Does anyone here use a Nikon D40 for professional use?

[JerryPH]

But an 85mm f/1.4 looks exactly the same on a D40 as it does on a D2x.

I kinda disagree with that. If I slap that same lens on a D40 and and then use the same lens on a D300 (for example), the pictures are going to be night and day different. There is a ton of processing that is done in camera that we often take for granted. The sensor quality is also a huge factor.

I was thinking about that as I was looking at 2 vastly different quality pictures on flickr's D200/D300 forum of the same subject, same lens, same settings in both cameras. The only difference were the cameras... D200 vs D300. My first thought was... wow.

A D40, IMHO, is not going to give you professional level resuts (then again, its not designed or meant to). It will give you acceptable results, but if you compare side by side, with an eye towards professional level quality differences, they will be painfully obvious.

EDIT:

Ok, I totally missed your second post about the D1X and it's origins. I can easily imagine how you feel about it's sentimental value. Basically, to you that camera is priceless. It would be for me too if I was in your shoes,

You are a beginner... and feel very intimidated. Heck, I was very intimidated with my D200 initially and the first week thought that I had made a terrible mistake taking that camera, and even considered returning it. I am glad that I stuck it through, becuase after making the decision to learn the basics and understand what I am doing, the quality of the pics shot up a lot... and still is climbing.

However, I am not you and our needs are different. Reality is that you could use a plastic throw-away camera in a professional session if you wanted. The results are obviously not going to be the same, but you could do it none the less. I still fee strongly about the fact that the quality of the pictures between the D40 and D1x would be vastly different, and if you do plan to turn professional, there are some concessions to make (like lugging around that big camera), however you are not at that level and do not have to be for quite some time.

There will come a time, however, that if you really want to go pro, you will invest in equipment that is representative of professional level quality. There is a reason for all that $$ and there is a reason why pro cameras are heavier. If there wasn't all the professionals out there would be running around wth D40's.

 

[aperture monologue]

Diane Arbus didn't really start photographing until she got a lightweight camera that was easy for her to carry around, but once she got started, she did quite well. Of course it's a huge generalisation to say that girls don't like gadgets and heavy things to the same degree boys do, but more often than not, this is the case.
What I'm trying to say is that you can get great pictures with a d40 and if you feel more comfortable with it than you do with the D1X you should probbably make the best out of the d40. If that's not good enough then you should consider an upgrade. The D1X isn't actually that much harder to use, but it's certainly much heavier.
Of course, a better camera will enable you to do more things, especially in difficult coditions. But, it's not something you need to do, and besides, good lenses will work wonders on a d40.
Even at it's highest level photography is about the picture; if the picture is good then nothing else matters.

 

[JerryPH]

Can I get good lenses that will work on the D40, D1X, and the D300? Is the lens that comes with the D40 a good enough lens to start with and does it also work with a D300 and D1X?

If I am not mistaken, I think the D1x is a full frame camera. The D40, D300, D200 are all cropped sensor cameras.

DX lenses will work fine on all the cropped sensor cameras, but not with full frame cameras.

Stay away from DX lenses and use ones designed for full frame cameras, those will work 100% with both.

Note: D40 has no internal focusing motor... there are very few "full frame" compatible lenses made out there with focusing motors in them, and that is a MAJOR limitation of the D40. What does that mean to you? You can put any lens on your D40 you want... but if that lens has no focusing motor in the lens, you are stuck focusing it manually.

 

[Trish1977]

Thanks for the replies. I really apreciate the input because all these choices are hard for me and it doesn't help that I'm a perfectionist and I hate to make mistakes or the wrong choices. It keeps me from taking risks a lot of the time and I hate that.

One more question (for now) - Does the camera "wear out" more and more with every picture taken? If so, that's another reason I'd rather learn the basics on a D40 first before "wasting" shots on my more sentimental D1X. When I get to taking pictures I tend to take A LOT of pictures, but I've only had p&s up until now. Should I be more conservative in my shooting with an SLR?

I just have a lot of fear in this area that I'm trying to shake but it's hard. I fear that I'll spend all this time, energy and money on this stuff and then not be any good at it. I know that is ridiculous because I've taken some really amazing photos with my Canon S3 IS on just an automatic setting. Before I got that camera I took THOUSANDS of photos on my Kodak DX7590 and I loved most of them and have been told countless times that I have a "good eye". I have the passion for it and now finally have the motivation to move forward, I just need to stop being paralyzed by my fear.

 

[JerryPH]

Nikon cameras, especially the semi-pro and pro level ones are made to last a lot longer. The general consensus is that they are made to take at least 100,000 shutter actions. There are people out in the D200 community that are well past 200,000 shutter actions and they are working as well now as when they were new.

I would tend to expect that about any new mid-level and up camera can touch 100,000 pics nowadays.

 

[Garbz]

I read the D40 has a shutter life of 50000 actuations but I can't back that up at the moment. Mind you as Jerry said this is a guide only some will last longer and unfortunately a few will die early. And even after it's dead it can be fixed for cheap, however on the D40 this would not be worth it considering the repair vs cost of a new camera. The D1X on the other hand...

