eye on the classifieds round here. Not just quite ready to part with the money just yet but if that camera is still around when i want to at that price i may consider it.
 
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