Although a Canon user, if the D40x feels more comfortable, go for it. Sensor cleaning helps, but it's not all-saving, and as a beginner, are you really gonna change lenses so often that cleaning becomes a problem?.

I went with Canon XT over D40 because they were both comfortable for me, but I liked Canon's iso/focus/wb buttons on the body, although now I'm starting to think that D40's larger and clearer display could have been better. Also I was able to get the Canon 18-55 kit + 1gb card + bag at only 100$ more than the D40 18-55 kit alone..

Unless you already have lenses that will not work with D40x, I would go for D40x because if a camera doesnt feel good in your hands, it's not worth buying...

/edit it would probably be good to have both camera's cleaned before usage (about 40$ where I live), and unless you change lenses frequently, both of them should be sealed well enough that you shouldnt need to clean them more than once or twice per year... plus there are cheap self-cleaning kits, and it's not that hard... also, dont be too concerned about dust, I see plenty of it when I take a test picture of my white laptop background at f/22, but rarely see any at all in my actual photos.....

Either SLR body will be fine, whichever feels comfortable would be my advice, though I assume your are familiar with the lens limitation in terms of autofocus on the D40(x) which does not have a screw drive?.

I wouldn't get too hung up on sensor cleaning as a dust blower will do it virtually all the time..

In any even it'll be the lens you need to factor in to your budget - as you'll ideally need 400mm in terms of reach - which doesn't come cheap. This article may be of use:.

Http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/Safari-Tips.shtml.

The good news is the Nikon telephotos will autofocus on the D40x, the bad news is they could cost four figures..

Alex.

Http://akiralx.smugmug.com/..

I'm a Canon owner but as the others have said it's hard to recommend something that feels worse. I don't understand why so many people feel such a huge difference between the two but plenty of people do feel a big difference and that is a major factor to consider..

I would not worry too much about sensor cleaning. It's a new feature and something you can have someone do for you. I think there are other more important features to consider..

You might want to look into your future lens purchases like the other poster mentioned. For example, lots of people like to shoot animals at the zoo and need something like a 300mm or 400mm to get the job done. Maybe by looking at prices and samples from both companies you can see a preference..

If you have no major lens preference then I don't see how you can go wrong with either so picking by what feels best isn't such a bad idea. I know it's like heresey to say it but I think the two are very similar. I'll even go so far as to say I really wish the Canon had that neat graphic for lens speed and aperture that Nikon has..

Misc equip : Canon 610, Canon 400D, Canon 10D (about to sell), EF 50mm f/1.8 II, EF 85mm f/1.8 USM, EF 24mm f/2.8 (not so sure about)..

Please permit an observation, Imavolio, and this is not meant to be critical in any way..

In the thread you started on July 16th, you said you were leaving for Kenya in the middle of August..

While you sound like you're a bit closer to a decision, you aren't leaving yourself a lot of time to get to know the camera, regardless of what you buy..

If you wait much longer, one can only hope that you're not disappointed by the pictures you bring home from what many would consider the trip of a lifetime...

Thanks for your replies everyone!.

Actually, not quite sure how often I will be changing my lens, so the self cleaning thing may be important. In Africa, I may be changing it more often than I realize depending on how far away I am from the animals, or if close, putting the lower zoom lens on....

The lenses I am looking at are a 18-55m and a 70-300mm. For the camera, lenses & memory cards I am looking at, the Canon is $100 more expensive than the Nikon. Not much of a difference really, so price is a non-issue in the decision beween the two..

I am not familiar with the lack of auto-focus capability one of you mentioned on the Nikon? What is that about? I am not prepared to spend $1000's on lenses!.

Finally, as one poster mentioned, YES, I need to make a decision quickly. Hopefully this week...I leave August 31st for my trip!!.

Thanks for the advice.....

Lmavolio wrote:.

Thanks for your replies everyone!.

Actually, not quite sure how often I will be changing my lens, so theself cleaning thing may be important. In Africa, I may be changingit more often than I realize depending on how far away I am from theanimals, or if close, putting the lower zoom lens on....

The lenses I am looking at are a 18-55m and a 70-300mm. For thecamera, lenses & memory cards I am looking at, the Canon is $100 moreexpensive than the Nikon. Not much of a difference really, so priceis a non-issue in the decision beween the two..

