To upgrade or not to upgrade that is the question

Good evening all I currently own a Nikon D40 with kit lens and also the Nikon AF 55-200 lens, I'm considering upgrading as I am going on a trip of a lifetime to Canada and the d40 hasn't let me down but I feel it is dated and possibly past it's best. If I do bite the bullet I am torn between a few options

1. Buying a faster prime lens such as the nikon 35mm or 50mm for approx £160 and keeping my d40
2. Buying the d3200 and trading the d40 to buy a prime lens
3. Trading in the d40 and getting a d5200

I'm open to other suggestions, the camera is mainly used for landscapes and I just use my camera when out walking or on holiday more than anything I'm sure many similar questions have been asked but your help and knowledge would be much appreciated
Many thanks Lee

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Look at a refurbished D5100 and a 35mm or 50mm prime lens.

http://www.cameta.com/Nikon-D5100-Digital-SLR-Camera-Body-Factory-Refurbished-62313.cfm

I bought my D5100 there and have really enjoyed it.

I'd look into 5200. All those AF points alone are worth it in a long run. Swivel screen w/ AF lenses could prove useful as well. Else, 35 1.8G is a pretty solid for the money lens, albeit chromatic aberration on it can be pretty noticeable in bright lighting.

I would like the 5200 but if i got that then I wouldn't be able to afford the prime lens.

The guys at LCE stated there are minimal differences between the 3200 and 5200 in terms of sensors, so is the additional worth it?

The D3200 has fewer features than the 5200. I currently have a D3100 and am upgrading to a D7100 as I have outgrown the D3100.
If you have used the D40 for a while, you may find the D3200 more limiting in the future.

I would go with the newest technology you can afford. Going to the 3200 from the D40 doesn't seem like much of an upgrade even though it's newer technology.

Leeaharrison said:

Good evening all I currently own a Nikon D40 with kit lens and also the Nikon AF 55-200 lens, I'm considering upgrading as I am going on a trip of a lifetime to Canada and the d40 hasn't let me down but I feel it is dated and possibly past it's best. If I do bite the bullet I am torn between a few options

1. Buying a faster prime lens such as the nikon 35mm or 50mm for approx £160 and keeping my d40
2. Buying the d3200 and trading the d40 to buy a prime lens
3. Trading in the d40 and getting a d5200

I'm open to other suggestions, the camera is mainly used for landscapes and I just use my camera when out walking or on holiday more than anything I'm sure many similar questions have been asked but your help and knowledge would be much appreciated
Many thanks Lee

Click to expand...

Welcome to the site

Sounds like a great trip. Are there features your D40 doesn't have that you are looking for on this trip?
MY D40 is still rock solid, bought it new when it first came out. Upgraded to the D7100 recently for the better low light capability and higher ISO functionality.

I'd expect the D40 would perform nicely for you.

Compare the D3200 and D40 as posted above. They may not be that much different.

I would suggest a prime lens to add to your bag

Maybe even a D7000 with kit 18-105 lens? Now that the D7000 has been superseeded by the D7100 I am sure you can find a good deal. The 18-105 is a great all-round lens. What kind of shots do you like to take? The D7000 is a great semi-pro camera which can produce very high quality images even at high ISO values. If you are thinking for example of a fast prime simply for low light capability on the D40, an upgrade to the D7000 would be worthwhile due to its great low light capabilities. Could then be that you dont need a fast prime for exactly your needs. Just a thought.

I highly recommend going to the Nikon website and using the comparison tool, plugging in the D40, D3200 and D5200 and see what you're getting for your "upgrade". It's not just about the sensors being the same. The D3200 doesn't have some features that someone who has been using a DSLR for as long as you might want to have now - like exposure bracketing. It's easy enough to plug your cameras in and print out the full list of features, take pen in hand and start checking off which cameras have what you want.

Thanks for the advice all much appreciated.
I think the d7000 or equiv would be a step to far for me.
I don't think the d40 incapable but at 6.8mp, only 3 AF points and struggling above iso400 isn't the d3200 a big step in technology?

Leeaharrison said:

Thanks for the advice all much appreciated.
I think the d7000 or equiv would be a step to far for me.
I don't think the d40 incapable but at 6.8mp, only 3 AF points and struggling above iso400 isn't the d3200 a big step in technology?

Click to expand...

My first Nikon DSLR was a D40 and I went from that to a D5100 to my current D7100. In all honesty, and if I had it to do all over again, I'd go straight to the D7100. Now, if you can afford a D7100, I can't suggest it too strongly. If you can't or just don't want to spend that kind of dinero, then that's another matter.

I do see you were at least toying with the idea of a D7000? If that's the case and if the only thing holding you back is that you're thinking, "It's too much camera" let me reassure you it's not going to be. You're going to hit a bit of learning curve with *any* new camera and the D7000 will be no different. It will just a be a whole lot better camera than the D3200 and in all the ways that *really* matter. If you're in the position to get a D7000/7100 then do it. Seriously. You'll figure the rest out and you'll be glad you got it. I mean seriously... This ain't rocket surgery.

...

I started with the D3100 and from there went to the D5100 and then on to the D7000.

The D3100 is a nice little camera and good to start with but if you are serious then you are going to outgrow it fast. The D5100 is a sweet camera and I will probably always keep it as a backup and for my wife to shoot. The D7000 has a lot of advantages. The reasons I upgraded are
1. Weather sealing
2. Commander Mode
3. More Focus points
4. Dual SD Slots
5. Faster Shutter Speed
6. Built in focus motor (Uses more lenses / Less expensive AF lenses)

yes, it will be a slightly longer learning curve but if you can afford it then it will be worth if.

I went from a D90.....to a D610. This for me is a huge step. So you might not use all the bells and whistles of the D7000. That is ok! There just may be a time when you NEED some function or another. I really don't think you can be over cameraed.

A full featured camera is right at home taking snaps of the family or in the studio with all the other gear. But a lesser camera not so much.

Don't limit yourself in a hobby that has no limits.

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