Help! Confused Nikon Owner..

martin99

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History: For many years I was a semi pro F3 user, got it for the LA Olympics if that dates me! i then moved out of photography into more lucrative employment, and also started having eye problems.
Jump forward to today: eye operations have helped my eyes and I've decided to take up my old hobby again. Issue is I got a D40 on a whim, and to see if i could still use a SLR ( my right eye is the problem one) now I find I can use a SLR but having bought a D40 my lens choice is limited.

So I guess my question is now i know I can use a camera I'm going to save up for a D300 or maybe a D3 but I want to take pictures again now, however I find the choice of D40 lenes restrictive so would it be posible to buy lens now with manual focus and use the on a d40 in anticipation for getting a d300n body in the future.?

cheers

martin
 
Simple answer is yes. You can use any Nikon lens from AI onwards, although you will have limited functionality

I use several AIS lenses on my D50 which work in manual mode only. AF lenses lose the AF but retain the exposure control.

I still have my F3, great camera - they don't make them like that any more. :smashin:
 
As a very happy D200 owner, I'd imagine that the D300 will be the camera for you. Crosschecking your other posts, I see you're into sports, so the cropped sensor sounds like the obvious choice, and you still get the pro-grade AF module, weather sealing etc. Opting for a D300 over the D3 would save enough to go for pro-grade glass from 17mm to 300mm as well :thumbsup:

As stated, all current production lenses work in some fashion on the D40, virtually all will meter, and Nikon AF-S/ Sigma HSM will autofocus

At the superwide end, the Sigma 10-20 will AF with the D40, but the Tokina 12-24 won't. Either are good (I have the Tokina).

In the mid range, all the kit zooms, and pro grade 17-55 are AFS, and Sigma have announced an upgraded version of both of their mid rangers to HSM :smashin:

At the long end, I'd look at the Nikon 70-300VR, 70-200 f2.8VR, or 300 f4. The latter two also work well with x1.4 and x2 teleconverters apparently.


Manual focus for macros isn't such a big deal, and if you want to save some cash, the Tamron 90mm is a good option (though I love my Nikon 105VR AF-S!)

Nikon are being very slack when it comes to upgrading primes to AFS, so the 35f2, 50 f1.4/1.8, 85 f1.4/1.8 etc would all be manual for you.
 
I guess what I'm really like to know then is are there any "bargain" zoom lens somewhere between 50 and 500 ( 70-300) for instance that will autofocus on a d300 but not a D40.

I was going to get the Nikon VR70-300 AFS this week, but i assume I'll be paying extra for an internal focusing motor I wont use when I upgrade the body?
 
I guess what I'm really like to know then is are there any "bargain" zoom lens somewhere between 50 and 500 ( 70-300) for instance that will autofocus on a d300 but not a D40.

I was going to get the Nikon VR70-300 AFS this week, but i assume I'll be paying extra for an internal focusing motor I wont use when I upgrade the body?

I think everyone will agree that the best bargain zoom is the Sigma 70-300 APO. (make sure it is the APO version). It is by all accounts the equivalent of the Nikon 70-300VR optically, but is lacking a focus motor and (more importantly), VR (vibration reduction or anti shake). I would still get the Nikon for the VR if you can afford it. The focussing will be faster and quieter as well.

Mike
 
I guess what I'm really like to know then is are there any "bargain" zoom lens somewhere between 50 and 500 ( 70-300) for instance that will autofocus on a d300 but not a D40.

I was going to get the Nikon VR70-300 AFS this week, but i assume I'll be paying extra for an internal focusing motor I wont use when I upgrade the body?

Yes, you will use the lens motor on a D300, as the AFS/HSM lens motors are far faster (and quieter) than the body-based screw drive.

The very popular Sigma 70-300 APO DG Macro doesn't AF on the D40, but the Sigma 50-500 (known as the Bigma!) looks like it will, as it's HSM. The Bigma is a popular choice for a wildlife lens, and the Sigma is used by about half this forum I think!

The Nikon 70-300VR is actually extremely good value. The premium over the Sigma 70-300 is mostly for the vibration reduction. The only downside is that for a sports shooter, it's pretty slow, so ultimately, if you're throwing around D300 kind of money, the 70-200mm f2.8 VR or 300mm f4 have clear advantages
 

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