digital SLR..........

That really bugs me, I got some nice Af lenses.

Reiner

If I understand correctly (I am Pentax user) and you can double-check it at any Nikon forum, D40x only accept UMD lenses (i.e. focusing motor in lens). If you really have nice old lenses and like to use them I can suggest have a look at more up-market Nikon body.

Cheers
Serg

Just to clear up.

I have both Ai and Ai-S mount lenses from my old SLR Nikon and they both fit fine on the D50 Digital.

They are manual focus lenses and you have to do some manual exposure work, but they DO fit!

Rolande

He is enquiring about 40, not 50.

Cheers
Serg

depending on the lenses and how old they are yes they could well be compatible. i enquired about the lenses from my film to adigital Nikon and was told they are compatible but for some reason that excapes me now i would get the equivelent of higher zoom but with less wide angle with them
didnt get the Nikon dslr in the end and opted for a high end compact. suits me far better

Actually EOS-400D is entry-level DSLR offering from Canon and it is far from “tons of professional setting” and far from “=top camera”. Actually I personally recon that in entry-level area Canon offering is worst value for money comparing to other manufactures. They doing much better in more up-market segment.
Agree although that lens more important then body
Cheers
Serg

i didnt mean top camera as in 'the top camera on the market" - it was meant in the phrase "top" as in, "good" or "excellent" - just like you could be a "top bloke"

i have an EOS-3 film camera. i've done several weddings. i know my photography. yes it is an entry level camera but it DOES have plenty of settings to make things interesting.

from reading the OT, i took it that he's not that funky with digital cameras and so didn't recommend an EOS-1D mkII.

how about take a stress pill and calming down.

As a rule of thumb, your comment about kit lenses is a guide, but I wouldn't agree with the "never ever." The kit lens on Sony A100 and A700 is a pretty good piece of glass. The kit Olympus lenses likewise and both are real bargains at the kit prices. Both have the advantage of having the image stabilization built into the body of the camera rather than the lens whereas Canik's kit lenses have to cut more corners to keep kit lens price down. Please note, I am not criticizing Canonnikon lenses at all, they are great, but I don't think their kit lenses are as good as some others out there.

We are also looking to upgrade to D-SLR. I have been three different shops, and have had some email contact with Andrew (thank you, still have not taken those photos out of the bottom drawer). I got told today to buy a Pentax K10D. Better camera and lens'. But now I am confused. We already have canon lens from SLR that we could use, being that if we traded or sold the SLR with the lens we would probably get under $100 for it and being I am re-use, restore and recycle girl...I much rather not do that.

But according to camera shop today Pentax is far better package then the Canon 40D...yeap I know expensive....but my hubby likes it for the fast shutter speed....when taking pics of sport and stuff. The 40D comes in at around $2700... the Pentax with two different sigma lens' ( 20-40 F 2.8 and 70- 300), come in at $1570....plus $100 for 1 gig memory card, but we will upgrading that to 2 gig.

Debbie

Debbie,
Canon is worst offender in lens compatibility department. Most likely that your old lenses either will not fit to DSLR or will not function properly. Nikon much better in this regards and Pentax if best – you can mount and use *ANY* lens ever made by Pentax. Being shooting Pentax I totally agree thet K10D is great package. But should warn you that Nikon has faster AF, thus if your hubby crazy about sport it would be probably better option for you.
Cheers
Serg.

NateK – you are more then welcome take any medicine you like without consulting me – I am not a doctor.

Deb, I have a K10D, but I'd have Pentax lenses rather than Sigma.

As a travel camera I'd suggest a one lens solution so you don't have to deal with dust on the sensor which is a real issue. For the Nikon the 18-135 seems to be a great range. I personally wouldn't get a 18-200/300 as I believe they can't make such a beast to the quality I want. If the Pentax body suits your hands (this is a major consideration for whatever you buy... most blokes don't like Canon 400D's as they are pretty small) Not sure what one lens solution I'd go for with a Pentax, never looked into it (I've got the 16-45 and 50-200 zooms... I use the 16-45 98% time).

Cheers, Nige

Nige,

If you happy to use zoom (I am not), then DA* 16-50/2.8 just crying for you.

Cheers
Serg

Serg,

I don't need the 2.8 aspects of that lens (size and weight... haven't checked the specs but it's gotta be beefier than my 16-45/4) for a travel lens. I'd be happy with that Nikkor 18-135 I reckon.

Nige.

