My college age son has been bugging me to give him a camera. I want to pick-up a used starter kit for about $300, including a kit zoom, charger and battery. I have a D50 (which was my first DSLR) from seven years ago, but I want to keep that for myself. It works perfectly, and I still use it for snaps and other non-critical work. It lays around my house with a normal lens on it for grab shots. I don't mind putting it in situations where I wouldn't risk damage to my newer cameras. I use a D7000 for my important shots. Also, I have a lot of pre-AFS lenses that still work on the D50 - Nikon's newer low-end DSLR's don't AF with those.

Sooooo, I can get a D50 or a D40 kit for my budget (with the same 18-55 lens). I've never shot with the D40, but I know it has a newer sensor with more resolution, and it has a vastly superior rear LCD (which is my biggest beef with the D50). Some of the D40 kits also come with the newer VR version of the kit lens. On the other hand, the D50 can share all of my older lenses. It also has the top LCD, which I would really miss (but would he?), and has more external controls (again, is this an issue with a complete beginner?).

My son will probably use this mostly for people shots of his friends, and occassional site-seeing when he travels. He'll probably not use it much in low light without flash, or for action shots.

What do you think? Newer, better sensor and bigger/better LCD...or...backward lens compatibility and external better controls? If anybody has shot with both, I'd appreciate your feedback on whether the D40 has a significant increase in image quality over the D50.

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No-one got back to you?
I'd recommend ken rockwell as a good source for info on your dilemna.

Though you'll probably not read this...

This is why I would go with the D50. It has the ability to AF with older AF-D lens since it has a in camera AF motor vs the D40 which does not. This for a beginner helps keep costs down because you can use all kinds of older AF-D lens and have full function and auto focus. Plus my D50 just keeps going my daughter uses it now but it is a solid performer. I'm not saying the D40 is bad but I just think the D50 had more features.

Jim

PS Sorry I didnt see this post sooner.

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I will use film until the last roll and last lab are gone. Go Navy

Having used both I would go for the D50 and ignore Ken Rockwell...

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D50...not that I have anything against the D40. Mine is just a good camera.

It is a Fine and Pleasant Madness

I have a D40x that my son and his wife are now using - and they are liking it. It was relatively painless to get them acclimated to using it, and would make a good starter for your son, I think.

However, since you have a D50 and lenses that won't work with the D40 that you can loan him; I would go with the D50. You are already familiar with the D50, and can help him with advice more readily than with a D40.

Both are good cameras, in my opinion.

Hillbilly Harry - in the Missouri Ozarks.

D7000
D40X
AF-S 10-24
AF-S 18-55 VR
AF-S 55-300 VR
AF-S 50 1.4G
AF-S 35 1.8G
AF 85 1.8D
SB400
Nikon closeup attachments 0, 1, 3T, 4T

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I just bought a D40 to use as a lightweight/car/snapshot/goof-off camera. I leave an 18-55 VR on it, or my Holga lens. The drivers for my decision were price and size/weight, so I got the D40 over the D50. The D70 is also an option.

Since he is just starting out, the 18-55 and 55-200 are dirt cheap and have built in motors. You could get a D40 (or D50/D70 -- they are priced similarly) used from KEH for about $160, an 18-55 VR for $80, and a 55-200 VR for $110. That would make a great beginner's kit, and is only about $350.

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Ryan,

Sent you an email.

Rich

Late to the party which is usual for me but interestingly enough my D40 still has an important feature that makes me bring it along on daytime shoots. Unlike any of my other cameras, it can flash synch at 1/500s which makes it the bomb for balance fill flash photography. As a teaching instrument it is much more friendly than my D70 which I assume is similar to a D50. My D300 and D7000 get first and second position in my bag. The D40 will be coming out with me more while the D70 would stay home.

Go with the D40 for casual stuff. The D50 only has the advantage when you use older lenses. Realistically what are the odds that your son will be swapping lenses?

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Hi Danzil,

Both the D50 and the D70/D70s have electro mechanical shutters just like the D40 and sync at 1/500th sec.
Good Luck and Enjoy your Nikons!

Best Regards,
Marty

>Hi Danzil,
>
>Both the D50 and the D70/D70s have electro mechanical shutters
>just like the D40 and sync at 1/500th sec.
>Good Luck and Enjoy your Nikons!

Denzil or Denny . I stand corrected about the D70. What can I say, I bought the D70 right at the beginning of a very busy season. I didn't have time to really learn that camera.

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Hi Denny,

No worries.

Good Luck and Enjoy your Nikons!

Best Regards,
Marty

I would go with the D50, simply becuse it is a good reliable camera, or at least, mine is. It can use older lenses.

For a student, maybe the D40 with the (18-55 no VR) lens epoxied in place forever! And, the Program dial glued on AUTO!

Of COURSE your student is a marvelous and wonderful human being...a star among their peers...but...I always cringe when somebody wants to buy their college student a camera.

Those cameras wiil be bashed, stuffed into purses,drawers, glove boxes, gym bags with wet, dirty socks and rhyming items, ignored, put away wet, with fingerprints on the lens, and generally have the merry Aitch beaten out of them!

Surprisingly, many do survive this! But, a rugged and inexpen$ive point and shoot seems like a wiser investment...it'll cost less to replace when (not if)it is stolen. Buy a pink one...somebody would have to be really desperate to steal one of those!

Good luck to you and your student.

Carl

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