there is one exception. if you own the nikon d40 or d60 please read up to understand the limitations of the camera. (and if you're in the market, please don't buy it.... and please, correct me if i'm wrong.. this has been my experience)
you see, nikon thought they'd be so clever to introduce a cheaper consumer dslr that is light and small. but here's the catch: it only accepts a certain line of nikon lenses that will auto focus -the rest, won't auto focus with this camera so you end up spending moolah on lenses that you shouldn't be buying.
sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but i have a least one frustrated student in each class with this camera and thought you should be warned.
whenever buying cameras, be sure to do plenty of research -including reading reviews and spec information.
unfortunately, i don't know much about Nikon models (except to teach students where certain buttons are) but if you'd like to know what i do recommend, please click here.
Do you know if that pertains to the D40 as well?
ReplyDeletei just looked up the specs and it looks like it's the same issue.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious as to what camera and lenses you would recommend, because I am looking. I would like to take your class in the future and want to know what equipment would be good.
ReplyDeletemy recommendations:
ReplyDeletehttp://nicolehill.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-camera-bag.html
I don't mean to be rude, but what's so wrong with learning how to manually focus your lens? I like my D40.
ReplyDeletehappy you posted this! I have been debating on Nikon or Canon! good to know all I can about cameras before I make a purchase!
ReplyDeleteI have the D40, and while I was mildly annoyed the first time I attached a lens that wouldn't autofocus (thankfully, it was rented), I quickly adapted to focusing manually and now that's all I do unless I'm just feeling lazy and am using the camera to take a quick snapshot of something.
ReplyDeleteI've become so used to manual focus that now I feel it gives me extra creative wiggle room when composing shots. That being said, I can see what an unpleasant surprise it would be to find this out for the first time in a class. It is good for potential buyers to know of the camera's limitations before purchase. (The camera does have a focus confirmation indicator in the viewfinder that helps when focusing manually.)
I rent most of my lenses now anyway, and I've held off on purchasing any new ones so I work more on technique and don't fall into the trap of "buying fancy toys will make me a better photographer".
In all, for the price and the quality of the photos I get, I'm quite happy with the D40 as a beginner camera.
jessica,
ReplyDeleteit's just a HUGE limitation -especially for beginners. I don't even recommend tackling that until the manual function understanding is in place. I only auto focus about 20% of my shoots, but there are certain things you really need auto for like action shots where you don't have control for do-overs because you didn't manually focus it right the first time.
It's just not a smart idea for a beginner.
N
Thank you for the tip! That narrowed down my choices! I'm glad you share your experience and knowledge! I was leaning towards a Canon. They are making a version for Walmart and Target. Not sure if it's got kinks. Do you know?
ReplyDeleteRachel
Pricegrabber.com is a good place to compare cameras specs and prices.
ReplyDeleteI am confused about something. I looked at the blog post from a year ago that you linked to in this post, the "My Camera Bag" post. Someone asked you in the comments if given the choice do you choose auto or manual focus, you responded:
ReplyDelete"you always have to choose. I choose based on my subject.. i mostly shoot on auto unless i'm working with action."
And that might contradict what you just told Jessica, unless you were meaning that only beginners need auto for action shots.... I'm confusing myself haha. Anyway I wanted to point it out to you, cause that could confuse people looking between the two blog posts, like it did me.
it says i shoot auto unless with action? i'll have to change that because it should read "i shoot manual unless with action"
ReplyDeleteIs it only the d40 and d60? I have the D80 and haven't noticed anything, but I only have the kit lens' and a 50mm/1.8 I haven't purchased any really expensive lenses yet.
ReplyDeletewah. thanks for the heads up.
ReplyDeletenot sure all the models that are like this, but look into the specs --scroll down to the lens section to see what lenses they support.
ReplyDeleteI have a Nikon D60 and my favorite lens is the 50mm f/1.8 which doesn't autofocus with that camera yet I don't really get frustrated, though I'd love to get a body which would autofocus that lens as I sometimes find that very helpful...specially when I can't manage to focus correctly...
ReplyDeletei have a d70...but have never tried other lens...do you know if it is the same problem. My husband uses a D200
ReplyDeleteThe d70 does NOT have the problem. I'm a Nikon user & love both cameras I have owned, but I agree - it's good to know what you are buying. For some people, the surprise of having to manually focus after buying a new lens is a disappointment.
