After much wasting of money settled on the basic Nikon DSLR. A D40!
And a basic piece of glass, in fact the only DX lense in the stable.

Now the full frame sensor Nikon appears.

Have seen the comments bounce about
the longer reach of a lense when used
with the DX sensor.

Given the C$3300.00 price should we as
consumers perhaps expect a lesser price, less full featured
model of FX in the future?

I did try D200's, D100's, a D80 and a D50 before settling on
the D40. It was I suspect a case of mis-guided judgment on
my part, figuring the more featured gear would help my photography.
It didn't and the D40 is just fine, and too quite light in weight.

I call it "my point and shoot DSLR with interchangeable lenses"!

My photography has lessened, my enjoyment is more because I am no
longer competing against myself.

Photography should be pleasure for one's self.
however such pleasure no longer exists
hence all kit has now been sold.

There's no reason why a less expensive full-frame DSLR couldn't be offered, and yet when I have previously suggested that, some people go postal, as if it should only ever be the exclusive domain of the more expensive line of cameras. That's not reasoning; it's pure emotions.

Something along the lines of a slightly larger D90 but with full frame sensor would be very practical for many. Not everyone, but I would have considered it.

Don't get me wrong. I'm quite happy with my D700, but I would have considered a less expensive model if one had been available.

I would suspect that things would be one of two ways.

Either, Nikon or Canon will either do away with crop sensor's entirely... I am not too sure that this would happen because it is much cheaper to make these sensors and it is something that sports shooters and wildlife shooters don't mind having since it perceivably increases how far their zooms can go.

or

they will continue to have the "full frame senor" be the line that needs to be crossed in-between the novice and the pro cameras.

There is a market for all three. The novice cameras are for those who want to start photography as a hobby and want more control over their camera than a point and shoot. There are then the serious amateurs who shoot for fun and have a website and maybe even sell a few images here and there. Depending on how deep their wallets are, they could get anything in the range of cameras, from cheap to mid range to pro bodies. Finally, there are the pros who make a living with photography. They are looking for equipment that is rugged, durable, reliable and with added bells and whistles to make their life easier.

So there is a demand for these three different camera models.

-----------------------------------
Photography Workshops: www.inlightinworkshop.com

My Photography: www.ParamourPhoto.com
My Blog: www.ParamourPhoto.net

The D40 is a great camera, we use our D70s much in the same way you use the D40.

I suspect the full frame entry level camera is still far in the future; not restricted by a set of technical requirements but marketing needs instead. DSLR marketing tradition has it that major changes are introduced into high end models and then trickle down. The trickle down of the FX sensor to the D700 happened rather quickly and Thom Hogan's review of the D700 on www.byThom.com cites some of the reasons. The underlying CMOS technology of Nikon's FX is now available in the D300 and D90. The D90 now has a sensor that likely surpasses the quality of the one I have in my D200 (although I haven't been following the D90 closely).

So stuff is happening. I think one of the barriers that will face Nikon and consumers on a minimally featured FX cameras is lens choice. FX strengths are in the wide and ultra wide angle coverage game. Finding a lens with FX coverage, in the Nikon line that could be priced as a companion to this lineup might be a big hold back.

Best Regards,

Roger
It is still ISO, aperture and shutter speed, right?

>The D40 is a great camera, we use our D70s much in the same
>way you use the D40.
>
>I suspect the full frame entry level camera is still far in
>the future; not restricted by a set of technical requirements
>but marketing needs instead.
>
>So stuff is happening. I think one of the barriers that will
>face Nikon and consumers on a minimally featured FX cameras is
>lens choice.

Maybe.

Suspect over time, the D40 will be sufficient for my needs. However should it die, and the full frame digital is still out there albeit at a
lesser price than currently (actually a whole lot less say C$500.00)
The I would seriously look at such a camera.

I am still firmly in the film camp (three rolls of K64 arrived today from Dwayne's)however for those times I would require an instant image, the full frame might well be very attractive.
Only time will tell.

Photography should be pleasure for one's self.
however such pleasure no longer exists
hence all kit has now been sold.