Assuming you go with the Canon which I would suggest over the nikonThink of it this way you are buying into a system you are not buying a body.

So why buy a body D40 that cant ever use the entire system IE all of nikons lenseswhich the canon is not limited by It can use all of Canon's EF and EF-S lense.

As you can tell I'm a bit biased toward Canon and I believe for good reason when it comes to the D40 (cripled body) it may be a fine camera but without being able to leverage all of the system / lenses behind the nikon name why bother ? .

If you will be shooting indoor/outdoor track you may be ok outdoors with a slowerlense say 4-5.6 70-200/300 zoom but indoors is a different matter.

For that you are going to need a fast lense to stop action or you are going to have to up the ISO with slower lenses which can mean more noise.

I would suggest the 400D/xti with the 18-55 kit to start than maybe add a cheap.

55-200 to go with it this will get you started and if you do decide later you need a faster lense the n that is were the real money starts to come into play $500/600.

For the 70-200 f4 $1000/1100 for a 70-200 2.8 and the biggy $1600/1700 for the 70-200 2.8 IS or the other option may be one of the fast primes 85 1.8 or 135 f2but then you will loose the convienence of the zoom.

Go with the canon.

Isdsms wrote:.

I have been undergoing a crash course the last several days beforeI take the plunge from a point and shoot to a dslr. My son runs infall cross country and indoor/outdoor track. I enjoy takingpictures, but thus far with little success due to the limitationsof the equipment. I have narrowed my search down to the Nikon D40and the Canon EOS 400D. I had a chance to use the Canon today andfeel that it has advantages over the Nikon. The sensor cleaning andalleged lower price for lenses being the most important.

Myother question and probably the area in which I could really gowrong in is with lens choice. Since much of my photography willtake place from a distance, capturing a moving object, what kind oflens should I be looking at assuming I purchase the Canon?..

This isn't to start a war of words, but I would like to clarify thinking regarding not being able to use all of the Nikon lenses with the D40..

For someone with an existing investment in older Nikon lenses, this might be an issue. The D40 can only autofocus with lenses that have a built in motor. The mechanical drive pin is missing from the body of this mode, hence the comment "crippled"l. You are still able to use the older lenses, you just have to focus manually. Of course, in this day and age that might be thought of as a chore, but consider too, it wasn't very long ago when that was the only option on any top rate SLR film camera..

However, if one is buying from scratch, then one has the choice of lenses. Granted, you can't go to eBay and buy any old Nikon lens and know that it will autofocus. If you aren't going to do that, then any of the newer, designed for digital, lenses will work fine for the D40. The advantage with these newer lenses (for Nikon and Canon, and any other DSLR) is that the lenses are smaller and lighter than the full 35mm frame lenses, and sometimes not as expensive, although that can be relative too..

But, the point is made that you need to consider these factors when making your final decision..

Equipment=======.

Tin Type camera - and I have the powder burns to prove it!..

SevenT wrote:.

This isn't to start a war of words, but I would like to clarifythinking regarding not being able to use all of the Nikon lenseswith the D40..

For someone with an existing investment in older Nikon lenses, thismight be an issue. The D40 can only autofocus with lenses that havea built in motor. The mechanical drive pin is missing from the bodyof this mode, hence the comment "crippled"l. You are still able touse the older lenses, you just have to focus manually. Of course,in this day and age that might be thought of as a chore, butconsider too, it wasn't very long ago when that was the only optionon any top rate SLR film camera..

My problem with manual focus is that it's hardfor me to do with the DSLR's I've looked through (I haven't tried with a D40 but I doubt that it's better than a D80). They have relatively clear screens and no prisms like old manual focus film SLR's. So I'd be reluctant to use manual-focus lenses on a DSLR and I'd probably get out-of-focus shots if I used them wide open..

Leonard Migliore..

Isdsms wrote:.

I have been undergoing a crash course the last several days beforeI take the plunge from a point and shoot to a dslr. My son runs infall cross country and indoor/outdoor track. I enjoy takingpictures, but thus far with little success due to the limitationsof the equipment. I have narrowed my search down to the Nikon D40and the Canon EOS 400D. I had a chance to use the Canon today andfeel that it has advantages over the Nikon. The sensor cleaning andalleged lower price for lenses being the most important.

Myother question and probably the area in which I could really gowrong in is with lens choice. Since much of my photography willtake place from a distance, capturing a moving object, what kind oflens should I be looking at assuming I purchase the Canon?.

Did you look at any of the systems with Stabalization built in.(Pentax, Olympus, Sony which also supports all Minolta A-mount lenses). that gets you stablized lenes like the greate Sigma 70-300 AP0 DG as a stablized telephoto?Ken - KM 5Dhttp://www.cascadephotoworks.com..

