Stepping up from a D40x

tburfield · 15-10-2009, 9:25 PM

Hi,

I bought my Nikon D40x last year. Have loved the camera, and recently bought a 18-200mm VR lens for it. I now think that the D40x is a little too "lightweight" for a bigger lens, so am looking to sell this, and move up.

The question is, what is the next logical camera for me? I love the Nikon, and will prob stay with that manufacturer. Beyond that I'm not sure what to go with...will be buying second hand.

Option 1 would be to sell just the D40x and kit lens (18-55mm) and buy another body to use with my 18-200mm AF-S VR lens.

Option 2 would be to sell all of my current kit, and upgrade to a body that has an autofocus motor in the body, therefore making future lens purchases cheaper.

Anyone have any ideas to help me out?

**senu** · 15-10-2009, 9:27 PM

Get a D90..

Do yourself a favour and give the D60 or its successor a miss
The next one up is a D300, that is a very substantial camera
I suspect the D90 will keep you more than happy if you wish to go no further
Niether has the D40/40x jpeg engine though and you would be best of shooting RAW and then conversion to jpeg if you are not already doing so

ManAlive! · 15-10-2009, 9:42 PM

I had a D40x and changed it last year to a D200 (mint examples can be had for around £400).

Then again, if you have the money, get a D300. Hopefully I'm about to upgrade to one in the next month or two...

Sure, the D90 is an excellent camera, but when you handle a D200 / D300, well...

p1tse · 15-10-2009, 10:07 PM

i had a d40 and found its limitations
nikon upgrade was too expensive

so went for a sony, specifically a300:
10mp
live view
image stabilisation and focus motor in built
nothing touched these features with my budget i had then

but if sticking with nikon, d90 is suppose to be good or go beyond and get a d300

neilos100 · 15-10-2009, 11:54 PM

I too had a D40X and recently purchased a D5000 body for £440. It has the same sensor as the D90 and has Live View, HD Video and the same Expeed processsor too. I have a Tamron 18-270mm zoom for it and they seem to pair well. The Nikon 18-200mm you have is a great lens and there are now loads of APS-C lenses available. For me at least it was the perfect upgrade...more control and features but with the familiarity of the D40X controls.

Strobe · 16-10-2009, 6:30 AM

The D300 is in the 'pro / semi-pro' category for Nikon and is probably more camera than you may want or need, only you can answer that. It is also much more expensive. 2nd hand ones currently go for around £850 body only.

The D90 or the D5000 would be the natural upgrade path. Personally speaking, if you can stump up the tad extra for the D90 it would be the one to go for (unless you want the swivel lcd display). Better pentaprism viewfinder, twin command dials, top plate screen, higher resolution main screen, etc are worthy upgrades. Image-quality wise they are virtually identical having the same sensor/processor.

steadyeddy · 16-10-2009, 6:42 AM

I'll second the D90 option - but don't sell your D40x. I did and ended up buying one "back" off ebay.

The main reason I went for D90 was in body focus motor but there are many other plusses such as top LCD and two adjustment dial wheels.

However, the 40/40x are little gems and for jpg work and compactness are hard to beat! - they are also becoming scarce!

dazza74 · 16-10-2009, 7:09 AM

As you are happy to buy 2nd hand, it would be a D300 for me based on what you mentionined. It balances my 70-300mm VR lens very well and those weigh a bit.

It's not just the step up in body, your gaining a more sophisticated 51 point autofocus system, more camera functionality on the body. I can't compare having not handled a D90, but know the D300 is quite a step up from the D80 I had.