Hello all, new registered user here but long time visitor of the site/forum. I'm currently thinking about upgrading my good old Nikon D40. The D40 was my very first DSLR and has held up for quite a long time now. However, I feel the need to upgrade since for the past year I have been shooting for family events (no weddings), portraits, models, friends and looking to advance equipment wise. My D40 is great but I feel restrained since it is an entry level DSLR. I've learned plenty from it and want to learn more. I only hold the 18-55mm and 18-105mm. Yes, not a great lens collection but understand being an engineering student, my budget was strict and low. However, due to the holidays I'm going to go out on a limb and treat myself. I'm currently thinking about the D90 as a stepping stone. My main concern is whether or not it is still a good investment for how old it is. The average price for the D90 right now is around $850-899 and the D7000 is around $1300. About a $400 difference. I'm willing to budget that high but will not decide the d7000 just because it is "better" spec wise. Now, as for lenses, I'm sure many of you will advise on saving the money and purchasing more lenses. Considering that and my current D40 body, what should I do? Sorry for the long explanation and simple question. Just looking for any advice, recommendations, insight etc. Thanks!
Upgrading D40?
(24 posts) (16 voices)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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Get the D7000 body and use it with your current lenses at the moment. When you have money for lenses add those that are good for the type of photography you plan to do. Watch for sales on the D7000, look for Nikon factory refurbished D7000s, look on ebay for D7000s someone doesn't want, check Craig's list, etc. Perhaps you can save yourself a few hundred dollars but you won't get a warranty. Maybe the warranty is worth it.
While the D90 is still a certainly good camera and would be worth it if you could get a D90 for %500 or %600. However, since the D90 is old and about to be no longer sold I think you would be lusting after a D7000 even though you bought the D90 so might as well spend all the money on a D7000 now.
When you find you are ready to add some new lenses post again and let us know what type of photography you are doing, want to do and what limitations are you finding with the lenses you have. For example, are you trying to do low light photography when fasted lens you have is a f 3.5 to 5.6 zoom?
Posted 1 year ago # -
I upgraded from a D40 to a D7000 and TOTALLY LOVE IT! You will be amazed at how quickly all of the buttons used for quick setting changes make you realize how annoying it is to do with the D40. It speeds you up so much, and I originally really didn't understand the big deal b/c those settings were just a few buttons away (especially when considering upgrading to d80/d90). While the D90 is still a great camera, the 16 MP in the D7000 is great! Makes cropping pictures no big deal (with a d40 you had to be careful how much you cropped especially if you wanted to print anything larger than a 5x7).
I really recommend you get the 35mm f1.8 It's only 200, and will give you great pictures. I actually accumulated a 4 or 5 lenses with my d40 before I upgraded. What do you think is the biggest thing holding you back from taking better pictures? The D40+other lenses will still give you great pictures, a new body will give you better low light performance, plus better ergonomics, and will autofocus with af-d lenses.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Or.....you could get a D5100, for even less money. The D5100 and D7000 share the same sensor, so picture quality should be the same and since you can get a D5100 body, for under $800, you'd have at least $500 to put towards a better lens. Sell the D40 (Criagslist has worked well for me selling older photo gear) and you'd have even more money for glass.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'd spend the extra $400, and just use your existing lenses right now. A D5100 with a cheap 35 or 50mm 1.8 with the saving might be a nice second choice.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Skip the D7000, having a good camera doesn't mean anything if you put crap glass on it. I would get a 35mm 1.8 or the new 50mm 1.8, I know I like the 50mm much more then the 35mm, but that is a personal choice. There are plenty of people here that like the 35mm better. All I know is once I got my 50mm 1.4 I never used my 35mm again and ended up selling it about a month ago.
Posted 1 year ago # -
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Welcome to the conversation KingKazma.
You current status has been covered greatly here by many of us, so please have a look around so you can get some more recommendation, pro's/con's etc. This treat here will be worth reading: http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=4361
With that said, I'm on the D7000 side. Given that you hold on to your great for a good amount of time, I believe the features, durability, add-on options (be it Nikon or third party), and over all functionality of D7000 will serve you well. I'm sure you will find its results breathtaking. FYI Ritzcamera has the "Factory Refurbished" D7000 for $999 (body only).
Good luck and I'm sure which ever gear you go with you will be pleasantly surprised.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I used to have a D90 it WAS a great camera but it is now dated
I upgraded to a D700 but a friend, who also had a D90, upgrade to a D7000. nether of us would go back to a D90
As has been mentioned, innumerable times, a better camera will not make you a better photographer but it will unlock your potential
if money it tight do look at the D5100
lots of other threads on lenses
Posted 1 year ago # -
I was in the same situation as you almost a year ago.. and I have upgraded from a D70s to the D7000. Also know the D40 very well.
IMHO, you will be delighted with the new options the D7000 gives, it is a big jump from the old trusted D40.