I have not at this point, but will do so today. How do these other cameras measure up feature wise with the D40 and the Rebel? Thanks in advance!..

Leonard Migliore wrote:.

My problem with manual focus is that it's hardfor me to do with theDSLR's I've looked through (I haven't tried with a D40 but I doubtthat it's better than a D80)..

This was one reason I bypassed the D70 when choosing my DSLR two years ago. I was VERY dissapointed when looking trhough the viewfinder. It was small, dark, had a tunnel-like feeling. I shot SLR since the late 60s and that D70 viewfinder, being my first DSLR experience, came as a shock. I really thought things should evolve from there so I waited. I ended choosing another DSLR shortly after that..

They have relatively clear screensand no prisms like old manual focus film SLR's. So I'd be reluctantto use manual-focus lenses on a DSLR and I'd probably getout-of-focus shots if I used them wide open..

Unfortunately, the only definitive solution for this seems to be the fulll-sensor cameras with their 35mm original size viewfinders (and hopefully split-prism focusing screen). But then, this is another discussion (whether a larger sensor suits your shooting style, the lenses you already have, cost, etc)..

Best regards,.

Bruno Lobo..

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Http://www.pbase.com/brunobl..

Isdsms wrote:.

I have not at this point, but will do so today. How do these othercameras measure up feature wise with the D40 and the Rebel? Thanksin advance!.

In general they have more features because they don't have the brand and market penitration of the top two brands..

Pentax has added weather sealing in the K10D and improved stabilization over the K100D....

The Oly has an outstanding dust cleaning feature, and has on some of it's newer cameras add live preview on the back screen if you don't always want to use the opitcal viewfinder. (some like this..I am neutral on this feature).

I know the Sony system best because it is an upgrade to my Konica-Minolta 5d. (sony bought the technology when KM gave up on digital cameras) but I think most of these are also on the pentax and Oly.

The A100 has wireless flash triggering using built in flash (not on Canon or in D40).

All but D40 have Auto bracketing (of exposure and some have WB too, I never have found much use for the WB bracketing).

I think all but Rebel have Spot metering.

Pentax supports just about every lens Pentax made.

Sony supports all the AF lenses made by minolta and Sony and all the curent and recent 3rd party lenses for Minolta..

Canon supports all the EFS lenses....

D40 can not focus the Nikon AF (no motor in lens) lenes it needs the AF-S lenses. The less expensive AF lenses are not Manual focus only..

Price wise the A100 is probably the best buy in a 10MP camera right now..If you are in the D40 6mp price range Pentas K100d is a good alternative..

Continue your own reading.. and try to hold them and see which one fits your style best..

Some may give you more features for the money.. but they all can take good pictures...

And think about the feature you want to use.. all the ones I mentioned are related to how I use my camera.. or ones I wish my camera had.Ken - KM 5Dhttp://www.cascadephotoworks.com..

Thank you for your response. I have been researching most of the morning and have become intrigued with the new olympus E510. Problem is that it might take me out of my price range coupled with tamron 18-250..

The D40 has a nice viewfinder but lack of lens support and lack of a top LCD or alternative make it hard for me to recommend..

Canon does not offer a decent viewfinder below the 30D. You can look at the K100D. It has a good viewfinder, is about the size of the D40, has great usability and has AS to boot. Pentax lenses are also less expensive and at least as good...

As you mention cameras to look at for Image Stabilization, what about the S5 IS just announced. How much difference in image quality would you notice in going to something like that instead of the next step up to an entry level SLR?..

I have just received my 510 and it is a great camera. One thing to remember with Oly is that the effective focal length is 2x as opposed to 1.5 for other sensors (like Nikon). A 150mm lens on the oly is equiv to 300 on a 35mm camera..

Also the Image Stabilization will ONLY work with a 4/3 lens. I saw that you said Tamron and I know that Tamron does not make a 4/3 lens yet..

MaddogOlympus E-500, Olympus E-510..

I'm no expert, but I'll throw my opinion out there anyway.   I just purchased my first DSLR about 6 weeks ago. Originally, I had it narrowed down to the Canon EOS 400D and the Pentax K10D or K100D. I actually ended up going with the Sony A100 in the end, which I hadn't even considered initially..

These were my reasons....-I liked the in body IS, which Pentax had but not Canon-I got a better deal on the Sony than I could on the Pentax.

-I was finding more good used Minolta/Sony compatible lenses on eBay than I was Pentax, at the time..

