Nikon D40X Newbie

M

Mattbot2

Messages
8
Name
Matt
Edit My Images
Yes
Hello,

Just got a D40X off eBay, is working great!

Didn't ask the seller how many actuations it's had and just checked and it's at 21k, is this good or bad or what, I've no idea.

I've just come to the SLR world from my Fuji S5800, so the Nikon menu's are all a bit confusing for me, and the online Nikon manual seems dumbed down as it's missing pages from the proper manual (which the camera didn't come with), is there anywhere that has a good guide about it?

Lastly, my dad just today gave me his Cobra Auto 150 flashgun which is many years old, fired it a few times for some pictures and it was great! Much better than the built in flash. Then it stopped firing, changed batteries, still won't fire, no lights come up on it and I can't hear it prepare to fire either, has it just died or is there something I can do?

Many thanks for all that,

Matt
 
Mattbot2 said:
Are you winding me up or am I ignorant?
Click to expand...

The latter ;)

A lot of old flashguns put out a trigger voltage of 200-300 volts, anything over 12 volts can kill a Nikon dslr...

EDIT: You should be ok though, had a check and the Cobra Auto 150 has a trigger voltage of under 5 volts, but for future reference you should never put an old flashgun on a modern camera without finding out the trigger voltage first :nono:
 
Last edited:
dont use flash units other than those approved in the manual

or sold buy FITP specifically for the D40....;)

ok - maybe it's a marketing ploy - better safe than sorry etc

I got a Nikon SB400 flash and then a TTL "Off-Camera-Cord from FITP - excellent


I had a D40 .....:thumbs: - but the Nikon Manual was Rubbish
get David Busch "Nikon D40/40X" from Amazon
 
Last edited:
Flash In The Pan said:
The latter ;)

A lot of old flashguns put out a trigger voltage of 200-300 volts, anything over 12 volts can kill a Nikon dslr...

EDIT: You should be ok though, had a check and the Cobra Auto 150 has a trigger voltage of under 5 volts, but for future reference you should never put an old flashgun on a modern camera without finding out the trigger voltage first :nono:
Click to expand...

Christ! That was lucky! So it's okay then? Why has it stopped working though?
 
neither

as you will, within a year, you will think about trading up ..D5000 or D90

you have the camera now - so too late to worry IMO...just enjoy and learn
 
Yardbent said:
neither

as you will, within a year, you will think about trading up ..D5000 or D90

you have the camera now - so too late to worry IMO...just enjoy and learn
Click to expand...

Like the attitude. Will do.

Anyone got any hope for my flashgun?
 
not looking good if you have tried new batteries.

dont worry about the actuations just enjoy the camera, how much did you pay for the camera? what did you get with it? one tip for the future is look around these forums before trying or buying, you could have got a spank new D40x body for £190 and picked up a kit lens for £60 odd and you could save potential damage to your camera. if in doubt, ask :thumbs:

enjoy snapping.
 
Paid £250 so yeah I could have done that. Ach well, can't do anything about it now. Didn't really get a lot with it, is just in really good condition, boxed with everything.

It's the first time it's been used in about 20 years. Must've fired about 5 times and then it just stopped!

Edit: I've manipulated this image so you can see it better, but it was just a black screen I took a photo of, does this look like a dusty sensor to you? http://wimg.co.uk/9Un.png - Beware the 7mb file.
 
Last edited:
Have just today received my 99p remote from eBay along with a £2.50 UV filter (really just to protect the lens). Remote works great for 99p! UV filter is... filtering too.
 
My tip for Nikon cameras is that for most things you don't need to use the menu button. With the main dial set to one of the semi manual modes, ie s,a,m press the buttom button LHS and use the multi selector to step up and down the items on the LCD. You can then enter the selected function by pressing OK.

My other tip is that when you want to get back to the default settings press and hold down the two buttons marked with green spots.

As a general setup for fast use I set the ISO to auto with a min shutter speed of 125 and put white balance on the FN button
 
It's a good camera to start with - I started with the same model a couple of years ago. If you 'get into it' you'll soon be upgrading ;) (I went from the D40x to a D200 to a D300)

20,000 clicks isn't too bad. I think the D40x's shutter is rated for 100,000 so it's only lived a fifth of its expectancy :D
 
Mattbot2 said:
Edit: I've manipulated this image so you can see it better, but it was just a black screen I took a photo of, does this look like a dusty sensor to you? http://wimg.co.uk/9Un.png - Beware the 7mb file.
Click to expand...

I am no expert on this but they look like 'hot pixels', has the D40x got a pixel mapping function? if yes then run that and it should solve it.

hopefully someone will be along to give a definitive answer.
 
strumstrum said:
I am no expert on this but they look like 'hot pixels', has the D40x got a pixel mapping function? if yes then run that and it should solve it.

hopefully someone will be along to give a definitive answer.
Click to expand...

Looks like hot pixels to me too i'm afraid.
 
oldnick said:
My tip for Nikon cameras is that for most things you don't need to use the menu button. With the main dial set to one of the semi manual modes, ie s,a,m press the buttom button LHS and use the multi selector to step up and down the items on the LCD. You can then enter the selected function by pressing OK.

My other tip is that when you want to get back to the default settings press and hold down the two buttons marked with green spots.

As a general setup for fast use I set the ISO to auto with a min shutter speed of 125 and put white balance on the FN button
Click to expand...

That's a good tip although if you shoot raw then swap round ISO and WB - I went with auto WB (knowing I can change it in raw) and ISO on Fn button.
 
strumstrum said:
I am no expert on this but they look like 'hot pixels', has the D40x got a pixel mapping function? if yes then run that and it should solve it.

hopefully someone will be along to give a definitive answer.
Click to expand...

I don't think they do (pretty sure my D40 didn't anyway).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top