Whoops. I should have included the Pentax 10D as a camera with a better quality kit lens. Same thing re image stabilization, the IS is in the body, not the lens, on the Pentax. I don't know which Canon lenses are compatible with which of their cameras. You could take the lens into a dealer and try it out. If you already have a good lens, it is a pretty good reason to buy a camera that enables you to keep it.
Otherwise, I'd buy Canon or Nikon if I had lots of Money and had the need for a whole system of interchangeable lenses. At my end of the DSLR market I'd be buying Olympus, Sony or Pentax and because I do a lot of desert photography so I'd be looking at a model with a self cleaning sensor and some weather sealing. I would only be buying a DSR( in any brand) if I intended using a variety of lenses and doing blow ups bigger than A4 and wanted to use RAW format. Even then, I want a second camera that takes good shots but is tiny and can be kept in my pocket at all times. I use a Canon Ixus for this.

This thread is full of a lot of misinformation and a few gems - with a few observations that might be correct, but need explanation and context.

Serg please - Canon EF lenses fit every Canon camera. Canon EF-S lenses fit every Canon crop format camera.

This is much more "compatability" than Nikon.

K10D is a nice package until you want to use High ISO... then the 40D will be much much much better and much better than Nikon.

Having one lens does not reduce dust on sensor issues unless you have expensive professional sealed lenses. The 400D has a sensor cleaning function which works reasonably well, except for real nasties.

The lenses Deb has will work with her new Canon as I described before.

For sure, your camera store will sell you something that makes them a lot of money first and foremost.

And the Canon 18-55mm kit lens is okay - just perhaps not built as ruggedly as one would like, but the glass is acceptable - much better than we used to have on film cameras.

So in short, KevandDeb seem to have it sorted - they want the 40D for the right reasons, and if they can afford it, it is a better camera, for sure.

And "never ever"... you are using rather a lot of hyperbole. How many 100's of 1000's of Canon and Nikon consumer DSLR users are using the kit lens? And do you see them complaining...? Of course not.

Andrew,
there was FD mount for Canon and it absolutely incompatible with EF. Ugly adapter exist though.

Nikon has not change mount when AF was introduced, although older lenses sometimes does not work correctly with some bodies.

And absolutely all Pentax K-lenses can be use in DSLR - no ifs no buts. And screw-mount with adaptor.

So I still would say that Canon biggest offender, Nikon OK and Pentax best.

Valid point though that few people buying DSLR now would be much interested in 25+ years old lenses. Particularly Canon ones LOL!

Cheers
Serg

"There was FD mount"... come along now Serg. I had a T70 in about 1985 too, so I know what an FD mount is, but you are surely talking ancient history here.

In recent history Nikon's limitations with the D40x take the cake and compatibility is particularly a Nikon problem at the moment.

Of course they all need to move on at some time or other, but for now the Canon system is hugely interchangeable and has been since about 1990.

It is relevant, but more aimed at point and shoot purchasers.

Reading some of the follow-ups:

keep in mind... it's the photographer who takes the picture - not the camera :)

Mike Harding

Hey Mike,
I tend to disagree.......... I always tell people it is the camera that takes the pics.... I am just the jerk that presses the shutter..... :)
I had to hold myself back yesterday, had the new D300 in my hands and for 2750 I had that old age question, Buy camera or pay tax? Unfortuenetly had to put the cheque book back in my pocket... Had just bought ink for my printer (Cost $847). So the D300 lived to see another pair of hands.
extreme film & photographics
Peter

The age of the operator is also a big factor these days. I can not use the tiny eye viewer on a lot of cameras ( I wear glasses). I have to just point, shoot and hope for the best.Bright sunlight also makes the digital screen viewer hard to use on some cameras.

Go here and check what lens you can use with a D40 x or in fact any Nikon

www.dpreview.com

the best camera reviews on the net.

The D40 is a bit of an orphan as far as older lens are concerned as it lacks the electronics of the D80 and D200.

If you have $2700 to spend a D200 body at a well haggled price would be the go and a VR lens and perhaps a D300 from here would be even better.


http://stores.ebay.com.au/The-Imaging-World

This guy is a registered Nikon dealer and I bought a 70 -300 VR lens off him for $535 US including postage of $54 Cheapest price here over $900.
He is excellent to deal with and sent the lens well packed and very promptly Also will accept Paypal payments if you email and ask nicely
The new D300 has an added feature in that it has the picture on the screen like a normal digital camera whereas the older models dont. You have to use the viewfinder which I find a nuisance as I also wear specs Wish Id waited for the D300 now

Forgot to add Go somewhere and actually handle these cameras. I have long fingers and found the Canon tooooo small for my hands Also the D40 The D80 and the D200 are larger and much more comfortable to use, although heavier

Graham,
Not to forget the image size is almost 20% bigger

The D200 is finished and the D300 is out now
See here
http://search.ebay.com.au/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZtheimagingworldQQssPageNameZADMEQ3aBQ3aFSELQ3aAUQ3a1124
As I said a good outfit to deal with and fast service and a good communicator. AND A GENUINE NIKON distributor