ReplyDeleteAs a Nikon user myself, I have become increasingly frustrated to see this. I have not owned a camera that has had this problem (D50 & D300 both have auto focus motors in the body), but have had several friends who were in the market to buy a camera and they either purchased one of the above models or were just about to purchase one and later were wanting to pull their hair out in frustration once they wanted to upgrade their lens, only to find out that the one that would work in auto focus was 4 times more money. When you can upgrade to a 50mm f/1.8 lens for $100 on another camera body, but have to spend roughly $450 for the f/1.4 instead just to get the auto focus out of it on one of these, it really REALLY doesn't make the camera worth it. For a beginner (and even for a a lot of non-beginners), the extra .4 aperture isn't going to make a big enough difference to make it worth it--but yet the auto focus aspect is very very important (I'd have to agree with you there, so very important!). So, thanks for putting this post out here. I have had many friends who were considering buying Nikon, but went with a Canon instead just because of this. And I love my Nikons to pieces, but have been frustrated to see them take things in this direction. It is something that is often overlooked when someone is buying their first camera and they only find out about it later when they want to start learning about photography a little more.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think it's worth noting in your post that this is also the case with Nikon's newest models, the D3000 and the D5000. They essentially replaced the D40 & D60 on the shelves this last fall with the D3000 & D5000, so you will run into the same problem with these as well (and unfortunately I've got friends who own them and are now looking at upgrading lenses...sigh).
Thanks for the post, though! I plan on directing my friends here since I get a lot of camera questions and this is exactly what I tell all of them.
i have a nikon d60 with the 35mm prime lens made for it ($200) and love it. it does automatically focus and i use it all of the time. the d60 was my first dslr and is light and intuitive. it is good to thoroughly research camera buys though, but it can be so technical (overwhelming), especially for us beginners.
ReplyDeleteCanon is the way (as far as DSLRs go).
ReplyDeleteAaaaaamen. I wish I would have known this before buying my D60. Welp, all I can do is wear it out and buy something better next time. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for posting this! I received my D40 as a gift. Since then, I've begun working as a photographer at my college and using Canon equipment (1D2 and 40D). As I'm learning more about photography, the lens limitations with my Nikon is becoming very frustrating. I agree...seriously reconsider the purchase of a Nikon entry-level DSLR!
ReplyDeleteJust a voice from the other side...
ReplyDeleteI have the Nikon D90 and dearly love it.
That said, a LOT of research and comparison shopping went into this camera body. I just felt that the comparable Canon model at the time (Rebel xti) didn't quite offer the flexibility of the Nikon. Our family specifically avoided the D40 and D60 because of the issues Nicole addressed. Remember, folks...do your homework prior to a purchase this big.
I couldn't agree more. I got the D40 purely for price to begin with. I hadn't had it even 8 months before I was placing my order for a Nikon D300. I love my D300, but I have found a place in my photography life. I use it as my small camera for quick trips here and there, never for portraits or anything, but for when I want to be able to shoot in manual and get better shots than a point and shoot..but don't want to carry around my real bulky camera.
ReplyDeleteI have a nikon D40 x. i'm not even sure what the X stands for. does it fall in the same category of dud cameras? I sure hope not....
ReplyDeleteI wish someone had told me before I bought my D60. It was very frustrating to discover that I couldn't upgrade lenses, but it seems it was for the best. Now I am glad that I didn't invest a lot in Nikon because I am planning on switching to Canon very soon. I just need to save up a few more pennies first!
ReplyDeleteOh and to anyone who was wondering, the Nikon cameras without auto focus are the D40, D40x (which was the original D60), D2000 (replacing the D40), and the D5000 (replacing the D60).
Yep, yep, happened to me. I even bought a lens without knowing it wasn't auto focus. After that, I sold the lens, the camera (D40), and bought myself a canon. And as a beginner, auto focus is much too much to add to what your already trying master.
ReplyDeleteNicole,
ReplyDeleteI'm in between a Canon 50D and the 7D. Which do you recommend?
thais,
ReplyDeletei'm sorry! i haven't done much research of those two.
N
I'd hardly call the D40 a dud! Ken Rockwell has always had glowing recommendations and while I chose a D50 over the D40 (I bought mine the week the 40 came out) I still think the D40 is a great camera for a lot of people. But like everyone else said, just double check before you buy.
ReplyDeleteThe D40 is definitely a consumer camera. It was nice to get started with, but once I was ready to move on, I was super frustrated to realize a new 50mm lens for the D40 that's usually $150 for other Nikon cameras would cost equal or more than getting a whole new camera. Kind of ridiculous. I updated to a D90 though and I love it!
ReplyDeleteYep! I made that mistake. Even though I loved my D40x I drove myself crazy trying to manually autofocus with certain lenses.
ReplyDeleteI upgraged to the D300s and have been in HEAVEN ever since. Even for non-beginners your advice is solid. I save so much time avoid so much frustration being able to autofocus/