Something surprised me about Nikon....

Are they a little bit behind? I mean, you can pick up a 400d, Canon's latest camera, 10megapixels, good autofocus etc etc. For £499.

You can pick up Nikon's brand new on the market, D40, 6 mega pixels, 3 autofocus points....for £499.

I know which one I'd rather have, surely Nikon would know that before releasing that kind of camera out?

I'm sure their market research people did their homework...the camera makes no sense to me...but they seem to figure there is a market for it.

I suspect that the D40 is a better "point and shoot" camera, as that seems to be the market that it's aimed at.

The new Nikon is a no-nonsense camera for people who just want to take good quality pictures and have the option to change lenses if they so desire. I guess that the majority of the people who'd buy such a camera will ever own more that one or two lenses, but they can. If you're not interested in the MP hype and all the technical gadgets that are on the 400D (to some peope that may sound intimidating) the D40 is a very good camera. I don't see anything wrong with it. Three focus points is more than enough for people who only shoot their family at home and on vacation.

Don't forget that everyone has different demands/whishes and expectations of a camera. Don't confuse the demands of a photo enthousiast or advanced amateur with that of the commom consumer. Hell, some people are totally happy with a crappy 1.3MP camera-phone picture... And a D40 uses the same sensor as a D70. So...apart from some features, buttons and techno babble in the manual, a skilled photographer can take exactly the same pictures as with that camera. Mind you that my 1D only has 4MP (well...the 45 focus points compensate for that ofcourse... )

If they came up with a DSLR that did in camera processing, they'd sell a billion of them.

Well they have the D80 which is pretty much on par with the 400D, and better(even though it costs more). But they have one that's less and more. So take your pick for affordable Nikon's.

that's true, canon and nikon never do seem to have direct equals - you either have to go one up or down when comparing the two brands.

The thing Nikon do that is all over Canon is the feel of the camera. It can be a generation behind, and a pile of poo, but the Nikon bodies feel like a `real camera'. No way can you say that of a 400D or the like.

Nikon has its pluses. 10mp in XTi mean nothing to me.

prep wrote in post #2356066
The thing Nikon do that is all over Canon is the feel of the camera. It can be a generation behind, and a pile of poo, but the Nikon bodies feel like a `real camera'. No way can you say that of a 400D or the like.

So you like your cameras warm and squishy, eh?

I have read reviews on the Nikon D40. They contains phrases like "It let take great photos without the burden of messing around confusing parameters" or "This parameter is hidden deep in the menu so it is hard to get to, but it does not matter because those people who buy this camera would not know what it is any way". The point is, this camera is aimed at the point & shoot market (well, Nikon cannot compete with Canon at the high end, so it is trying the low end).

They obviously have there die hard fans just as Canon does, Most top brand names are good camera's, all have there good points and quirks.

the d40 is not a direct competitor to the rebel, it is for people that want inter changeable lenses on a budget. the d50/d70s and d80 are all competitors to the rebel, and offer many things that are better, and some thigns that aren't

prep wrote in post #2356066
The thing Nikon do that is all over Canon is the feel of the camera. It can be a generation behind, and a pile of poo, but the Nikon bodies feel like a `real camera'. No way can you say that of a 400D or the like.

I feel differently.
I hate the way Nikons feel. My buddy got a D80 and I think my 30D feels MUCH nicer and fits in my hand much better. D80 feels to bulky to me and not smooth.

05Xrunner wrote in post #2357504
I feel differently.
I hate the way Nikons feel. My buddy got a D80 and I think my 30D feels MUCH nicer and fits in my hand much better. D80 feels to bulky to me and not smooth.

30d and the rebel are very different bodies, this was what he is refering to.