Throwing around the idea of replacing my D40

[Boz Mon]

I've had my Nikon D40 for about 2 or 3 years now and its been a great camera for me, but I think it may be time for an upgrade. I want something with more resolution so I can make some poster sized prints. I would also like some better low light performance as well as more focus points. I really want to stay with Nikon since I have some good money in glass. I dont know if I should go full frame or not. I'm thinking not because it may be more than I am willing to spend. Maybe if everyone could just throw some ideas out there or just give me a general idea of what I should look for I would be grateful.

My bag currently has these lenses in it, if it matters

Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Nikon 55-200 VR (the aperture escapes me right now)
Tamron 90mm f/2.8 1:1 macro
Nikon 50mm f/1.8
I also have an SB-600 flash

Thanks in advance!

 

[D-B-J]

What ARE you willing to spend. A solid new camera is the d7000. Probably the best Nikon DX camera it offers. Or you could go fullframe with the D700. The d7000 is 1300 new and the d700 is about 2300-2500 new. Do you need the d700? Do you want a NEW camera? How much can you spend? And its a 55-200mm vr, f3.5-5.6.

Regards,
Jake

 

[orb9220]

Yep D7000 if monies tight then a D90 is still a major upgrade and the route I took from my D40.
.

 

[Boz Mon]

Hmmm I didnt even think of buying a used camera. I did a quick google search and I was thinking possibly the d7000. I was thinking that I would want to spend somewhere in the $1000 area.

 

[Kerbouchard]

Well, full frame should not really be a consideration since most of your lenses are DX. If you want to continue to use the lenses you have now, a D90, D7000, D300, D300s, would all be huge upgrades within your budget. If it was me in your situation, I would prioritize it as D300s, D7000, D90, D300, and then I would pick what you can afford.

 

[D-B-J]

Well, full frame should not really be a consideration since most of your lenses are DX. If you want to continue to use the lenses you have now, a D90, D7000, D300, D300s, would all be huge upgrades within your budget. If it was me in your situation, I would prioritize it as D300s, D7000, D90, D300, and then I would pick what you can afford.

The only thing the D300s has over the d7000 is fps (which requires 300 dollars of stuff; battery grip, enel4 battery, and charger), and the focus points (51 on the d300s and 39 on the d7000). To be honest, the D7000 blows the d300s outta the water. To list a few things its better at: movie, resolution(megapixels), weight (lighter), expeed 2 processor, the list goes on.Regards,Jake

 

[KmH]

Well, full frame should not really be a consideration since most of your lenses are DX. If you want to continue to use the lenses you have now, a D90, D7000, D300, D300s, would all be huge upgrades within your budget. If it was me in your situation, I would prioritize it as D300s, D7000, D90, D300, and then I would pick what you can afford.

The only thing the D300s has over the d7000 is fps (which requires 300 dollars of stuff; battery grip, enel4 battery, and charger), and the focus points (51 on the d300s and 39 on the d7000). To be honest, the D7000 blows the d300s outta the water. To list a few things its better at: movie, resolution(megapixels), weight (lighter), expeed 2 processor, the list goes on.Regards,Jake

The D300/D300s has a full magnesium chassis and better weather sealing, the D700 only has a magnesium top and back panel and less weather sealing.

The D300/D300s can do 9 auto brackets (AEB) rather than just the 3 AEB) the D7000 can do.

The D300/D300s has the same DX portion auto-focus module the D700, D3s, and D3x have. Not only does it have 51 AF points, it has 15 cross-type points while the D7000 has 39 Af points but only 9 of them are cross-type.

The D300/D300s has a PC sync cord port and a 10-pin connector, the D7000 has neither.

Lighter weight is not always an advantage.

There may be a D300s replacement announced in August.

 

[Kerbouchard]

Well, full frame should not really be a consideration since most of your lenses are DX. If you want to continue to use the lenses you have now, a D90, D7000, D300, D300s, would all be huge upgrades within your budget. If it was me in your situation, I would prioritize it as D300s, D7000, D90, D300, and then I would pick what you can afford.

The only thing the D300s has over the d7000 is fps (which requires 300 dollars of stuff; battery grip, enel4 battery, and charger), and the focus points (51 on the d300s and 39 on the d7000). To be honest, the D7000 blows the d300s outta the water. To list a few things its better at: movie, resolution(megapixels), weight (lighter), expeed 2 processor, the list goes on.Regards,Jake

The D300/D300s has a full magnesium chassis and better weather sealing, the D700 only has a magnesium top and back panel and less weather sealing.

The D300/D300s can do 9 auto brackets (AEB) rather than just the 3 AEB) the D7000 can do.

The D300/D300s has the same DX portion auto-focus module the D700, D3s, and D3x have. Not only does it have 51 AF points, it has 15 cross-type points while the D7000 has 39 Af points but only 9 of them are cross-type.

The D300/D300s has a PC sync cord port and a 10-pin connector, the D7000 has neither.

Lighter weight is not always an advantage.

There may be a D300s replacement announced in August.

I wasn't going to go there, but yeah, pretty much what he said.

 

[Boz Mon]

Thanks for all the info guys! I'm gonna try to find a store with some of these to look at today.

 

[Bob in GV]

Thanks for all the info guys! I'm gonna try to find a store with some of these to look at today.

If you're going into a store to test drive these cameras and take up time from the sales people, then please don't go out and price shop online afterward. I'd like that local merchant and the income they produce for the community to be there when I go make a purchase.
Or, if you do decide to go online will you please go downtown in a couple of years and take some heart rendering photos of the closed shops and boarded windows?

Thanks.

 

[Boz Mon]

Best buy has a D7000 but no D300s. I have to find one to look at.

 

[D-B-J]

Side by Side Comparison: Digital Photography Review

 

[Boz Mon]

Side by Side Comparison: Digital Photography Review

This is BRILLIANT! Thank you sir.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

Compare digital cameras - Snapsort you can compare pretty much any camera side by side

 

[ShaunMK]

You can't go wrong with the d7000. Mine outperforms both my d200 and a d300 I've used. The d300 is first rate, bit is waiting to be replaced by the d400. The d7000 will carry you a long way.

You've got a good set of lenses that will do you well.