Regarding the OP, you can get professional looking results. It depends entirely on what you class as professional. Unfortunately too many people some even on this forum class professional as 100% noise free and infinitely sharp. This is simply not the case. There are plenty of spectacular shots which are neither taken by professionals from the likes of National Geographic etc.

That said you won't look professional to customers because quite frankly the camera is small and that is all they will see, and you won't look professional to other professionals because of the camera design. There's much more to a professional camera than quality and features, usually the biggest being build quality. Regardless of how good you may get some people just won't consider it professional if the camera is plastic.

 

[monkeykoder]

The D1X is not a full frame camera (I checked dpreview.com). If I'm not mistaken there are actually very few AF-S lenses that are DX because AF-S lenses are made to focus faster and were originally meant to be top of the line lenses (I may be wrong about the lenses I forget my source there).

 

[Snyder]

If I am not mistaken, I think the D1x is a full frame camera. The D40, D300, D200 are all cropped sensor cameras.

DX lenses will work fine on all the cropped sensor cameras, but not with full frame cameras.

No, im going to have to call you on that one. The D1x I believe is a dx cropped sensor. However the new D3 is the first Nikon DSLR fullframe sensor camera.

 

[aperture monologue]

There will always be wear and tear, but just sitting in a closet won't do much good for a camera either; It'll gather dust, and mechanical things in general get clanky if you don't use them.
Everything is moving forward and technology gets old pretty fast. In a couple of years the d1x will be very outdated technically, but the emotional value will still be there. I think you should try and get the most out of it as a camera while you can. DSLRs are not vintage wines and their value in money and their usefullness drop quickly compared to film cameras. Therefore, you shouldn't be scared of using the d1x, it's certainly a good camera to "practice" with.
But, if you prefer your d40, then I don't think you need bother with the d1x. Learn the d40 inside out and then get something better if you feel like you need to. The d40 enables you to practice all the essentials like exposure, focus, composition, etc....

 

[XJBaylor]

The D1X is not a full frame camera (I checked dpreview.com). If I'm not mistaken there are actually very few AF-S lenses that are DX because AF-S lenses are made to focus faster and were originally meant to be top of the line lenses (I may be wrong about the lenses I forget my source there).

Actually, all Nikon DX lenses are also AF-S lenses with the exception on the 10.5 fish. That way, they can be fully functional with the bread and butter of the Nikon DSLR line, the D40.

Keith

 

[sabbath999]

Another thing to keep in mind that the only thing that will really wear out is the shutter, and those can be replaced by a repair shop.

I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[JerryPH]

Not often, but in this case, I am happy I was wrong about the sensor size on the D1x... and I did mention that I was not sure in the flirst place.

Trish1977, I think you are looking at the D40 mainly becuase the D1x is kinda scarey for you more than anything else. Maybe you could find a local camera friend who can walk through the basics with you and also show you how to work that D1x of yours so you could start having some fun with it, things would be better?

 

[dipstick]

Yes, you can get pro looking results with a d40. I would however recommend at least getting the d40x or the d80 if you can afford it. 7 years ago, images created with the 2,6MP D1 was accepted in the professional world, so there is no doubt that any of todays digital dslr's can create professional looking images.

If your starting out with photography, get what you can afford. I would also strongly recommend spending some money on a better lens than the kit lens.

A D3 or a D300 is of course a better camera, but wait with upgrading until you know that the investment really will be worth it. If your gonna start working professionally, you would want equipment that can keep up with pro work, but if you wanna do professional looking pictures for your friends and family, any dslr would do. Your skills as a photographer will have much more impact on the result than the camera.

Improving your technical and creative skills will improve your overall image quality a lot more than what upgrading your camera body will.

Edit: forgot to mention the D1x: if you can get that up and running without it costing a fortune, I would go for it. Using a professional camera is not mor complicated than using a consumer dslr. Sometimes it is actually easier to understand, as it is stripped for a lot of confusing options and programs that professionals never use. The D1x would be a great camera to start with, and finding a second hand charger and battery for it shouldnt be to hard or expensive.

 

[Trish1977]

Thanks for ALL the feedback. I believe I will be getting a D40 soon because the more I think about it the more I want to have 2 DSLRs so that my husband can have one to use as well. Plus, there are benefits to having both. I will also soon get a couple of batteries and a charger for the D1X and start saving for a flash and lens that I can use with both.

The reason I started this topic and wanted other opinions is because I got this response from Ken Rockwell when I e-mailed him to ask advice on the D1X:

D1X is a dog, mostly because of the size, weight and the batteries
dying every 100 shots.

I'd rather use a D40, new, for $480!

See http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/go-pro.htm

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/pro-not.htm

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/pro-camera.htm

and

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/dslr.htm

Ken

 

[JIP]

If the D1x is too big and heavy for you I think you might be getting into the wrong business. While photography is not the most physical if jobs pro glass and bodies are heavy and you just can't get around it. A tripod might help you get around this but you will be alot less mobile methink you need to start lifting some weights or something. And as far as the D40 goes it may seem economical now to buy a D40 but how soon do you think you are going to grow out of it if you really get into shooting portraits professionally and then you are into buying a third body and now it is not so economical.