I am not familiar with the lack of auto-focus capability one of youmentioned on the Nikon? What is that about? I am not prepared tospend $1000's on lenses!.

Only lenses that have their own internal motor will autofocus on the D40 and D40x. Other lenses require the camera to power them through a screw drive on the lens mount, which other Nikon cameras like the D80, D100 and D200 have - but not the D40 and D40x..

This is a list of the lenses that WILL autofocus:.

Http://www.nikonians.org/...az=read_count&om=16715&forum=DCForumID201.

Note that certain good lenses like the cheap 50mm f/1.8 and 85mm f/1.8 are missing so that could be an issue for a potential owner. You would have to focus such lenses manually..

Your 70-300mm VR is a good lens - but be aware that 300mm isn't really long enough for a safari. You won't be filling the frame with wildlife, and could end up with postage stamp sized animals in the middle of the frame..

Alex.

Http://akiralx.smugmug.com/..

Even cameras with "self cleaning" sensors will need to be cleaned by hand occasionally. So you are paying for something that a 3 dollar baby snot sucker will clean just as well..

Cleaning a sensor is no harder than setting the shutter on "B' in a reletively clean environment and holding the shutter open and blowing on the sensor until a shot of the clear blue sky at a small aperture shows no obvious dust. If it is too drity for that, you need to have your sensor wiped. Self cleaning cameras will get diry enough to need this also. BTW, I have to clean the sensors on my D2H about once a year, even with frequent lens changes.So, my opinion is don't buy a camera based upon sensor cleaning.Chris, Broussard, LA..

You had better plan to call in sick from work for about a week before your trip. Learning to use a DSLR is much more complicated than you might think..

Jerry..

Do not overlook Pentax k100D, on par with low noise at ISO below 1600, Image Quality, and the main advantage: Image Stabilization in camera body, so all lenses will have the feature, Nikons and specially Canons with IS are professional grade cost...

On the safari that I went on in South Africa, a 70-300 lens would have worked very well. We did get fairly close to the animals. The Nikon 70-300VR is around $100 cheaper than the Canon 70-300IS. I don't know much about the canon but the nikon gets very good reviews from users. I have one and think it is a great lens. VR/IS would be almost essential on safari.



Nikon kit lenses are generally better than the canon kit lenses. The D40x has auto iso and spot metering. Auto iso would probably be useful for someone new to slrs. The xti has more focus points and probably a few other features like mirror lock up. The only test that I have seen for sensor cleaning didn't think that they worked very well especially compared to a rocket blower which is very easy to use..

If you are only ever going to want to have a small assortment of zoom lenses, the nikon will work out very well for you. The lens restriction comes into play mainly with some third party lenses and nikon primes. Some of the nikon (and canon) primes are very sharp, fast and relatively inexpensive. These will not autofocus on the D40x..

Personally I think that the D40/D80 present much better value than the D40x. I was comparing the D80 with the xti and eventually went with the D80/18-70/70-300VR mostly based on the feel of the camera and Nikons consumer grade lenses..

In the end, the Nikon and the Canon will both give you great results but you have to buy one. The auto modes will give you some great pictures but you will also miss some that you would have gotten if you had known your camera better. Buy one or the other and practice before you go...

If I went on safari and had a tight budget I'd start looking for a hardly used D50 or even a D70 in decent condition. Add a tokina 80-400 to it.Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..

Bikinchris wrote:.

So, my opinion is don't buy a camera based upon sensor cleaning..

I agree..

More important is lens selection, how the camera feels, ease of use, image quality, etc., etc..

I think a blower such as http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...REG/Visible_Dust_2325429_Hurricane_Blower.htmlwould take care of most problems..

BTW: I have a Canon 400D and that fact it had a newly added dust cleaning system didn't factor one bit into my decision buying process. One of the first things I did on opening the box was switch the dust cleaning system from Automatic to Manual since I personally don't like something running every single time I cut the camera on or off..

Review of various in-camera sensor cleaning systemshttp://pixinfo.com/en/articles/ccd-dust-removal/.

Good Day,Roonal.

'Money doesn't buy happiness, but it makes for an extravagant depression' by golf tournament sportscaster..