-And lastly, something that turned out to be really important to me but I wouldn't have even noticed if I hadn't made the time to go and feel and hold the cameras in person before buying; how they feel in your hands. I was leaning a little toward Canon in the end, even without the in body IS, because I had a couple of Canon lenses and liked my previous Canon film camera, but I hated the way the digital rebel felt to handle. It's too small or something. Pentax was a really, really nice camera and felt good to hold but was heavy. Sony felt good and was lighter and the price and everything else was right..

I'm pretty happy with my decision. So, I guess I'm just trying to also agree that when people tell you to go handle the camera before you decide, it really is an important step.~Tina..

Isdsms wrote:.

I have not at this point, but will do so today. How do these othercameras measure up feature wise with the D40 and the Rebel? Thanksin advance!.

I hate features. Features don't take pictures. Some features even get in the way of taking pictures. All the DSLR's of which I'm aware will take terrific pictures in the hands of someone that knows how to use them. It's easier to get familiar with a camera if you're comfortable with it. So from my point of view, the best DSLR is the one you like to use and the only way to find that out is to glom onto them and take pictures.



Leonard Migliore..

I have decided to go with the A100 coupled with the Tamron 18-250. You say thar the stablization feature won't work? Good to know! How come?..

Brunobl wrote:.

Leonard Migliore wrote:.

My problem with manual focus is that it's hardfor me to do with theDSLR's I've looked through (I haven't tried with a D40 but I doubtthat it's better than a D80)..

This was one reason I bypassed the D70 when choosing my DSLR twoyears ago. I was VERY dissapointed when looking trhough theviewfinder. It was small, dark, had a tunnel-like feeling. I shotSLR since the late 60s and that D70 viewfinder, being my first DSLRexperience, came as a shock. I really thought things should evolvefrom there so I waited. I ended choosing another DSLR shortly afterthat..

That's why I love my d80, big bright beautiful VF .

They have relatively clear screensand no prisms like old manual focus film SLR's. So I'd be reluctantto use manual-focus lenses on a DSLR and I'd probably getout-of-focus shots if I used them wide open..

Unfortunately, the only definitive solution for this seems to bethe fulll-sensor cameras with their 35mm original size viewfinders(and hopefully split-prism focusing screen). But then, this isanother discussion (whether a larger sensor suits your shootingstyle, the lenses you already have, cost, etc)..

Actually I think there is another solution, not one I have used myself, but one that many other users have been recommending and I have been looking into....

The KAtz Eye focussing screen:http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/catNikon-DSLRscat_nikon.html.

Best regards,.

Bruno Lobo..

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Http://www.pbase.com/brunobl.

FallingphotogirlSydney, Australia.

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Fallingphotogirl wrote:.

Brunobl wrote:.

I really thought things should evolve from there so I waited..

That's why I love my d80, big bright beautiful VF .

Glad to know it. The VF image is the soul of our connection with the DSLR camera, it is a shame that some are (were, in a past generation?) dark or hard to see..

Actually I think there is another solution, not one I have usedmyself, but one that many other users have been recommending and Ihave been looking into....

Oh, the Katzeye....

You know, this is a recurrent idea that keeps haunting me. When I first heard of it, I thought, "This is it. Must have it". Them I started to see mixed reports about those screens (not only from this manufacturer) and cooled off as bit. But now and then someone says great things about them and lights up the interest again. I'm a great fan of spoit prism for focus, would love the chance to try it in my camera..

Tough decision.There is only one way to know for sure if it would work out well here (seems like it prefers fast lenses). If you do get it, please post your findings/impressions?.

Cheers from Rio..

Best regards,.

Bruno Lobo..

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Http://www.pbase.com/brunobl..

I'm a great fan of spoit prism for focus.

Of course, I meant SPLIT prism :o).

Best regards,.

Bruno Lobo..

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Http://www.pbase.com/brunobl..

He was refering to the Oly using a non 4:5 format lens.. which is news to me..

The A100 will work well with the Tamron and I have seen a few posts from A100 owners very happy with that lensKen - KM 5Dhttp://www.cascadephotoworks.com..

Ken is correct..

The IS features in the OLY 510 will only work with a 4/3 lens. Without a 4/3 lens there is no way to communcate the focal length to the camera so there is no way for the camera to compute movement of the sensor using IS. This is not to say that OLY could not make this work with adaptors or at least for their older OM lenses but they choose not to...unfortunately..

MaddogOlympus E-500, Olympus E-510..

After getting my hands on a few cameras this past weekend, I was less impressed with the feel of the Sony than I would have hoped for. The E 510 appears to be a great option for me, although I have yet to get one in my hands.. One concern I do have is the auto focusing. I understand it has 3 point auto-focusing and since I will be using the camera primarily for sports action, this may be a factor. What do you think????..