Page 1 of Moving up to a digital SLR camera...

I`ve had this Nikon "prosumer" camera for almost 3 years now. It takes amazing photos (see here and here). I`m currently reading this great book and learning how to take pictures in Manual mode.

My question is: Once I know what I`m doing, and given the features my 5400 already has, is there any real need to move on to a DSLR like the Nikon D40, for example?

julianf

Hello,

I went through the same thoughts as you when moving from a good p+s camera to a DSLR. Well, I bought a D40 and took it home feeling really nervous and hoping I hadn`t wasted my cash. Even though every review said a DSLR will beat any (most) p+s cameras, I was still worried.
I chose the D40 on reviews and price only and accepted the perceived limitation on lens choice (I say perceived, because I couldn`t afford any other lenses anyway, so the limitation didn`t affect me).

I took some snaps and the p+s just can`t live with DSLR at all...the lighting, sharpness, features, clarity and the batttery life, made it a bargain as far as I am concerned. The D40 is available under £300 now too.
Some will argue pay more for the D80, or even the D40x, If I could have, I would have, but am am delighted with the D40.
I struggle to find any bad reviews of any DSLRs, the Canons, Olympus and Pentax entry level DSLRs all get great reviews too.

Neil.

Thanks for that. A friend has the D40, I must go and have a close look at it and have a go on it. I`m also looking at the Pentax K100D Super which looks fantastic. Both 6Mp cameras and hard to split on the reviews I`ve read and I think it will basically come down to one of those..

A couple of 10Mp cameras that would also fall in budget although they`re a bit more expensive are the Sony Alpha A100 and the Olympus E410 (with 2 lenses!).

julianf

This item was edited on Friday, 16th November 2007, 16:12

I would say go for it, once you have tried an SLR you will never look back. I had a couple of digital cameras, then when the Canon 300D came out I bought that, and a couple of months back I upgraded to the 40D when the 300D started playing up a little after 90,000 photos mind!
My advice would be to make sure you look beyond the body, and look at the range of lenses / flashes. When I look in my camera bag the two bodies count maybe 20% of the cost of what is in there! As has been said where in the past a body was for life and lenses come and go, its the other way round now. Any digital body you buy now will be out of date in a few years time, however the quality of the lens you put on the front wont change (though watch out for digital slr lenses that wont work with full frame sensors).
As you can probably tell I am a canon man, but a friend has the nikon, and just watch out for lens compatibility with their cheapest slr. Something about their focusing motors usually being in the body, but the cheapest one not having it, so not being able to use most of their lenses or something.

Tom