[dpouldar90210]

I am an intro to slr cameras and pretty much have narrowed it down to two choices both the same price (which is quite low because of my budget).i am a very intro user. my first choice is the nikon d40 and the other is the Sony a200. i will not really be printing... so, will the lesser megapixel in the nikon matter?? i will mainly be shooting in dim light situations, at car shows (iv been told more mega-pixels will help reduce grain in this aspect and greater choice later in future). will the greater megapixel in the sony make the sony better than the nikon. also i will not plan to buy new lenses so availability of accessories should not be taken into consideration. which is better?????? (and for what reasons)

[bmwturbopower]

if you are going to go the D40 route you might as well buy the D60 which is the upgraded D40. It's a great camera to start out on. A great User friendly interface.

[dpouldar90210]

I dont have the money for the d60. so between the d40 or the sony what do u suggest????

[Tony717]

I'd recommend the D40, I got it after reading through this website - www.kenrockwell.com and I really like the camera

[MMAJNKE]

d40 or the d40x which I shoot with amazing pics!!!

[323d]

i'd go with A200. people will say you wont get as much lens selection, but if you gonna start out, a kit lens will be adequate for beginner DSLR. later on you can always buy a 2nd hand macro or zoom lens. (a200 takes minota lens also, not just sony).

[dpouldar90210]

what makes the nikon d40 so much better than the sony considering the sony has 4 more megapixels

[BMWE90]

If you guys are looking for great deals be sure to check out www.slickdeals.net and then check out www.live.com. There is a 25% cash back going on right now. There's an XSi with a 2 lenses for about $838 which after the cash back comes out to about $628 or so.

But to answer your question, I second the motion of going with the D60.

[mach330]

i was debating over the d40 and the d60 and for $100 more (check amazon), get the d60.

[SpecC]

how about a used D60? you could just get a cheap lens to go with it

[r3volution]

Originally Posted by dpouldar90210

what makes the nikon d40 so much better than the sony considering the sony has 4 more megapixels

The number of megapixels doesn't really matter. 6MP is more than enough for a beginner (like me!).

I'd go for the D40. I just got mine a few months ago, and I love it.

[bmw noob]

MP are just a number. The quality of the processor and the image sensor are the most important factors.

I saw an interesting review last month while I researched the same topic (no I do not remember the site sorry) that compared the Nikon D40, a Canon 8 MP DSLR(whichever model is closest to the D40/D80 mid price point), and the Nikon D80.

Although the D80 outperformed the D40 in benchmark tests using test patterns and industry standards, the difference in real terms was negligible. They did the benchmark tests for picture sharpness, ISO capability, picture/color accuracy, and some other factors. Then they also took real world pictures (the same picture with each camera with a range of settings that they showed.) Both of the Nikons EASILY outclassed the Canon in picture detail and flexibility in real terms even though the benchmark tests showed not much of a difference.

Think about it this way....car manufacturers advertise HP ratings. We all know that there are many different ways to get to the number they give right? We also know that just because a car has 300 horsepower it is not necessarily faster than a car with 250Hp. The same holds true here. Hp is part of the equation that gives a car its driving characteristic...just like MP is part of a picture quality from a camera.

Consumers like bigger numbers, just look at TV's and the rediculous "dynamic contrast ratios" the companies advertise. Dynamic isnt even the actual contrast that you see when you watch the set (yes I work for a major electronics retailer and have been into HT systems for many years now.) As log as the number is bigger then consumers like it.

Heck there are point and shoots with 10MP. You really think that their picture is better than the Nikon D40? I can safely tell you they are not.

I chose the D40 based on the fact that I am new to DSLRs, and the real life difference of the D40/D60 are so minimal that I could not justify the extra investmet. Maybe in the future, but for now I can tell you the D40's pictures are amazing.

In fairness I have heard good things about the Sony Alphas also (ever since Sony bought out Minolta anyway! ) I do not think you can go wrong with either piece honestly...guess I am just a Nikon whore since I have one! lol. good luck.

p.s.Do you have a Mac or a PC?

[dpouldar90210]

i have a macbook

[Dascamel]

d40x 450 shipped on ebay with starter lens, "floor model" though... wored great out of the box point and shoot. Some sample pics scaled down for posting.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165471

[d3l0n]

to me, the d40 is garbage. All entry level canons kick its ass. Unless u plan to go with Nikon in the future and U want to get a decent amount of lenses. So go D60+. The d300 51 point focus is orgasmic.. and something worth wanting to stick to Nikon with an entry level cam hoping to upgrade later on to it... and i'm a canon xti user :-/

[Yvette]

d40 can't be compared to a200.....
a200 owns d40 or d60.

[oneshare325]

Originally Posted by e90sexion

d40 can't be compared to a200.....
a200 owns d40 or d60.

Are you a pro? I mean all the pros I talk to or know, it is either nikon or canon.....

[Zeiss]

I would go with the A200. D40 is getting outdated and it only offers 6mp aside 10.2mp from the Sony.

[TurboFan]

ahhhh....a great discussion on gear masturbation.

go hold the cameras, take some pics in the store. Adjust the white balance, ISO and pic quality. While you're at it, with the camera in full manual mode, adjust the aperature and shutter settings.

Which camera feels the most natural? Buy it. I see you want just the basics, and there is nothing wrong with that. But I bet that as you take more pictures, you'll become interested in shooting other subjects.

As far as one camera "owning" another, WTF ever. That is a very uninformed statement. As far as the D60 over the D40x, the 60 doesn't really bring enough to the table. I've been shooting for a while, and I even make a little money at it, but I do it becuase I enjoy it. The camera you choose doesn't make a shit worth of difference, the pictures you take do. And I can take the same picture with the Sony that I can with the Nikon. One may have a bell or whistle that makes it a little easier, but really, at that price point, just pick the one that is more comfortable to hold and use.

If you have any inkling that you may stay with photography, compare Nikon to Canon. You have better upgrade options as time goes on.

[snipersix]

d40 pawns sony

[TurboFan]

A little lesson on MP

Higher megapixel numbers are not always better. The sensor sizes do not change, do the pixels have to get smaller. That means they don't gather as much light. The D40 sensor will likely give you better low-light performance than the sony. But compare them in the store. Set the ISO, f/stop and shutter to the same setting, and take a picture of the same subject, without the flash. See which one is more sensitive.

Besides that, if you don't print, or print 8x12 or smaller, then anything over 5-6 Megapixel is a waste.