Need help deciding pleaseeee

[aSneakyElephant]

Hey guys found what i think is a pretty good deal on a Nikon D40. Comes with body, battery, lens for $350. No sd card though.. But someone on the forum here said they had a D5000 with lens for $525 should I just get the D40 and maybe get a nicer lens then the kit lens or should i save and go for the D5000? im not a serious photographer just getting started. Dont have to much experience with DSLR. Main use would be for the nights I go out with friends to just capture those moments and would probably go out at least twice a week to just shoot photos. What do you guys think?

 

[Bram]

If you want to use a DSLR to go out at night with friends it's not the best idea, you would be using the pop up flash which isn't the best fill light. The D40 and the D5000 IMO aren't that different I would say D5000 because it does have newer features. I mean after all it is a couple years newer then the D40. I went with the D40x because I didn't do my research. I love it though has done me good for a year or so now. If you have a tripod and you're doing long exposures yeah it's awesome but with a pop up flash it's not so great.

Hope this helps.

 

[aSneakyElephant]

If you want to use a DSLR to go out at night with friends it's not the best idea, you would be using the pop up flash which isn't the best fill light. The D40 and the D5000 IMO aren't that different I would say D5000 because it does have newer features. I mean after all it is a couple years newer then the D40. I went with the D40x because I didn't do my research. I love it though has done me good for a year or so now. If you have a tripod and you're doing long exposures yeah it's awesome but with a pop up flash it's not so great.

Hope this helps.

ehh kinda i dont mind takin my DSLR for a night out with friends its something i always felt our group needed was someone taking pictures i have a pop up flash digi cam but dont really like to use it because i feel so limited its just point and shoot... but do the new features on the d5000 make it that much better? i read reviews on both and comparison agaisnt each other but its a little to technical for me.. mind breaking it down a little? layman terms

 

[Bram]

Hah yeah no worries I justc hecked it out and ISO capabilites are about the same google ISO or check it out on wiki. However I think the more user friendly one from what I just read is the D5000, one thing I don't think its worth the extra 200 bucks. I say buy the D40. Then with the cash left over buy a faster lens then the kit lens, or with the extra cash get a SB600 speedlight, an external flash which will light up your area with ease. ISO is pretty much how low of a light situation you can shoot in. The ratio number at the end of a lens is the speed it can shoot at say in my sig you can see "AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5 - 5.6G VR " that's the kit lens. the F/3.5-2.6 is the speed. The lower the faster ofcourse. With the D40 you want ONLY af-S or af-I lenses those are the only ones that will auto focus (AF) with the camera.

If you have more questions feel free to ask or PM me.

 

[aSneakyElephant]

i dont mind using manual focus i think thats what makes photography fun the fact that you can take the picture any way you want AF is nice but i like having manual as well. Seing as how me and my friends usually are in kind of low light environments on the weekends (bars, clubs, etc) i'm assuming having the higher ISO would be better i kind of understand how ISO works and image noise but is it really worth the extra $200 is what i want to know. I plan on keeping up this hobby for a long time so if anything i was thinking of getting the d40 and buying what you said either a better lens or an external flash and then later down the line when i get more used to the DSLR i could upgrade to the D5000 or maybe a D90 think thats the better move? and is $350 for the D40 a good deal? also just found a D3000 for $400 should i pick that up instead of the D40?