The D90 is also a good camera, but it is already out of production and its technology is almost as old as the D40, so I would not spend money on it although the D90 is an excellent camera.
Which 18-105 you have?
Posted 1 year ago # -
sevencrossing said:
I used to have a D90 it WAS a great camera but it is now datedI upgraded to a D700 but a friend, who also had a D90, upgrade to a D7000. nether of us would go back to a D90
As has been mentioned, innumerable times, a better camera will not make you a better photographer but it will unlock your potential
if money it tight do look at the D5100
lots of other threads on lenses
The D90 isn't totally dated. It is only one generation behind now. It would still be a pretty big upgrade compared to the D40. That being said it is a generation behind now and within a year or two will be two generations behind. IMO if you can find a good deal on a D90 I would get that over the D5100. I have tried it out and I didn't like it even compared to my D5000. I think though the extra money for the D7000 would probably be worth it and it would give you room to grow into. Especially if you are shooting any kind of events you will be happier with the easy access buttons on the D90 and D7000. Really the D90 is still a competent camera it just isn't the newest one out.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I really appreciate all the insights and recommendations guys. Thanks so much. I've read each response and thought about each one. As of now, I'm leaning towards the D7000 mainly for the long term investment. I know for a fact that if I do go with the D90 then I would be drooling for a newer body behind the scenes. I just wouldn't be too happy with myself. Though I do agree that the D90 is still a great DSLR, hence the reason why its still available in the US after all these years. I am planning to add on either the 35mm 1.8 or 50mm 1.8 to the cart as well. They are both very affordable and great pieces of glass for the price. Still debating which one (read plenty of threads on that already).
Donaldjose, I find myself moving towards portraiture and modeling photography. I do need to grab some faster lenses since I'm not the flash type and love low-light shots.
gold007sd, are refurbished DSLR's safe to purchase? Do you have any experience with any refurbished bodies? The lowest price for a D7000 new I found was $1200, just $200 more than the refurbished one. Just curious.
rbid, I have the Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S lens.
I'll keep this updated when I do make a purchase, until then, thanks!
Posted 1 year ago # -
I've bought refurb equipment before; my D90 came refurb from adorama, and it's worked well for many years (right now it's somewhere in the 60-70k range). When I got it, it was pretty much as good as new, so I wouldn't pay extra for a new one. A new one would get you a long term warranty, but the price difference (around $200 for me) didn't make it worth it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
My D5000 is refurbished. It looked and worked like brand new. Everything was sealed in plastic and there wasn't a fingerprint or mark on anything. I have had mine about 2 years now without a hitch. If there is a reasonable price difference I wouldn't think twice about getting it. I have also had and have several refurbished lenses and all have been just as great.
Posted 1 year ago # -
KingKazma said:
Donaldjose, I find myself moving towards portraiture and modeling photography. I do need to grab some faster lenses since I'm not the flash type and love low-light shots.gold007sd, are refurbished DSLR's safe to purchase? Do you have any experience with any refurbished bodies? The lowest price for a D7000 new I found was $1200, just $200 more than the refurbished one. Just curious.
From everything I have read, in addition, to the comments made by jerk and tcole1983, yes it is quite safe. Moreover, Ritzcamera is an authorize dealer for all Nikon gear. You should not have any problem dealing with them.
Happy shopping..cheers.
Posted 1 year ago # -
D5100 would be wisest compromise...
Posted 1 year ago # -
I might just be the last D40 user on Nikon Rumors...
Posted 1 year ago # -
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TheX-Man said:
I still use my D40 alongside my D7000. I can't get a 1/2000 flash sync speed with my D7000(at least not w/o draining batteries really quickly)I have yet to use the high speed flash sync feature of the D40. I'll need to get around to figuring that out later. Hope it lasts for another 10,000 shots or so, my next purchase might be a SB-700.
Posted 1 year ago # -
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I have a D40X as well as the D100, D200, D300, D90, D700, and D7000. The D40X was the worst of these cameras and when I bought it with a 18-135 Nikkor lens it was too much money. I got two D40X bodies from Ritz. They both had dust in the low pass filters and it could not be fixed. I personally feel that Ritz staff play around with the camera bodies too much. They also closed a lot of their stores. My self I'd get a D7000 for the money now. A D5100 would blow the doors off the D40. However I myself would not buy a D5100 as I do not like some features on the camera. The LCD screen is enough to make it a no go for me. The D7000 though is the best investment according to every camera sales person I know.
Posted 1 year ago # -
DaveyJ, it's interesting that the articulated screen on D5100 would make it a no go for you. As an owner of the D5100, I wouldn't want to have a camera without it. I'd be willing to bet (or maybe I should say I sincerely hope) the D7000 replacement in about a year has an articulated screen. Even Canon put an articulated screen on the 60D, which I think is their competing camera to a D7000. What I find funny, is if someone doesn't want to use the articulated screen, they don't have to. But to force those of us who do want one not to have the option doesn't seem right. Just my .02 worth.....
Posted 1 year ago #
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