I would suggest the D80 for that kind of shooting.

Nikon D80 review.

Http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/nikon_D80.html.

Nikon D40 review.

Http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/nikon_d40_review.html.

Bill,Jr'I kind of like the Earth, it's where I keep all my Stuff.'Website; http://www.pbase.com/wboth125 Lake Wylie, SC..

What you are ultimately buying into is a lens system. Whereas, camera bodies are released almost every year, the lenses are much more constant. If you decide to go Nikon then your making a "Nikon" decision. If you decide to go Canon then you are making a "Canon" decision. Take a look at each mfg's lenses and make your decision based on what you ultimately want to photograph.Doug Walker..

VvvJRvvV wrote:.

I am currently in the market for a DSLR. I have had point and shootsfor years and I have just outgrown that type of picture taking..

OK.....

I have a few friends that own Nikon's, I am leaning in that directionat the moment, because of their experiences. The problem is, I wantto do a bit more than what they are doing..

The main uses for the camera will be..

1) Family photos.

That's not that special. Almost any kitlens can do that..

2) Racing photos (this includes stills and full action, dirt trackstock cars, 80% of which would be at night under lights).

Now, that would mean a decent telezoom..

3) Fire photos (this would include accident scenes, working structurefires, training sessions and apparatus stills).

Are you able to get close?.

I was looking at the D40, but I am unsure if this camera will do whatI want. I belive the 6.1 MP will be plenty..

Why not? Get a decent telezoom on it and it should be fine..

Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..

Ptretty much any new D-SLR will be fine..

The Canon Rebel XTi has more autofocus points, so that could be a minor advantage in race photography, but no big deal..

The hard part is the lens for night racing. Depending on how far away you'd be, any 70-200 f2.8 lensd or the Sigma 50-150 f2.8 or Tamron 50-135 f2.8 would be good..

For night shots, the f2.8 contstant max aperture matters..

BAK..

I spoke to 2 of the track photographers Saturday night. One uses a Canon EOS-200 (I am pretty sure that is what he told me), the other one uses a D-80. I did not get to talk to the second photographer that long, so I did not get any lens specs or anything like that..

I have a friend of mine who bought a D-50 then a few months later found a really good deal on a D-80. I have not got all of the particulars yet on the extra lenses and flash, but I may look into this camera. I know it is well taken care of. Any advice on this, or should I look past this and go another route?.

Thanks,JR..

VvvJRvvV wrote:.

I spoke to 2 of the track photographers Saturday night. One uses aCanon EOS-200 (I am pretty sure that is what he told me), the otherone uses a D-80. I did not get to talk to the second photographerthat long, so I did not get any lens specs or anything like that..

It was probably the EOS-20D, not 200..

I have a friend of mine who bought a D-50 then a few months laterfound a really good deal on a D-80. I have not got all of theparticulars yet on the extra lenses and flash, but I may look intothis camera. I know it is well taken care of. Any advice on this,or should I look past this and go another route?.

I'd go with a D50 over a D40 because the D50 has five autofocus points versus the D40's three and that can help track action. If it is a good deal, I'd strongly consider it..

For more money, the D80 should be better with it's 11 autofocus points and the Canon 30D has 5 frames per second which is useful for fast paced action...

If I were you, and my friends all had Nikons, I'd stick with Nikon to be able to swap lenses with them and/or borrow their lenses to find which one you prefer. D80 would have best lens compatibility...

In your shoes I'd speak, again, to the track photographers and ask them about techniques etc. This is far more important than equipment - up to a point..

Sooner or later one will tell you that he/she could have taken a lot of his/her pictures with your existing camera but not all of them. It's that small percentage that make the equipment important. And it's cost worked out sensibly might just frighten you..

Regards, David.

PS Someone else said the trackside lens will cost you; I'll go along with that; look at the cost of a decent zoom with f/2 on it and remember that that is what you'll be yerning for in a few month's or perhaps a year's time. Just my 2d worth...

BAK wrote:.

Ptretty much any new D-SLR will be fine..

The Canon Rebel XTi has more autofocus points, so that could be aminor advantage in race photography, but no big deal..

The hard part is the lens for night racing. Depending on how far awayyou'd be, any 70-200 f2.8 lensd or the Sigma 50-150 f2.8 or Tamron50-135 f2.8 would be good..

For night shots, the f2.8 contstant max aperture matters..

Since nobody else has picked up on this I had better do so..

The reference to a Tamron 50-135 f2.8 should be a Tokina. That is not an AF-S lens and would not autofocus with the D40. Similarly while I would agree that a 70-200mm lens will probably do the job if you are looking at the D40 you have a choice of just two - the very expensive Nikon 70-200VR (something like $1700 in the US) or the Sigma 70-200 f2.8..

To the OP,.

As I read what you are saying you have the chance of buying your friend's D50. That sounds like a good bet. Ask him how many shutter actuations are on the camera (He can get it off the EXIF details from a recent shot). That will affect the value. If the number is very high (say 20,000 plus) it might be wise to reconsider otherwise it could well be a good buy at the right price. Check out the lowest prices on Ebay for a concluded deal (Use an advanced search to do this) and start haggling..

With the D50 you have a wider choice of low light lenses many of them more affordable. It is a decent camera with very similar output to the D40. If your friend is not greedy you could both come up smiling. I expect he has a few extras that would be sold with the camera like a spare battery. Maybe he would sell you the body and lend you a lens (or two!) while you shop for others..

If you have clean sheet for lenses there is a lot to be said for a Nikon 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 as a walk around plus a good low light lens. A used Nikon 80-200 f2.8 would probably be perfect for that purpose - a bit pricey but all low light glass is.Chris Elliott.

*Nikon* D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile.

Http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com/..